Getbig Bodybuilding, Figure and Fitness Forums
Getbig Bodybuilding Boards => Training Q&A => Topic started by: JAM on February 13, 2012, 09:19:44 AM
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Which do you guys use and why? I currently don't use anything. Thought about some straps for heavy stuff to help with grip. Gloves seem like it might help prevent calluses and that is about it I think. What say you...
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I used sponges.
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;D
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I use straps for back training.....they allow me to pull with my elbows.
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never used to bother with straps...but now my rows are a bit heavy i use them.
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Was kind of my thought too... Going heavier and needing a little extra grip. Figured some decent straps couldn't hurt. Did you guys loose any grip strength when adding that into the mix?
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Chalk. No gloves, no straps.
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Chalk. No gloves, no straps.
you hard girl...lol . no as i wrote before i have small hands and gripping the bar now is hard on rows and deadlifts.
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gloves some times because my home gym gets very cold and its one excuse not to train removed
straps - never realy seen the point for everyday lifting unless muscle appearance and size are the criteria. As most upperbody weight exercises use the hands i might as well have the strength in them to handle the load intended for parts onward.
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The average bar is jus under 1" diameter, no excuse to not be able to grip it.
But I've said it before, if "bodybuilding" is what you are concerned about then straps will help hold the bar in your hands, gloves will only protect from calluses.
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i occasionally use gloves and use straps on my heavy pulling sets...
of course there are days when i don't use either... kinda do what i feel
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Never gloves, but will use straps on heavier work to ensure that the grip doesn't give out before doing fair justice to some of the bigger exercises. If doing Power Rack heavy partial pulls, hacks or partial DL's, I want to get full benefit out of them. Even when using chalk, my grip will sweat at times. Good Luck.
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Yeah I may get straps for some of the heavier lifts too. They don't allow chalk in my gym. Might get gloves too cause in winter my hands are so dry and cracking. Might give a little protection when hands are beat up. :)
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Yeah I may get straps for some of the heavier lifts too. They don't allow chalk in my gym. Might get gloves too cause in winter my hands are so dry and cracking. Might give a little protection when hands are beat up. :)
if you have hand issue definitely wear gloves... my hands are pretty calloused from years of lifting but on deadlifts and pull ups i consistently wear gloves and straps (straps for peak sets)... just getting old i guess :)
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for me itīs just the last couple of reps are hard to hold a heavy bell. I have found that with straps i can really push it out and work my back without my grip failing.
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Imo, grip strength should increase with the rest of your bodys strength.
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no gloves, def no straps. just chalk, wrist wraps for heavy presses
but i do love when guys use gloves on leg day and straps on bench/incline presses
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IMO, grip strength should increase with the rest of your body's strength.
but as i said before..i have small hands and i really do find it hard to hold the bar. Not every man has hands like a bear. I have had a lot of positive comments from women about my hands..they liked my "touch" :D.
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if you have hand issue definitely wear gloves... my hands are pretty calloused from years of lifting but on deadlifts and pull ups i consistently wear gloves and straps (straps for peak sets)... just getting old i guess :)
Yeah I have no problem with the palm area, lots of callouses there. I just get lots of cracking on the knuckles from the dry winter weather. It is fine in the summer though. I did learn not to use hand lotion for dryness then lift. Everything slips out like a greased pig. ha ha ha ha ;D
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Actually (for me any way) I find that the pulling/back muscle exercises out pace the grip strength. Reason why the use of training straps of heavier pulls & DL's on rack work. A few guy's still don't have the full concept of using straps. A good training friend was wearing his reversed for years. Now happier wearing them the correct way. With chins (added weight) I do use straps for 4 to 6 reps.
Agree with Airosol; gloves on leg day and straps for any bench work..uncool. Same for guy's wearing lifting belts, either too tight (trying for the "V" look I guess) or too loose during any workout, lower or upper body. Worn correctly, lifting belts are meant for nothing much over 2-3 reps, because your breathing and blood supply will become affected.
Callouses usually mean putting serious intent into training. If gloves help, than use them, by all means. You can get callouses from straps, mostly when they are worn loose. There are hooked lifting gloves/wrist straps on the market, if interested. Suggest a product called Bag Balm, for any palm/hand problems after a workout. Some lifting friends get benefit from it, tend to heal quite well damaged hands. Good Luck.
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I found once I ditched the straps my grip strength increased rapidly up to par. To each his own!
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I found once I ditched the straps my grip strength increased rapidly up to par. To each his own!
my grip is strong from competing as a powerlifters in my younger days... there are some lifts (like deads with an overhand instead of split grip) where straps are invaluable unless you intend to stay at 2 plates-ish...
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I use overhand up to 4 plates, then alternate.
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I can use the double overhand grip for deads and be able to hold on to 4 plates for one or two reps before my grip gives out, so then I have to go to a mixed grip or straps. For bb rows however, I find that at 275 my grip begins to give out, I can still hold on to it but at that point Im definetely concentrating more on the bar slipping out of my hands than on the rows themselves, and anything heavier than 275 I need straps.
I use straps very sparingly and do my best not use them at all.
Only use them on my primary movement for the workout and only on the heaviest sets, everything else is done without straps.
Like Chaos I found that once you stop relying on the straps your grip gets a lot stronger.
I don't know if I will ever be able to ditch them completely though.
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I use overhand up to 4 plates, then alternate.
there you have it... i train at home so i don't use chalk (i could but my wife would kill me and the mess would make me crazy)... without dry hands, straps just take some of the complexity out of the lift...
but if you are comfortable and able to hold the weight then not using straps is likely better full overall development...
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Lol
I put a towel on the floor under where I chalk at the gym as part of the deal of keeping the area clean and then I dust off any loose chalk when I'm finished. :)
If straps/gloves don't obscure your goals and are comfortable, then use away!
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So I'm guessing that we somewhat agree that straps are like lifting belts, we only need them, when we need them. As the last few reps on max loads.
I do find that after using straps on lifts, my grip does catch up after awhile. Static holds, for 10-15 seconds are a fine way to increase gripping strength, I have found. As are hanging from a chinning bar with extra weight attached, for 10-15 seconds and with a false grip (thumbs over the bar). Good luck
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So I'm guessing that we somewhat agree that straps are like lifting belts, we only need them, when we need them. As the last few reps on max loads.
I do find that after using straps on lifts, my grip does catch up after awhile. Static holds, for 10-15 seconds are a fine way to increase gripping strength, I have found. As are hanging from a chinning bar with extra weight attached, for 10-15 seconds and with a false grip (thumbs over the bar). Good luck
Yep! I buddy of mine recommended Schiek. (sp?) I looked them up and it said "made in u.s.a". Shock the world on that one! Anyone have any input on their products?
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I use wrist wraps. Really helps since my wrists hurt after some exercises.
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Yep! I buddy of mine recommended Schiek. (sp?) I looked them up and it said "made in u.s.a". Shock the world on that one! Anyone have any input on their products?
I use their straps. The pair I have have padding around he wrist.
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I use their straps. The pair I have have padding around he wrist.
Cool, does the padding help at all? ???
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Cool, does the padding help at all? ???
Yes, still some redness around my wrists but much better than the type without any padding.
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Well I went ahead and ordered some Schiek gloves since my hands are all cracking and dry in the winter. Probably won't use them in the summer. I also ordered some of their heavy duty straps for when my grip starts to poop out. Got them in the mail today and the quality looks to be outstanding. Now we will see how they hold up. ;D
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I just use straps sometimes with heavy back work,not counting deadlifts.
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I never found general lifting gloves to yield any kind of advantages or detriments to training. If hand perspiration is an issue, chalk is often an option - unless your
gym fitness center forbids it. If someone wants to avoid callouses for whatever reason, that's their choice.
Having said that, I don't believe that all gloves are useless.
I've known a couple of guys who've used lifting gloves that have extra-thick padding in the palms and fingers, simulating thick bar training. The extra padding prevents you from closing your fingers around the bar as much. The reduced mechanical advantage of the phalanges means you've got to work harder to grip the weight, which translates to increases in hand and forearm muscle strength.
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So far it helps me with having really dry skin in winter. I am also noticing the extra thick padding Montague mentioned does make your grip work more actually. The Schiek gloves have fairly thick gel pads in the palms and fingers. Other than these two things the gloves do not seem to do much else.
I can say overall, this brand does seem really good. They are taking a beating and holding up great. The fit is good and they are very comfortable. Best gloves I ever had so far. 8)
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So far it helps me with having really dry skin in winter. I am also noticing the extra thick padding Montague mentioned does make your grip work more actually. The Schiek gloves have fairly thick gel pads in the palms and fingers. Other than these two things the gloves do not seem to do much else.
I can say overall, this brand does seem really good. They are taking a beating and holding up great. The fit is good and they are very comfortable. Best gloves I ever had so far. 8)
Everybody I've ever talked with who uses Schiek products is happy with them.
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I use straps...can definitely use a lot more weight when training back as my grip usually gives out first.
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One point I'll add, here, and we've discussed this before:
If you're training for functional strength, it's probably a good idea to only use straps after your grip fails and/or you reach your heaviest sets.
But, if you're training strictly for aesthetics, using straps on all of your sets allows you to pull more with the targeted back muscles and less with ancillary muscles like bi's and forearms.
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Straps. ::)
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I have tiny hands and am close to deadlifting 200kg at 65kg (5'10" - yeah) with no grip problems
Stop being a pussy and use some chalk
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I use Joe Meeko Power-Grips instead of straps.........best thing that ever happened to my back workouts.
http://joemeekopowergrips.com/
(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQV0z2vWDk4R-B0fk0aifmbQKerdhdzhaQ2WUKNEtDXVQ7Xv5gqr6lQ6Rat)
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I have tiny hands and am close to deadlifting 200kg at 65kg (5'10" - yeah) with no grip problems
Stop being a pussy and use some chalk
you tube it
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Straps. ::)
;D
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you tube it
Thread bookmarked will come back in a few months
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Used straps for a while. Didn't like them.
Used weight lifting gloves. Didn't like the.
Now use gardening gloves they totally trump straps and weight training gloves. I don't think they hamper grip strength like straps do either.
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Thread bookmarked will come back in a few months
sure you will mate
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Used straps for a while. Didn't like them.
Used weight lifting gloves. Didn't like the.
Now use gardening gloves they totally trump straps and weight training gloves. I don't think they hamper grip strength like straps do either.
I know you. ;D
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my sponger broke the last week and my chest and biceps workout sucked so bad.
Today i had my brand new sponges and the workout was great.
Best buck ever spend.
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sure you will mate
Still here!
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Use straps for a few select exercises where the grip gives out before the muscle you are working. Shrugs are a good example. I also use them for semi stiff deadlifts. I don't want to quit due my grip giving out. Dumbbell rows is another. I use them for these three exercises.
I don't know why anyone would use gloves. Doesn't a man's hand's supposed to feel like a man's hand or should they be soft like a woman's?
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Use straps for a few select exercises where the grip gives out before the muscle you are working. Shrugs is a good example. I also use them for semi stiff deadlifts. I don't want to quit due my grip giving out. Dumbbell rows is another. I use them for these three exercises.
I don't know why anyone would use gloves. Doesn't a man's hand's supposed to feel like a man's hand or should they be soft like a woman's?
Gloves will also increase the surface area of your hand, making them smaller and your grip will decrease - like using a fat bar
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Use straps for a few select exercises where the grip gives out before the muscle you are working. Shrugs are a good example. I also use them for semi stiff deadlifts. I don't want to quit due my grip giving out. Dumbbell rows is another. I use them for these three exercises.
I don't know why anyone would use gloves. Doesn't a man's hand's supposed to feel like a man's hand or should they be soft like a woman's?
So far gloves didn't make my hands soft at all. But when my skin is dry and cracks & bleeds uhh it is inside my glove and not all over the equipment. Which is nice! 8) Plus yeah it makes it like using a fat bar and grip actually got a little better.
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If grip is a problem then use straps and train your grip separately
Holding back progress on other lifts because your grip is weak or you use gloves is silly
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Straps come into play once my grip goes.
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straps, gloves, full suits, bench shirts... no, no, and no. ::)
nothing is more pathetic than a powerlifter using all this gear and it allows him to lift more than a hundred pounds more. total cheating and fake. no respect for this at all.
when it comes to bodybuilding, I still use none.
if your going to use gloves or straps you better be doing more than 5 reps. not putting on this gear just for some useless 1 rep.
I only advocate the use of chalk! I use it only on my heaviest sets for deadlifts when the grip starts to go.
anything else in my books is lame.
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straps, gloves, full suits, bench shirts... no, no, and no. ::)
nothing is more pathetic than a powerlifter using all this gear and it allows him to lift more than a hundred pounds more. total cheating and fake. no respect for this at all.
when it comes to bodybuilding, I still use none.
if your going to use gloves or straps you better be doing more than 5 reps. not putting on this gear just for some useless 1 rep.
I only advocate the use of chalk! I use it only on my heaviest sets for deadlifts when the grip starts to go.
anything else in my books is lame.
You sound like my gimmick now.
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You sound like my gimmick now.
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