Gripmaster

Karl Hungus

Has anyone used one of these? I've seen ads for them in Guitarist, and I see then have them on Thomann here. The concept seems very good indeed, and seeing as John Petrucci had a whole section of his DVD on stretches to do before practicing, fitness seems to be a part of good playing.

Thoughts?

novarock

havent used one exactly like it but when i was getting lessons I had to do exercises using the same principle. had to play pieces using just my little and ring finger, but that looks like an easier and less painful alternative, might get one!

Giblet

They are useless. It's not like exercising your hand, play a guitar for that. If you want so stretch you can do it without the gimmicks, and you only need to stretch your back and shoulder muscles.

Ravelleman

They seem gimmicky. I doubt they're very useful.

Doctor J

Had one years and years ago, shortly after I started playing. Found it very useful for building up strength in the fingers. I broke my left arm badly in my youth and the ring and little fingers on my hand were pretty much useless before I started playing and using it. Some **** stole it though and I never bothered replacing it. They're handy for just keeping your fingers in shape when you don't have a guitar with you.

Ancient1

The gripmaster is only an aide, not a substitute for improving finger strength on the guitar.

I don't know how effective they are, but if you're stuck on a train or bus, for example, it's handy to have one - it's more productive than scratching your balls.

feylya

Might pick one up if I see them about. Would be handy while I'm sitting at the computer. Need far more finger strength, see if I can't start bending 13's tuned to E Standard

Karl Hungus

Aye, I'd not be trying to use this as a substitute for anything, but just something handy for using when not playing.

Ancient1

Yeah, i'd like to try one too.
Funny how the Gripmaster site lists everything from tennis to weapons retention, but doesn't mention guitarists.

feylya

I just looked at the price. $15 + shipping. Eh, I think I'll just go play some acoustic bass, thanks very much.

Ancient1

I think they're about 20 yoyos in the shops here.

feylya

That's half of a Vai ticket that is!

Doctor J

80% of a Nevermore ticket (real value for money there)

feylya

How much is the Nevermore ticket? Maths fails me.

Doctor J

€25 to you door. For two guitarists of unfathomable talent and music that isn't just a vehicle for guitar histrionics and doesn't suck, that's a damn good deal.

feylya

When is it again? September is going to be a busy and expensive month for me.

Doctor J

22nd I think.

feylya

:eek:

Johnny Storm

feylya wrote:

:eek:

Briefly back to the original topic: IMHO sqeezing a tennis ball or similar would be just as good exercise and a lot cheaper. I do think that building up forearm strength is a help for playing the guitar.

Doctor J

Similar but not really the same. The advantage the Gripmaster has is an individual spring for each finger, so each finger gets the same tension to work against. With a tennis ball your middle and third fingers get the workout while your first and little fingers are trying to push the edge of the ball in a direction the laws of physis won't allow and, therefore, don't get the same amount of exercise.

I must say, I did find it quite handy for being able to concentrate on working individual fingers, using exercises to develop independance between each finger at a time when I started I couldn't move my little finger at all and had limited mobility in my ring finger.

Nidge

Karl Hungus wrote:

Has anyone used one of these? I've seen ads for them in Guitarist, and I see then have them on Thomann here. The concept seems very good indeed, and seeing as John Petrucci had a whole section of his DVD on stretches to do before practicing, fitness seems to be a part of good playing.

Thoughts?

Well I think stretching is important, I discovered recently, as I got something along the lines of RSI a few weeks back. It meant 1.5 weeks of not being able to play the guitar before I decided I should go to a physio, the tissue at the wrist, where the tendons of my fingers meet on my left hand, was swollen. Needless to say I'd prefer to stretch properly before every guitar session than pay the physio the standard service charge again.

Karl Hungus

Well, I got myself a red "Medium Tension" one while I was in Dublin, and I've been using it the last day or so, and I can already feel an improvement! Handy, and a good purchace, I think.

Voodu Child

Not as much fun as the other way of strengthening your wrist though...?

Karl Hungus

Well, this is really for strengthening my fingers, rather than wrist as such. Besides, I don't do the 'other way' with my left hand.

Voodu Child

Karl Hungus wrote:

Well, this is really for strengthening my fingers, rather than wrist as such. Besides, I don't do the 'other way' with my left hand.

What? I was talking about rock climbing....

Seriously though, if we're being pedantic, its your forearm they strengthen...

Karl Hungus

Well either way, I can certainly notice a difference in my fingers, and that's the main thing.

Voodu Child

The only thing is that you cant play straight away after using it, not if youre using it properly anyway, your fingers feel a little stiff, I used something similar to improve grip strength when I was doing weight training for sprinting in college. It made a funny squeaking sound, which got me a few funny looks at home...