Lifting straps

jeff lebowski

Recently I find my grip slipping after deadlifting for a while as the weight I am using has increased and extra effort is making me swear more. Are lifting straps the answer here or are these "cheating"? I suppose it's either them or chalk.

I can't use chalk in my gym but I've heard of liquid chalk, would that do the job?

grimloch

Chalk > liquid chalk > straps. Are you using a mixed grip?

I've used liquid chalk before, not quite as good as the normal powder chalk but it should sort out your grip woes.

Worst comes to worst just use straps, straps get **** on alot around here but unless you plan of competing in a powerlifting comp I don't see whats wrong with them. There's bound to be at least one clown who'll come in now talking about all the sick forearm development you're missing out on when you use straps and how a solid grip is an essential skillset in your daily life.

UCD dude

I'v lifted with liquid chalk for years now. My forearms are disproportionately huge. I'v recently changed to straps and find deadlifting far less fatiguing than I used to. I mean, I don't have to pause for about 10 seconds in between reps anymore cos my grip was failing. Nothing wrong with using straps at all imo.

jeff lebowski

It's more the bar slipping than the grip going (only really getting into it, at 135kg at the moment but adding 2.5kg each session)

Yeah, I am using a mixed grip. Side question on that, say you are doing 8 reps, should you do 4 with the mixed grip with left hand facing front, right facing rear and then switch for the second 4? Was thinking if you left it the same for all it might develop things a bit differently on 1 side.

Where would be the best place for liquid chalk? Grip could be more of an issue when I'm hittin heavier KG's.

grimloch

jeff lebowski wrote: »

Yeah, I am using a mixed grip. Side question on that, say you are doing 8 reps, should you do 4 with the mixed grip with left hand facing front, right facing rear and then switch for the second 4? Was thinking if you left it the same for all it might develop things a bit differently on 1 side.

The advice I usually see trotted out is to change the hands around each workout. That said, I've always gone left hand over and right hand under and I've not seen it do me any harm.

Fighting Fit on Camden Street sell the liquid chalk I think. Myprotein do it too. I've no idea how long the bottles last to be honest.

jeff lebowski

Cheers, I'll give it a lash and see how I get on. Avoid the straps for now lest I lose the grip strength to lift my pint

Mellor

grimloch wrote: »

The advice I usually see trotted out is to change the hands around each workout. That said, I've always gone left hand over and right hand under and I've not seen it do me any harm.

I switch ever set.
You could easily develop an imbalance by not switching imo

Hanley

Mellor wrote: »

I switch ever set.
You could easily develop an imbalance by not switching imo

5-6 years of deadlifting, and if I've pulled 10,000 reps, 9,900+ of them have been double overhand or without alternating grip...

Seifer

Hanley wrote: »

5-6 years of deadlifting, and if I've pulled 10,000 reps, 9,900+ of them have been double overhand or without alternating grip...

How could you get an imbalance double overhanded?
He was talking about not alternating mixed grip.

kevpants

Mellor wrote: »

I switch ever set.
You could easily develop an imbalance by not switching imo

Hanley wrote: »

5-6 years of deadlifting, and if I've pulled 10,000 reps, 9,900+ of them have been double overhand or without alternating grip...

Seifer wrote: »

How could you get an imbalance double overhanded?
He was talking about not alternating mixed grip.

He means he's never turned his hands the other way.

Me for example, I'm prob in the thousands of reps at this stage and I've never pulled double overhand even. Always the same grip, left out & right in. No issues. The only danger is if you're lifting major weight and tear a bicep on the out facing arm.

grimloch wrote: »

There's bound to be at least one clown who'll come in now talking about all the sick forearm development you're missing out on when you use straps and how a solid grip is an essential skillset in your daily life.

Oh Hi!


Grip is part of deadlifting. Sorry but it is. It fatigues your CNS (PNS actually) and I think it contributes to the overall training effect.

Doesn't mean straps are a no no. People with smaller hands or short fingers will always have grip issues and their hands tear up and they miss lifts as a result. Occasionally using straps is fine. But if you're deadlifting a lot less than double bodyweight and don't have little Jeremy Beadle hands or something you shouldn't use straps for your general training.

If you don't use chalk you're just a masochist though. Why not grease the bar while you're at it!

Hanley

Seifer wrote: »

How could you get an imbalance double overhanded?
He was talking about not alternating mixed grip.

Really? No way… did you not see the part where I said "OR without alternating grip"?? As in I haven't alternated my mixed grip?? Why would I bother saying anythnig about alternating if I was pulling double overhand all the time?? How would I even alternate a double overhand grip?!

Seifer

Hanley wrote: »

Really? No way… did you not see the part where I said "OR without alternating grip"?? As in I haven't alternated my mixed grip?? Why would I bother saying anythnig about alternating if I was pulling double overhand all the time?? How would I even alternate a double overhand grip?!

Relax. It's not my problem if you leave key words out of your posts making them ambiguous and open to interpretation.
Your reply only opens more questions about your original post but I have a feeling the answers won't be terribly informative/useful.

Hanley

Seifer wrote: »

Relax. It's not my problem if you leave key words out of your posts making them ambiguous and open to interpretation.
Your reply only opens more questions about your original post but I have a feeling the answers won't be terribly informative/useful.

It's not my fault that you need everything spelled out. Pretty sure most other peopel got exactly what I was saying. And I'm a crap deadlifter anyway. I'd love to hear them tho.

gavkm27

Straps are cheating in my opinion,get fat grips and train your grip strength,if you cant find fat grips,grab olympic bar and load one end with weight,pick up the other end on the fat side and practice holding on each arm for timed sets.
i weigh 78kg and dead 200kg and having been doing it for years,left hand in and right hand out,never done it any other way,if you lifting 1 rep max you do it 1 way and 1 way only and you train that way.fair enough if you lifting light mix it up,but when you start lifting serious weight stick to same grip.

Hanley

I keep asking this question but never get a decent answer…

Why should one hold back their deadlift/entire posterior chain training because their grip is weak? If you’re ability to deadlift is limited by your grip, then slap on some straps. Don’t have like an 80% training effect on some of the biggest muscles in your body cos your hands are ****.

Then, after you’ve deadlifted, train your grip in isolation so it has a chance to catch up. This will appease the gods and restore the balance of power in the universe and ensure you don’t go to hell for using straps.

Simples.

d'Oracle

I wish my grip was the problem with my deadlift.

brianthebard

straps are great.

Remmy

once you get past 35kg dumbells in my gym the grips are really wide in the center and I use straps with them.With high rep rows or shrugs unless you specifically want to train your grip straps are better I think.

UCD dude

Hanley wrote: »

I keep asking this question but never get a decent answer…

Why should one hold back their deadlift/entire posterior chain training because their grip is weak? If you’re ability to deadlift is limited by your grip, then slap on some straps. Don’t have like an 80% training effect on some of the biggest muscles in your body cos your hands are ****.

Then, after you’ve deadlifted, train your grip in isolation so it has a chance to catch up. This will appease the gods and restore the balance of power in the universe and ensure you don’t go to hell for using straps.

Simples.

You're a wise man.

Sangre

Forget this strap talk. Just use some chalk first. I start to struggle with my grip at about 90kg if I don't have chalk!

jeff lebowski

Can of worms opened in here :-)

Ordering some liquid chalk....when I get to a weight where my grip is an issue I'll decide then on straps or not. It was more sweaty palms that were causing me grief but I presume chalk will sort that. I'd like to avoid straps but if I got to a point where I couldn't get my reps in unless I used straps then I'd use them and try to do extra work to get my grip up to scratch.

itsallaboutheL

Where are you training?

You could probably sneak in normal chalk

jeff lebowski

I'm lucky enough to have a gym at work.....it's just opened and is still all new and shiny so don't think I could bring in chalk - does it go everywhere or do you just stick a bit on your palms?

itsallaboutheL

jeff lebowski wrote: »

does it go everywhere or do you just stick a bit on your palms?

depends on how vigorously you rub it..








:cool:

brianthebard

jeff lebowski wrote: »

I'm lucky enough to have a gym at work.....it's just opened and is still all new and shiny so don't think I could bring in chalk - does it go everywhere or do you just stick a bit on your palms?

keep it in a ziploc bag, problem solved. The one I bought ages ago was a mountaineering chalk (well they all are I guess) that was inside a muslin bag, which keeps the dust down as well.

Mellor

Hanley wrote: »

5-6 years of deadlifting, and if I've pulled 10,000 reps, 9,900+ of them have been double overhand or without alternating grip...

That's good enough for me, just one of those things I never questioned.

I have little small arse hands. Grip is my downfall too. Chalk helps,

shootermacg

I find straps are great, my grip isn't the strongest but why let that hold me back.
I started doing bent over db rows with 35s and after a while went up to 40s but depending on the day I found my grip was letting me down sometimes, I started using straps on the 40s, just some days and eventually worked up to 45's now i heft the 40's around with ease strapless, pretty much the same story with deadlifts.
IMO straps can help when you are in transition, after a month or so it's much easier to lift the weights that used to kill your grip.
Sometimes you have deal with the 5Kg increments in some gyms and straps are a great way, normally you'd be adding 1kg or 1.5Kg but at the gym once you go above 30Kg the go up in 5s.

jugger0

Id be too embarrassed to use straps on anything less then 250kg, once you go beyond that i think you've earned the right to wear whatever the hell you want.

Jimmy Bottlehead

jugger0 wrote: »

I'd be too embarrassed to use straps on anything less then 250kg, once you go beyond that i think you've earned the right to wear whatever eat whoever the hell you want.

.

RealistSpy

Hi Op,

Use straps when you feel the need to use it. Everyone has different opinions about it. I see nothing wrong with straps or what weight you have to start using it.

dantes87

I have an issue using straps. Yes, they get rid of all grip issues on the lift but they completely **** up my set up.
I go down on knees, set straps up then I can't adjust hand position on bar, my belt or foot position.
To others this might not be a big deal but I find it restrictive, routine breaking, and I can't pull properly with them.