The press of a single button can make or break a contestant’s chances of winning big on a game show like Jeopardy!. For the past 59 years, the buzzer on Jeopardy! has become an iconic part of the show, and mastering it has become a skill that contestants strive to perfect. But how do they practice such a specific skill set? Jeopardy!’s producers don’t hand out buzzers, so many contestants have found creative alternatives such as using clicky pens or Pez dispensers. However, these makeshift solutions don’t allow contestants to measure their improvement in milliseconds. That’s where the Delcom Products “USB HID Hand Held Programmable Button Switch” comes in. This little-known gadget has become the go-to tool for aspiring Jeopardy! contestants looking to improve their buzzer skills.
The Delcom button is a round metal stick with a red LED-equipped plastic button on top and a two-meter USB cable on the end. It weighs just two ounces and feels great in the hand. Its design, with subtle strips of diamond knurling and a slight indent for the thumb, closely resembles the Jeopardy! signaling device. Holding it feels like holding a Jeopardy! simulation device. The button doesn’t click but has some springiness, requiring contestants to actively use their thumb to hold it down. It provides a tactile and realistic buzzer experience.
One of the most commonly recommended ways to train with the Delcom button is by using The Buzzer App. This website mimics the way Jeopardy! questions are delivered, with an audio clip of the question followed by a signal light to test reaction time. Buzzing in too early results in a quarter-second lockout, just like in the actual game. Contestants need to hit the small window of time between the question and their competitor’s reaction. After practicing with The Buzzer App, contestants can improve their reaction times, with some achieving scores as low as 103 milliseconds.
Fritz Holznagel, a 13-time Jeopardy! contestant and author of Secrets of the Buzzer, is often credited with popularizing the Delcom button among the Jeopardy! community. Holznagel initially sold his own hand-built replicas of the buzzer to help trainees practice but later discovered the Delcom button, which closely resembled the Jeopardy! signaling device. He has been recommending the Delcom button in his book ever since.
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Interestingly, the Delcom button was not designed specifically for Jeopardy!. Delcom Products manufactures a range of switches, controllers, modules, and chipsets for various industries, including medical, aviation, and the military. The button was originally intended for process equipment, automated processes, medical equipment, gaming, and special needs. Although many Jeopardy! trainees have purchased the button, the first orders were from a Norwegian defense contractor for air traffic control purposes. The button has even made its way to Hollywood, featuring in the movie Honest Thief.
While the Delcom button closely resembles the Jeopardy! signaling device, former contestants note a few differences. The Delcom button is heavier and has a more springy and tactile feel compared to the lighter and slightly larger Jeopardy! device. Some contestants found that the size difference affected their grip and reaction time. However, others believe that the Delcom button helped them improve their buzzing skills, enabling them to compete effectively on the show.
Overall, the consensus among former contestants is that the Delcom button is a far better tool for practicing buzzer skills than using makeshift alternatives like clicky pens. It has gained popularity within the Jeopardy! community, with many blogs, contestant guides, and even TikTok videos recommending it to aspiring contestants. The Delcom button has become an integral part of the online community’s efforts to help each other succeed on the show. Until someone builds a system that perfectly replicates the Jeopardy! signaling device, the legend of the button will continue to live on in the form of the handheld Delcom buzzer.
