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Are straps cheating w/deadlift
- Thread starter LAN T
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heavy_duty
New member
cheating.
work on your forearms and grip.
work on your forearms and grip.
heavy_duty
New member
i keep a small chalk with me, use it but dont make a big scene like you are in the Olympics or something LOL.
take some heavy dumbells and just hold them as long as you can.
after your work sets ofcourse. this will help with grip.
take some heavy dumbells and just hold them as long as you can.
after your work sets ofcourse. this will help with grip.
Guinness5.0
New member
I don't consider it cheating, but my grip sucks, too.
In my opinion you could continue to use straps and do extra work to improve your grip. It would be a shame to limit the benfits of a deadlift because your grip sucks.
But definitely work on your grip in the mean time (I need to follow my own advice here). You can buy Captains of Crush grippers from ironmind.com, you can do farmers walks, plate pinches, etc. I'm sure google will yield plenty of results for 'grip strength' or 'grip training'.
In my opinion you could continue to use straps and do extra work to improve your grip. It would be a shame to limit the benfits of a deadlift because your grip sucks.
But definitely work on your grip in the mean time (I need to follow my own advice here). You can buy Captains of Crush grippers from ironmind.com, you can do farmers walks, plate pinches, etc. I'm sure google will yield plenty of results for 'grip strength' or 'grip training'.
Protobuilder
New member
Hell no it's not cheating. But they ain't crutches either. Just use them on your heaviest set(s) and for godsakes don't start using them on pulldowns, etc. Your grip will catch up if you don't rely on straps too much. If you want to speed it along, grippers, heavy supports for time in the power rack, etc. No big deal when we're talking 315. Your grip will catch up if you make a conscious effort to squeeze the bar tightly and don't use straps until the absolute last minute.
LAN T
New member
Protobuilder said:
I like the idea of the grip catching up eventually, will try some grip work as well. it took me a while but I have become a huge fan of the deadlift. Something so primal about gripping and pulling as hard as you can. not to mention my once weak and achey back is starting to feel like I had steel cables installed.
May as well ask this too: What about a belt, would this help lift more weight or is it another crutch?
O
odoyal rulez
Guest
not cheating..just another tool..your working your back and hams primarily, straps dont effect either..go for it...
heavy_duty
New member
a little less weight and more reps is what I do too.
gives a great back workout and there is no shame in lifting a bit less weight.
gives a great back workout and there is no shame in lifting a bit less weight.
Guinness5.0
New member
I don't want to start an argument here, but IMO straps are less of a crutch than a belt. A strong midsection (abs/low back/the huge number of other muscles invovled in the midsection) matter much more than the grip. From what I have gathered thus far, using a weight that causes these muscles to get stronger (assuming decent form) can often overpower one's grip. In this example, I am assuming that the lifter does not round their back excessivley, but is only limited by the bar slipping out of their hands.Scotsman said:
That's what I've found. Thoughts?
heavy_duty
New member
Chalk is the only thing you require unless you are a true PL.
toss out your gloves, belts and straps. total junk.
toss out your gloves, belts and straps. total junk.
needtogetaas
New member
can I get a link to this...I had a big problem with grip but switched to the over under and I am doing great with this but I know my grip is still week.Scotsman said:
Protobuilder
New member
Neo22: no need to insult a respected poster.
RE: belts & straps . . . I use straps b/c often I work my grip (COC grippers) on my drive home from work. So my grip is fried going into the workout. I can lift the damn weight but grip sometimes slips. And with powershrugs, forget it. With straps, I can easily add another 5 reps and I just don't see any reason to ditch the straps and back off the weight on those.
Belt . . . I don't know that there's a "right" and a "wrong" answer here. Let's put it this way. A LOT of people use a belt as a crutch. But guys who know how to PROPERLY use belts (e.g., powerlifters) see them as valued and necessary tools (aren't they allowed in competition?). It's the gym dipshits w/ their Valeo belt and roundback who are using 'em as crutches b/c they're too busy using wobble boards to do standing militaries, deads, and full squats and build a strong core.
RE: belts & straps . . . I use straps b/c often I work my grip (COC grippers) on my drive home from work. So my grip is fried going into the workout. I can lift the damn weight but grip sometimes slips. And with powershrugs, forget it. With straps, I can easily add another 5 reps and I just don't see any reason to ditch the straps and back off the weight on those.
Belt . . . I don't know that there's a "right" and a "wrong" answer here. Let's put it this way. A LOT of people use a belt as a crutch. But guys who know how to PROPERLY use belts (e.g., powerlifters) see them as valued and necessary tools (aren't they allowed in competition?). It's the gym dipshits w/ their Valeo belt and roundback who are using 'em as crutches b/c they're too busy using wobble boards to do standing militaries, deads, and full squats and build a strong core.
Scotsman
New member
Guinness5.0 said:
I only use a belt on my top end sets. I do all my build up in order to strengthen my core without the belt. I agree that having a strong core is more important than strong grip, but if you can't pick the weight up without straps then you aren't really managing the weight. If you train grip while the rest of your body is getting stronger it will increase in kind. Typically if the rest of your body is able to overpower your grip it just means you didn't train your grip enough (most people don't specifically work grip strength). In my opinion all lifting gear should be kept to a minimum as much as possible to make sure the body becomes stronger and not reliant on any training aids.
Cheers,
Scotsman
Scotsman
New member
Neo22 said:
First off why don't you learn how to use english properly. Then learn what a belt actually does.
A belt does not tighten your core. It give the abdominals a shortened terminus to expand against causing a greater stabilization of the midsection. This helps reduce shear forces, increase motile stability, and deflect spinal compression. Due to these reasons it cuts down the availiability of lateral slip that leads to disc damage and displacement. Furthermore especially in non static position loading (ie, moving heavy weight such as stone carries, farmers walks, fingal fingers, etc.) where excess shear forces and impact traumas can be compounded by long duration high strain actions a belt deflects some of this force into the hips where weight loading is most easily handled.
Cheers,
Scotsman
Scotsman
New member
needtogetaas said:
http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?t=536395
There's the link to the grip thread in the pl forum.
Cheers,
Scotsman
needtogetaas
New member
thanks bro.Scotsman said:
heavy_duty
New member
man I see guys in the gym who wear the belt for every exercise and they never use free weights....what the hell is up with that?
Protobuilder
New member
My brother-in-law uses straps for pulldowns. And bench (the bar hurts his hands).
needtogetaas
New member
I saw a guy using straps for the pull downs the other day.I hope I dont get that bad.Protobuilder said:
Scotsman said:
when do you know to use a belt during your lifting career? Is there a certain weight you pull where you start to feel any pain or problems in your back? Or have you always used them in your top sets as you progressed? I'm still in the novice stage, and right now I don't think it necessary to use a belt right now, but I just wasn't sure when, that way I can limit any back and disc problems.
Powerbuilder333
Timeout? No, timeouts are for Plats
So true - I guess it's a fashion statement - LOL.heavy_duty said:
Straps would be cheating in a deadlift competition.
If your goal is muscle development than there's no such thing as cheating IMO, assuming you don't get injured. Yes it is a crutch, but if it inables you to work your traps, back, glutes, and hams harder than you'll see positive results. I suggest you use them only on your heaviest one or two sets.
Scotsman
New member
mad dipz said:
It's different for each person as to when or if they wish to use a belt or any other training aid. I pretty much only use the belt during competitions or when I do heavy singles or doubles. As I get stronger the point at which I use the belt moves up. For example when 315 was my max I used a belt for it, now that it's in my warm-up weight range I don't use it, but am also doing reps with it. If you aren't thinking of competing in powerlifting, olympic lifting, strongman, or some other weight driven sport, then you may never need or want to use one. As long as you feel comfortable lifting the weight and don't feel excessive strain on your back then continue lifting without one.
Cheers,
Scotsman
string_bean00
New member
needtogetaas said:
I use straps for pulldowns. After doing deads and rows with just chalk my forearms/grip are so shot I can't hold onto anything by the time I get to pulldowns so I add in the straps at that point in my back workout
Rabid_Goose
New member
Well, if it is cheating then I am forced to cheat. I do Factory Floor work, building car seats for 8-9 hours a day and every hour of the day I am using my grip and my hands. I have to use the straps because me and several other guys at work that lift top out on 185 pounds on a Barbell before we have to let go. Our hands are so tender from using them all day that having to pick up a heavy BB will send you screaming.
After 5 reps with like 245 it feels like someone has taken a blow torch to both of your hands and it takes it a minute or two to cool down.
After 5 reps with like 245 it feels like someone has taken a blow torch to both of your hands and it takes it a minute or two to cool down.
davidbb
New member
Well for me they are a necessity on all heavy back sets, I've got arthritis in my left hand, so I get bad shooting pains going from my knuckle up my arm when i get to a heavy set, but there is no way i'm going to give up heavy back work, and since ive used them my back has improved and my forearm size has not suffered.
But regardless of my situation i see them as tools of the trade if you are a bodybuilder, providing your forearm size is not lacking then you are robbing yourself of gains when deadlifting, think of it like this, why try bashing a nail into wood with your hand if you have a hammer handy, If you have straps then I suggest you go as heavy as you can without them, and then do one final set as heavy as yuo can with them.
But regardless of my situation i see them as tools of the trade if you are a bodybuilder, providing your forearm size is not lacking then you are robbing yourself of gains when deadlifting, think of it like this, why try bashing a nail into wood with your hand if you have a hammer handy, If you have straps then I suggest you go as heavy as you can without them, and then do one final set as heavy as yuo can with them.
Tweakle
New member
If you're not a powerlifter, of course you're 'allowed' to use them.
And even if you are, I know 800lb+ pullers who use them in their training so don't dismiss them out of hando) Strongmen use them all the time for their pulling events and strongman is all about grip-forearm strength.
And even if you are, I know 800lb+ pullers who use them in their training so don't dismiss them out of hand
o) Strongmen use them all the time for their pulling events and strongman is all about grip-forearm strength.
javaguru
Banned
I use straps for my heaviest sets. I don't need them to get a single but many times I'm doing 3-5 reps with 500+ pounds and my grip fails first. I use a double overhand grip because an alternating grip was causing issues with my tendonitis. The best way to improve your grip for deadlifts is to lift as much as you can without straps. Weighted chins and pullups are also great.
Rabid_Goose
New member
Anyone know a reason why our hands feel like they are on fire? Is it just tender skin or something else?
S
Sam5
Guest
I say use em on the heavy sets. Your working on your back when doing deads not your grip. If you want a good grip, work that individually. When I'm doing heavy rows I don't want to be limited by my grip and haviong to think about that too. I want to isolate my back so straps are good. I was not a believer in them for a long time but I was never able to move the kinds of weight that i can now in my back workouts. There is no way that I could do two sets of 315 for 8-9 reps and one set of 365 for 5 reps without strps and have good form, I'm talking about bent rows here, not deadlifts. Too those that can, more power to you. You should eiother be a world class powerlifter or your forearms must look like Colemans because I do not know anyone personaally that moves this weight without straps, and I know some big guys, including myself. So in conclusion straps are a good thing. Belts I do not like though.
ghettostudmuffin
New member
I only use straps for 2 things.
power shrugs and high rep (15-20) dumbell stiff-legged deads.
power shrugs and high rep (15-20) dumbell stiff-legged deads.
al420
New member
I use straps for numerous lifts, as do most competitive weightlifters. Dynamic pulls are not for grip strength....
Deads may not be dynamic, but using straps is ok IMO. I use them for Snatch Grip Deads and such even at lower weights, b/c hitting my explosion point or exploding my traps, or some other form issue is weighing on my mind...
Straps like chalk or belts are tools...used wisely they are great, used gayley and the user is the tool.
Deads may not be dynamic, but using straps is ok IMO. I use them for Snatch Grip Deads and such even at lower weights, b/c hitting my explosion point or exploding my traps, or some other form issue is weighing on my mind...
Straps like chalk or belts are tools...used wisely they are great, used gayley and the user is the tool.
Scotsman
New member
al420 said:
Perfectly put. They're fine to use as a tool but they shouldn't be used as an excuse for not being able to hold the weight from not training right.
I use straps in my strongman comps simply to save grip strength if they allow us to. Five heavy events all using lots of grip wear your strength down quick. I do however use them very sparingly in training (ie. only on heavy rack pulls) so I can finish the rest of my workout withou using them.
Cheers,
Scotsman
musketeer
New member
i used straps for years and then got over the need on deadlifts, but for other back exercises like bent rows or weighted chins the if going for true max effort then they are essential - otherwise its just a case of grip strength and not really back strength.
I bought (and used!) the ironmind grippers (i i can now close a NO.2) and also cut down my volume of bicep and cable type work which took some of the strain away.
I reccomend doing all but your top set without straps.
ALSO if you are doing a big back workout: Chins, rows, machine pulls, deadlifts, shrugs, etc. the there is just no way you can get away without the straps.
I like doing single on the deadlift - so try to establish a strap max and a non-strap max and aim to get them the same. I now find that I can do more without straps because I have to focus harder.
I bought (and used!) the ironmind grippers (i i can now close a NO.2) and also cut down my volume of bicep and cable type work which took some of the strain away.
I reccomend doing all but your top set without straps.
ALSO if you are doing a big back workout: Chins, rows, machine pulls, deadlifts, shrugs, etc. the there is just no way you can get away without the straps.
I like doing single on the deadlift - so try to establish a strap max and a non-strap max and aim to get them the same. I now find that I can do more without straps because I have to focus harder.
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