The "hammer thing" found at carnivals and fairs is officially known as a High Striker, or sometimes a "Strength Tester." It consists of a vertical tower—often 10 to 20 feet tall—with a bell at the very top and a metal rail running up its center. At the base is a pivoted lever with a heavy "puck" or weight on one end. The player uses a large, heavy sledgehammer or mallet to strike the other end of the lever as hard as possible. The force of the blow propels the weight up the rail; if the player hits it with enough speed and accuracy, the weight reaches the top and rings the bell, usually resulting in a prize. Despite its name, the secret to winning the High Striker is often technique over raw power. Experts suggest that the speed of the hammer's head at the moment of impact is more important than the weight of the person swinging it, as the kinetic energy is what drives the puck upward. In carnival lore, this game is said to be the origin of the phrase "close, but no cigar," referring to those who almost rang the bell but failed to win the prize.