valve flow will occur the handle 120 is a generally circular handle having a plurality of lobes 130 disposed thereon in the illustrated embodiment the handle 120 includes eight lobes 130 in alternative embodiments the handle may include any number of lobes it should be understood that the number of lobes may be varied for ergonomic purposes for example it may be desirable for a smaller handle to have fewer lobes and for a larger handle to have more lobes while the illustrated lobes 130 define a smooth curve it should be understood that the lobes may have straight portions or follow an irregular curve the inventor found that if the compression of the valve were reduced less torque was required to turn the valve surprisingly in many applications the compression of the valve can be reduced without adversely affecting the performance of the valve in certain applications sufficient torque may be generated to turn a valve without the use of an elongated spanner or other device to provide an additional lever arm in the illustrated embodiment the handle 120 can be manually turned by hand without the use of tools thereby rotating the ball valve between a first and second position in one embodiment the first position is an open position and the second position is a closed position in an alternative embodiment when the valve is in the first position it directs fluid flow in a first direction and when the valve is in the second position it directs fluid flow in a second position the handle 120 further includes a hexagonal handle extension 140 located substantially at the center of the handle the hexagonal handle extension.