diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Hand.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Hand.cpp
index b718729fcb..ad1c3fbf50 100755
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Hand.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Hand.cpp
@@ -72,22 +72,47 @@ void Hand::reset() {
 }
 
 void Hand::simulateToyBall(PalmData& palm, const glm::vec3& fingerTipPosition, float deltaTime) {
+    int handID = palm.getSixenseID();
 
-    glm::vec3 targetPosition = fingerTipPosition / (float)TREE_SCALE;
-    float targetRadius = (TOY_BALL_RADIUS * 2.0f) / (float)TREE_SCALE;
+    glm::vec3 targetPosition = palm.getPosition() / (float)TREE_SCALE;
+    float targetRadius = 0.25f / (float)TREE_SCALE; // (TOY_BALL_RADIUS * 4.0f) / (float)TREE_SCALE;
     const Particle* closestParticle = Application::getInstance()->getParticles()
                                                 ->getTree()->findClosestParticle(targetPosition, targetRadius);
 
     if (closestParticle) {
         //printf("potentially caught... particle ID:%d\n", closestParticle->getID());
         
-        // you can create a ParticleEditHandle by doing this...
-        ParticleEditHandle* caughtParticle = Application::getInstance()->newParticleEditHandle(closestParticle->getID());
+        if (!_toyBallInHand[handID]) {
+            printf("particle ID:%d NOT IN HAND\n", closestParticle->getID());
+
+            // you can create a ParticleEditHandle by doing this...
+            ParticleEditHandle* caughtParticle = Application::getInstance()->newParticleEditHandle(closestParticle->getID());
         
-        // but make sure you clean it up, when you're done
-        delete caughtParticle;
+            // reflect off the hand...
+            printf("particle ID:%d old velocity=%f,%f,%f\n", closestParticle->getID(), 
+                    closestParticle->getVelocity().x, closestParticle->getVelocity().y, closestParticle->getVelocity().z);
+            glm::vec3 newVelocity = glm::reflect(closestParticle->getVelocity(), palm.getNormal());
+
+            printf("particle ID:%d REFLECT velocity=%f,%f,%f\n", closestParticle->getID(), 
+                    newVelocity.x, newVelocity.y, newVelocity.z);
+
+            newVelocity += palm.getTipVelocity() / (float)TREE_SCALE;
+
+            printf("particle ID:%d with TIP velocity=%f,%f,%f\n", closestParticle->getID(), 
+                    newVelocity.x, newVelocity.y, newVelocity.z);
+        
+            caughtParticle->updateParticle(closestParticle->getPosition(),
+                                            closestParticle->getRadius(),
+                                            closestParticle->getXColor(),
+                                            newVelocity,
+                                            closestParticle->getGravity(), 
+                                            closestParticle->getDamping(), 
+                                            closestParticle->getUpdateScript());
+        
+            // but make sure you clean it up, when you're done
+            delete caughtParticle;
+        }
     }
-    int handID = palm.getSixenseID();
     
     // If there's a ball in hand, and the user presses the skinny button, then change the color of the ball
     int currentControllerButtons = palm.getControllerButtons();
@@ -118,8 +143,9 @@ void Hand::simulateToyBall(PalmData& palm, const glm::vec3& fingerTipPosition, f
                 // create the ball, call MakeParticle, and use the resulting ParticleEditHandle to
                 // manage the newly created particle.
                 //  Create a particle on the particle server
+                glm::vec3 ballPosition = palm.getPosition();
                 _ballParticleEditHandles[handID] = Application::getInstance()->makeParticle(
-                                                                    fingerTipPosition / (float)TREE_SCALE,
+                                                                    ballPosition / (float)TREE_SCALE,
                                                                      TOY_BALL_RADIUS / (float) TREE_SCALE,
                                                                      TOY_BALL_ON_SERVER_COLOR[_whichBallColor[handID]],
                                                                      NO_VELOCITY / (float)TREE_SCALE,
@@ -129,7 +155,8 @@ void Hand::simulateToyBall(PalmData& palm, const glm::vec3& fingerTipPosition, f
             }
         } else {
             //  Ball is in hand
-            _ballParticleEditHandles[handID]->updateParticle(fingerTipPosition / (float)TREE_SCALE,
+            glm::vec3 ballPosition = palm.getPosition();
+            _ballParticleEditHandles[handID]->updateParticle(ballPosition / (float)TREE_SCALE,
                                                          TOY_BALL_RADIUS / (float) TREE_SCALE,
                                                          TOY_BALL_ON_SERVER_COLOR[_whichBallColor[handID]],
                                                          NO_VELOCITY / (float)TREE_SCALE,
@@ -142,13 +169,14 @@ void Hand::simulateToyBall(PalmData& palm, const glm::vec3& fingerTipPosition, f
         if (_toyBallInHand[handID]) {
         
             _toyBallInHand[handID] = false;
+            glm::vec3 ballPosition = palm.getPosition();
             glm::vec3 handVelocity = palm.getRawVelocity();
             glm::vec3 fingerTipVelocity = palm.getTipVelocity();
             glm::quat avatarRotation = _owningAvatar->getOrientation();
             glm::vec3 toyBallVelocity = avatarRotation * fingerTipVelocity;
 
             // ball is no longer in hand...
-            _ballParticleEditHandles[handID]->updateParticle(fingerTipPosition / (float)TREE_SCALE,
+            _ballParticleEditHandles[handID]->updateParticle(ballPosition / (float)TREE_SCALE,
                                                          TOY_BALL_RADIUS / (float) TREE_SCALE,
                                                          TOY_BALL_ON_SERVER_COLOR[_whichBallColor[handID]],
                                                          toyBallVelocity / (float)TREE_SCALE,
@@ -406,8 +434,25 @@ void Hand::renderLeapHands() {
     //const glm::vec3 handColor = _ballColor;
     const glm::vec3 handColor(1.0, 0.84, 0.66); // use the skin color
     
+
+    
     glEnable(GL_DEPTH_TEST);
     glDepthMask(GL_TRUE);
+
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < getNumPalms(); ++i) {
+        PalmData& palm = getPalms()[i];
+        if (!palm.isActive()) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        glm::vec3 targetPosition = palm.getPosition();
+        float targetRadius = 0.25f;
+        glPushMatrix();
+        glColor4f(1,1,0, alpha);
+        glTranslatef(targetPosition.x, targetPosition.y, targetPosition.z);
+        glutWireSphere(targetRadius, 20.0f, 20.0f);
+        glPopMatrix();
+    }
+
     glPushMatrix();
     // Draw the leap balls
     for (size_t i = 0; i < _leapFingerTipBalls.size(); i++) {
@@ -444,11 +489,14 @@ void Hand::renderLeapHands() {
     for (size_t i = 0; i < getNumPalms(); ++i) {
         PalmData& palm = getPalms()[i];
         if (palm.isActive()) {
-            const float palmThickness = 0.02f;
-            glColor4f(handColor.r, handColor.g, handColor.b, 0.25);
+            const float palmThickness = 0.05f; //0.02f;
+            //glColor4f(handColor.r, handColor.g, handColor.b, 0.25);
+            glColor4f(1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.25);
             glm::vec3 tip = palm.getPosition();
             glm::vec3 root = palm.getPosition() + palm.getNormal() * palmThickness;
-            Avatar::renderJointConnectingCone(root, tip, 0.05, 0.03);
+            const float radiusA = 0.25f; // 0.05f;
+            const float radiusB = 0.23f; // 0.03f;
+            Avatar::renderJointConnectingCone(root, tip, radiusA, radiusB);
         }
     }
     glDepthMask(GL_TRUE);
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.h b/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.h
index 6fba4d5e2c..86f29cf2f1 100755
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.h
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/HandData.h
@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ private:
 class PalmData {
 public:
     PalmData(HandData* owningHandData);
-    glm::vec3 getPosition()           const { return _owningHandData->leapPositionToWorldPosition(_rawPosition); }
-    glm::vec3 getNormal()             const { return _owningHandData->leapDirectionToWorldDirection(_rawNormal); }
+    glm::vec3 getPosition() const { return _owningHandData->leapPositionToWorldPosition(_rawPosition); }
+    glm::vec3 getNormal() const { return _owningHandData->leapDirectionToWorldDirection(_rawNormal); }
 
     const glm::vec3& getRawPosition() const { return _rawPosition; }
     const glm::vec3& getRawNormal()   const { return _rawNormal; }
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ public:
     void setSixenseID(int id)                  { _sixenseID = id; }
 
     void setRawRotation(const glm::quat rawRotation) { _rawRotation = rawRotation; };
-    const glm::quat getRawRotation() const { return _rawRotation; }
+    glm::quat getRawRotation() const { return _rawRotation; }
     void setRawPosition(const glm::vec3& pos)  { _rawPosition = pos; }
     void setRawNormal(const glm::vec3& normal) { _rawNormal = normal; }
     void setRawVelocity(const glm::vec3& velocity) { _rawVelocity = velocity; }
diff --git a/libraries/particles/src/Particle.h b/libraries/particles/src/Particle.h
index 8e754fee39..1d80adabc6 100644
--- a/libraries/particles/src/Particle.h
+++ b/libraries/particles/src/Particle.h
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ public:
 
     const glm::vec3& getPosition() const { return _position; }
     const rgbColor& getColor() const { return _color; }
-    xColor getColor() { xColor color = { _color[RED_INDEX], _color[GREEN_INDEX], _color[BLUE_INDEX] }; return color; }
+    xColor getXColor() const { xColor color = { _color[RED_INDEX], _color[GREEN_INDEX], _color[BLUE_INDEX] }; return color; }
     float getRadius() const { return _radius; }
     const glm::vec3& getVelocity() const { return _velocity; }
     const glm::vec3& getGravity() const { return _gravity; }
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ public:
 public slots:
     glm::vec3 getPosition() const { return _particle->getPosition(); }
     glm::vec3 getVelocity() const { return _particle->getVelocity(); }
-    xColor getColor() const { return _particle->getColor(); }
+    xColor getColor() const { return _particle->getXColor(); }
     glm::vec3 getGravity() const { return _particle->getGravity(); }
     float getDamping() const { return _particle->getDamping(); }
     float getRadius() const { return _particle->getRadius(); }
diff --git a/libraries/particles/src/ParticleCollisionSystem.cpp b/libraries/particles/src/ParticleCollisionSystem.cpp
index 764cbe3381..8928a3db8c 100644
--- a/libraries/particles/src/ParticleCollisionSystem.cpp
+++ b/libraries/particles/src/ParticleCollisionSystem.cpp
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ void ParticleCollisionSystem::applyHardCollision(Particle* particle, const glm::
         }
     }
     ParticleEditHandle particleEditHandle(_packetSender, _particles, particle->getID());
-    particleEditHandle.updateParticle(position, particle->getRadius(), particle->getColor(), velocity, 
+    particleEditHandle.updateParticle(position, particle->getRadius(), particle->getXColor(), velocity,
                            particle->getGravity(), particle->getDamping(), particle->getUpdateScript());
 }