When you are dealing with clay you need that centering device it is all about the clay centering on the potter’s wheel and throwing that clay on the wheel can be quite difficult. I took a pottery course and it is really harder than it looks that is for sure. The first couple of things that I made were just a complete disaster. I did get better at it but nothing to speak of. If you are a hobbyist or a teacher then you have to check out the QuickCenter and other new products for the potter’s wheel at this site. You can actually center the clay on the sheel before it starts to spin. That just make things so much easier if you ask me. So if you are a beginner this is just perfect for you…actually it is great for the beginner or the intermediate. This is a really cool product – my daughter is very artistic and I think she would do great with pottery..this is something to keep in mind for her birthday gift this year.