This is not something I have really struggled with, i.e. I can deadlift 200kg without straps fairly comfortably and hold the bar for a significant amount of time without feeling stressed. However a friend of mine DOES have huge grip issues, even just DLing with 100kg and he came across (and i've heard of these before):

http://www.pullum-sports.co.uk/strength ... d_131.html

Do these actually help AT ALL? Or is it just marketing hype?

Not much for static grip strength. I suggest he just does as much pulling with double overhand and switch to mixed when he has to, perhaps some static BB holds would help too. I assume he does use chalk?

Yeah he has a copious supply of chalk. I just thought that maybe he may get more strength in his fingers as a result and be able to clasp his hand tighter?

I'll suggest he just tries. I guess maybe getting him to do some plate pinch holds might help too?

Grip strength is something i struggle with, and is the limiting factor for me in deadlifts and weighted chins. When i was a teenager my wrists used to semi-dislocate whenever i tried chins or pulled with my whole bodyweight and i'd have to uncomfortably 'pop them back into place'. It still very occasionally happens now.

Performing static hangs on a chin bar two-three times a day for about a month helped me get my grip strength up... each time gripping hard and literally staying on until my hands would 'peel off' the bar. Eventually i started adding weight via a dipping belt and significantly improved things but it's still something i need to work further on.

Ooh static hangs, that's a fantastic idea.

You don't have a grip problem because you power clean, presuming you lower and not drop the weight. I suggest he starts PC's from the hang, problem solved.

Craig wrote:You don't have a grip problem because you power clean, presuming you lower and not drop the weight. I suggest he starts PC's from the hang, problem solved.

No I don't drop the bar I bring it down in a controlled manner

My wrists do sometimes take a battering with PCs which sucks as I love 'em.

but explains your good grip

Craig wrote:but explains your good grip

True but 110+ on the wrists kills 'em a bit.. actually I need to work out why I keep getting soreness as a result of doing them.

Will wrote:

Craig wrote:but explains your good grip

True but 110+ on the wrists kills 'em a bit.. actually I need to work out why I keep getting soreness as a result of doing them.

Is it just due to them forcing you into the clean grip at speed?

Possibly, I get some inflamation somewhere in the wrist, I can't pin point where, but for example when I shake someone's hand I get a bit of a mild shooting pain - I don't know if it's tendon or cartilage issues. It's on the "outer" edge of my wrists so it's probably a bit of tendon inflamation. I get it everytime I go very heavy on powercleans - they're the only reason I'm struggling to up the numbers at the moment I have 120kg on my sights within the next couple of months.

Powercleans can give me sore wrists too. I also have wrist issues with close grip presses, barbell curls & a few other exercises... using an EZ bar helps make such movements more comfortable, but i suppose doesn't do as much to help improve grip!

Gymbunny has some good advice on improving grip strength from her climbing training... so c'mon GB, post it up!!

does he have grip problems with 100kg, mixed grip + chalk??

Hand grippers won't be effective as either static hangs or holds, don't waste your money imo.

Karlos wrote:does he have grip problems with 100kg, mixed grip + chalk??

Hand grippers won't be effective as either static hangs or holds, don't waste your money imo.

Yeah he even has problems with mixed grip. But with chalk it helps... but at 100kg he does struggle - he just has very poor grip

Static holds sound great though so I'll pass on the info to him and get him to do some powercleans

My grip's not the best and has always lagged behind but I think it's down to relatively small hands as much as anything. I'm just never going to have especially strong grip unfortunately, although I'm definitely going to work on it this year.

ollie wrote:My grip's not the best and has always lagged behind but I think it's down to relatively small hands as much as anything. I'm just never going to have especially strong grip unfortunately, although I'm definitely going to work on it this year.

I don't know about this- I have little girl's hands but can hold on to my max deadlift (140kg) OK, it is tough on the grip but it's not the limiting factor in the weight I can lift. Going any heavier on rack pulls tears my hands to pieces though, it can get really quite painful/annoying. What can you deadlift without straps Ollie?

There are quite a few grip training articles on T-Nation, worth having a search on there I'd say as there are 101 way to train it (102 if you include self-love).

It's always been the limiting factor for me although it has improved in line with my deads to an extent - I can get 200kg up raw for a couple of reps at a real struggle, whereas I can get 5 and probably 6 with straps.

ollie wrote:It's always been the limiting factor for me although it has improved in line with my deads to an extent - I can get 200kg up raw for a couple of reps at a real struggle, whereas I can get 5 and probably 6 with straps.

That's still pretty darn good!

I did RDLs on Friday and went double overhand as they were relatively light weight- those are HORRENDOUS on your grip though, my forearms were locked solid after each set. Definitely going to throw more of those in over the next few weeks, along with more snatch-grip deads as they're another grip-killer.

Ever heard of a rolling thunder? Now that will improve grip.

I have never had a grip problem, even though i have ripped them to bits in the past as my pic will show

That and some dead lift hold will help.

On the captin crush, they come in different streanths and if you crush them closed then you can get an offical from captin crush out to make it official and they give you a certificate for it!!

I've been thinking about working my way up the Cpt Crush grippers, but I have no idea how strong my grip is. Don't want to get one that's too easy, or will take me a year to use...
Anyone have any idea how to measure your grip in psi?