diff --git a/src/frame.cpp b/src/frame.cpp
index 398c43d..784d5c8 100644
--- a/src/frame.cpp
+++ b/src/frame.cpp
@@ -89,15 +89,15 @@ void UltraleapFrame::fill_frame_data(Ref<UltraleapFrame> ul_frame, const LEAP_TR
     for (size_t i = 0; i < frame->nHands; i++)
     {
         if (frame->pHands[i].type == eLeapHandType_Left) {
-            if (ul_frame->get_left_hand() == NULL) {
-                ul_frame->set_left_hand(Ref<UltraleapHand>(memnew(UltraleapHand)));
+            if (!ul_frame->left_hand.is_valid()) {
+                ul_frame->left_hand.instantiate();
             }
             UltraleapHand::fill_hand_data(ul_frame->get_left_hand(), &frame->pHands[i], rigging_transform);
             ul_frame->is_left_hand_visible = true;
         }
         else {
-            if (ul_frame->get_right_hand() == NULL) {
-                ul_frame->set_right_hand(Ref<UltraleapHand>(memnew(UltraleapHand)));
+            if (!ul_frame->right_hand.is_valid()) {
+                ul_frame->right_hand.instantiate();
             }
             UltraleapHand::fill_hand_data(ul_frame->get_right_hand(), &frame->pHands[i], rigging_transform);
             ul_frame->is_right_hand_visible = true;
diff --git a/src/frame.h b/src/frame.h
index ce151b9..bf9aafe 100644
--- a/src/frame.h
+++ b/src/frame.h
@@ -26,11 +26,11 @@ public:
 
     float framerate;
 
-    Ref<UltraleapHand> get_left_hand() { return left_hand_ref; }
-    void set_left_hand(Ref<UltraleapHand> value) { left_hand_ref = value; }
+    Ref<UltraleapHand> get_left_hand() { return left_hand; }
+    void set_left_hand(Ref<UltraleapHand> value) { left_hand = value; }
 
-    Ref<UltraleapHand> get_right_hand() { return right_hand_ref; }
-    void set_right_hand(Ref<UltraleapHand> value) { right_hand_ref = value; }
+    Ref<UltraleapHand> get_right_hand() { return right_hand; }
+    void set_right_hand(Ref<UltraleapHand> value) { right_hand = value; }
 
     bool get_is_left_hand_visible() { return is_left_hand_visible; }
     void set_is_left_hand_visible(bool value) { is_left_hand_visible = value; }
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ protected:
     static void _bind_methods();
 
 private:
-    Ref<UltraleapHand> left_hand_ref;
-    Ref<UltraleapHand> right_hand_ref;
+    Ref<UltraleapHand> left_hand;
+    Ref<UltraleapHand> right_hand;
 };
 
 #endif
\ No newline at end of file