diff --git a/examples/controllers/handControllerGrab.js b/examples/controllers/handControllerGrab.js
index 1cdd6c5a77..05dfc8e5d5 100644
--- a/examples/controllers/handControllerGrab.js
+++ b/examples/controllers/handControllerGrab.js
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ var MSEC_PER_SEC = 1000.0;
 var startTime = Date.now();
 var LIFETIME = 10;
 var ACTION_LIFETIME = 10; // seconds
+var PICKS_PER_SECOND_PER_HAND = 5;
+var MSECS_PER_SEC = 1000.0;
 
 // states for the state machine
 var STATE_OFF = 0;
@@ -239,6 +241,7 @@ function MyController(hand, triggerAction) {
 
     this.off = function() {
         if (this.triggerSmoothedSqueezed()) {
+            this.lastPickTime = 0;
             this.setState(STATE_SEARCHING);
             return;
         }
@@ -259,6 +262,13 @@ function MyController(hand, triggerAction) {
 
         this.lineOn(pickRay.origin, Vec3.multiply(pickRay.direction, LINE_LENGTH), NO_INTERSECT_COLOR);
 
+        // don't pick 60x per second.  do this check after updating the line so it's not jumpy.
+        var now = Date.now();
+        if (now - this.lastPickTime < MSECS_PER_SEC / PICKS_PER_SECOND_PER_HAND) {
+            return;
+        }
+        this.lastPickTime = now;
+
         var intersection = Entities.findRayIntersection(pickRay, true);
         if (intersection.intersects && intersection.properties.locked === 0) {
             // the ray is intersecting something we can move.