Deadlift Lock-Grip. Problems.

[Atomic Punk]

After several years of using a lock-grip for deads(because I always thought that straps were for pussies), I have come to realize that I have semi fucked myself up. My right side(palm down) is more developed in strength & size than the left(palm up). It is to the extent that if I look hard enough, my left Shoulder from Neck to Delt is actually longer than the other side. You can definitely see the difference in trap development as well, as the right side is definitely thicker. Tonight I did Deads for the first time in about 3 weeks. I usually just do 2 sets at the end of my Back routine, and count that as two towards back, and two towards Traps as well. Usually I will do #225 as a warmup set, then #405 for like 6. Today, using the opposite lock-grip than I normally would, I could barely get it for one. I also felt the left side straining a little while doing the rep. I thought I pulled a muscle for a minute.

Anyhow, do you guys feel that there is a signifigant portion of the load lifted MORE on one side than the other, because of the palm postion on the bar with a lock-grip? Again the left side for me is always palm-up, and is the side where I felt very weak today. I will have to use this unusual opposite grip for awhile to compensate. Come to think of it, I might(being that the hands are both palm down--and that is the side I feel stronger on) have actually benefitted from using the straps given these circumstances.

 

[revexrevex]

Bro I have exactly same situation. The palm up side is less developed.

 

[Zander1983]

I alternate the direction of my palms with each set.

 

[b fold the truth]

Hmmm...I pull 500 on a regular basis with a double overhand grip... I am my strongest with my left under and my right over though...

B True

 

[b fold the truth]

You might want to do what I used to do...

I'd take nearly all of my warm ups with my weakest grip...then switch to my strong grip when I get heavy. Now I take a doulbe overhand grip up to 500 or more...then switch to my strongest grip...

B True

 

[Atomic Punk]

Bro I have exactly same situation. The palm up side is less developed.

Did you just go opposite grip bro, or switch to straps? Honestly, I get a way better grip from a lock-grip than I do with straps. Minus the fucking rugrash you get from them as well.

 

[revexrevex]

The lift is definetely stronger with over/under grip than with straps.... it is as if you can feel the weight by making contact with it without the straps. Right now I alternate.... one workout I use straps and double overhand grip (especially on rack pulls).... while every 2nd workout I warm up with opposite grip that I used (for me its left hand up, right hand down) up until 405, and then switch to my strongest deadlift lock grip. My training partner has the funniest imbalance ever.... when I taught him how to deadlift with the lock grip, he has never ever alternated, and one of his traps is really big and vascular while another is almost non existent.

 

[Zander1983]

You might want to do what I used to do...

I'd take nearly all of my warm ups with my weakest grip...then switch to my strong grip when I get heavy. Now I take a doulbe overhand grip up to 500 or more...then switch to my strongest grip...

B True

I do that too. When the weight starts to get heavy I switch to over-under.

 

[Cuthbert]

You might want to do what I used to do...

I'd take nearly all of my warm ups with my weakest grip...then switch to my strong grip when I get heavy.
B True

I did this EXACTLY when I used to train deadlift for reps... now that I really only pull for speed, it's not an issue... but i definitely agree, I can feel imbalances when I DL a lot and don't change grips.

Cuthbert

 

[coolcolj]

try hookgrip

 

[mekannik]

CoolColJ nailed it.

Use a double overhand grip, wrapping your fingers over your thumb to "hook on" to the bar. Hurts a little bit with heavier weights from the pressure of mashing your thumbs - but you can hold alot of weight. With a little bit of time and building of pain tolerance, you can expect to increase the weight held with this grip immensely.

 

[needsize]

I must be lucky, I pull well over 500lbs for reps, always with the same mixed grip, and my symetry is great