“Damp hands make smooth balls” (food adage)

John Mitzewich (“Chef John”) made the YouTube video How to Make Falafel - Crispy Fried Garbanzo Bean/Chickpea Fritter Recipe for “Food Wishes” on March 6, 2015. Chef John said:
 
“In fact, there’s an old saying in the falafel industry: ‘Damp hands make smooth balls.’ It really is true.”
 
The saying quickly became popular on Twitter, where it was sometimes stated as “wet hands make smooth balls.”
 
It’s not known how old the saying is. “Wet your hands. Make smooth balls” was cited in 2013.
 
   
Wikipedia: John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich (also known as “Chef John”) is an American chef, video blogger and YouTube celebrity, who publishes instructional cooking videos on the video blog Food Wishes, as well as on a YouTube channel by the same name. Chef John also contributes eCookbooks, recipes and videos to the online food network Allrecipes.com. His video recipes have over 125 million views on YouTube. He has also authored a cookbook for Parragon Publishing entitled, “America’s Family Favorites: The Best of Home Cooking”. In 2011, he won the Taste TV Tasty Awards “Best Home Chef in a Series”.
   
The Picky Bowl
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Sabudana crunchy puffed vada
(...)
Wet your hands. Make smooth balls.
 
YouTube
How to Make Falafel - Crispy Fried Garbanzo Bean/Chickpea Fritter Recipe
Food Wishes
Published on Mar 6, 2015
Learn how to make Falafel! Go to http://foodwishes.blogspot.com for the ingredient amounts, extra information, and many, many more video recipes! I hope you enjoy this easy Falafel recipe!
3:55: “And, by the way, one tip— if you moisten your fingers, these are a lot easier to work with. In fact, there’s an old saying in the falafel industry: ‘Damp hands make smooth balls.’ It really is true.”
 
Twitter
stefania
‏@grilIedcheesus
Damp hands make smooth balls
8:24 PM - 6 Mar 2015
 
Twitter
Nick Cane
‏@OldLeafNick
“@just_franklin: @OldLeafNick @l_cane “damp hands make smooth balls”.”wise words from Chef John
10:45 AM - 10 Mar 2015
 
Twitter
Kheeze
‏@KheezE
“wet hands make smooth balls” - @foodwishes
12:06 PM - 31 Mar 2015
 
Twitter
jem
‏@jaemziie
“wet hands make smooth balls” - chef john 2k15
8:53 AM - 2 Apr 2015
 
The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA)
Branch out with homemade falafel
MIDDLE ‘EATS’ CHICKPEAS WEAR THEIR BEST DISGUISE
Posted: Wednesday, April 8, 2015 12:00 am
BY KURT RABIN/THE FREE LANCE-STAR
(...)
And, last but not least, remember the old adage from the falafel industry: “Damp hands make smooth balls.”