Horrible grip strength

[calveless wonder]

Help me guys and girls...
My grip strength flat out sucks....and its starting to really effect me during back day. As the rest of my body is growing , my back is definetley lagging and i definetely attribute this to my shitty grip strength. So i was wondering....Would make it sense to get straps for DL's and then do separate grip strength exercises? I say that because i dont feel my grip strength can improve as quickly as i need it to and i dont need my back lagging furhter behind. btw i'm not a powerlifter

any help/suggestions would be appreciated

 

[brian747478`]

try farmer's walk with dumbells, and clean grip hold on bar, always seemed to help my dl grip strength. if u need grip strength for strongman type stuff, you would need more diverse training of grip.

 

[descanting]

I figure if you use straps, it might help you in the short term, but will hinder grip strength improvement and hence the long term...

 

[Griz1]

Hey CW,

My advise (I've been told I have a "brutal" grip). Either
A. take up carpentry and swing a hammer all day or

B.(more realistically) get one or two of those squeeze jobs that are basically a spring with two handles on either end. You can sit at your desk and with one hand squeeze these things all day. I can't count the number of these things I've gone through. They break after a while and it's loud and sometimes bits of metal fly off from where they broke (wrap a peice of rubber around them so this doesn't happen). Do that all day and you will see results.

Or do lots of forearm work in the gym (standard stuff- progressive weight).

It just takes focus on your fore-arms.

 

[wildonsquats]

I had the same problem early last spring. I could barely hold onto a 225 deadlift for 10 reps, but could easily rep out a 255 dead for the same amount of reps with straps.

I just sucked it up, lowered the weight and slowly but surely my grip strength improved. Rack deads, normal deads (as well as grip training with coc grippers and forearm work) have greatly increased my grip strength, which has translated into better gains in all exercises that require a little grip strength.

Now im doing 395 x 6 with no straps.

Chalk makes a huge difference too, as well as learning other grip styles, mixed grip, hook grip (which i havent gotten used to as it feels like my thumbs are being run over by a garbage truck).

 

[PolishHammer1977]

stand in the rack and load plates onto a barbell loaded with as much weight as you think you can handle.

than add another pair of 45's to each side. hold that until you drop it. than scream

 

[JOKER47]

I had the same problem. I ditched my straps, and incorporated heavy dumbell holds, 3 "sets" to failure at the end of every back day. It took a little while, but my grip finally caught up with my deadlift.

The straps aren't that bad of an idea, as long as you do some heavy intense grip training along with them, with plans to eventually ditch the straps altogether.

Of course, if your goals do not include grip strength, then go ahead and use straps.


.02,
Joker

 

[gymtime]

Personally, I'd never allow a weak grip to interfere with back development. However, I don't think it's a good idea to always use straps and ignore your grip either.

I'd go ahead and strap up for the heavy back stuff. But also do some of the above-mentioned excercises to get your grip caught up.

 

[WalkingBeast]

Help me guys and girls...
My grip strength flat out sucks....and its starting to really effect me during back day. As the rest of my body is growing , my back is definetley lagging and i definetely attribute this to my shitty grip strength. So i was wondering....Would make it sense to get straps for DL's and then do separate grip strength exercises? I say that because i dont feel my grip strength can improve as quickly as i need it to and i dont need my back lagging furhter behind. btw i'm not a powerlifter

any help/suggestions would be appreciated

Hey bro!! If you deadlift, I wouldnt think youd need any additional grip work. But maybe it could help. Try deadlift holds for time, or farmer's walks. As for me, Ive used straps most of the time Ive deadlifted and my grip has still gotten MUCH stronger. Straps or not your still going to be squeezing the hell out of the bar. Id reccomend straps, or even chalk. I use straps with over 715lbs and can grip over 700 using chalk now. Still like to use them. Dont waste your effort in the gym not getting the most out of your back training. Id definately say get some straps or chalk.

 

[calveless wonder]

thanks brolys...... i'm gonna opt for some intense grip strength training(holds, farmer walks etc) and just use the straps temporarily till the grip strength catches up. thanks again guys

 

[kingc_79]

i hope to one day be able to deadlift more than i can can hold with my grip...

buy a coc from www.ironmind.com or a ivanco supergripper...work really well