USE YOUR STRAPS and WORK FOREARMS. END of STORY!

[louden_swain]

To Hell with the straps/no straps debate!

Tomorrow, I'm gonna use handcuffs!

 

[Imakarum_Mirabilis]

There is NOTHING that builds bigger more muscular forearms than direct work on forearms.

It is interesting, then, to see that a great many of the world's bigger forearms were built without wrist curls and such minutia.

I agree with Crew9, Endpoint, and Bignate73.

 

[TheOak84]

franco never used straps and he was the strongest BBer in his time..

 

[Debaser]

Evidence that a powerlifting background (which Franco had) is beneficial.

 

[revexrevex]

I read that Whit Baskin (the guy with crazy grip who competes in pro-strongman) says that people should use straps on heavy exercises, and have a separate grip training

 

[supersizeme]

I completely disagree. If you never use straps, you should never need them. I've never used them, and my grip is phenominal. I easily deadlift arounf 550lbs for sets of 5, and have pulled over 600 for a single, all with absolutely no signs of grip failure. I even lock out with the weight for 20-30 seconds at the end of the set, and still have no problem with grip.
The best part is that I NEVER train forearms outside of the work they get from heavy deads, and they are probably my strongest bodypart.
Straps are a crutch, same as belts, wraps etc, and personally I dont see the point of relying on a crutch that will cause a weakness to get worse

I've seen this exact post about a zillion times so I have to comment on it.

NS - it is easy to say this when you have an exceptionally strong grip. Whenever this argument pops up, you're one of the first people to get on here and give us a rundown of your lifting capablities. What you need to understand is that you have a genetic gift in this department. The overwhelming majority of people on this board will never have a grip strong enough to hold 550lbs after a set of 5 for 20-30 seconds regardless of whether or not they ditch straps for the rest of their lives. Your advice is not objective but rather based on the fact that since you are able to do this, everyone should be able to. If you were born with genetically weak forearms/grip, you'd be telling a different story. Most people on this board are on the opposite side of the spectrum as you. Their grip will never match what their back can handle.

That said, my stance is "use em if you need em," but if you're getting to the point where you feel you need them during pullups and rows, you might want to take a closer look at your grip training. Deadlifts and heavy shrugs are understandable.

 

[needsize]

I didnt always have a strong grip though, its not like it came easy. I remember back in the day having it fail on chinups, with no weight added other than bodyweight. Over time, being forced to do it raw as I hadnt even heard of straps, my grip just went up, along with the weights of my working sets. I know it is a lot tougher if you have used straps, to then drop them as your grip strength wont match the rest of you. My training partner is in this boat, he can deadlift the same weight as me, but couldnt get over 4 plates without straps. He has come a long way though and although he cant quite match me, hes getting close, which is good for someone who used straps for years

 

[JOKER47]

I've seen this exact post about a zillion times so I have to comment on it.

NS - it is easy to say this when you have an exceptionally strong grip. Whenever this argument pops up, you're one of the first people to get on here and give us a rundown of your lifting capablities. What you need to understand is that you have a genetic gift in this department. The overwhelming majority of people on this board will never have a grip strong enough to hold 550lbs after a set of 5 for 20-30 seconds regardless of whether or not they ditch straps for the rest of their lives. Your advice is not objective but rather based on the fact that since you are able to do this, everyone should be able to. If you were born with genetically weak forearms/grip, you'd be telling a different story. Most people on this board are on the opposite side of the spectrum as you. Their grip will never match what their back can handle.

That said, my stance is "use em if you need em," but if you're getting to the point where you feel you need them during pullups and rows, you might want to take a closer look at your grip training. Deadlifts and heavy shrugs are understandable.

I have to disagree with you here. I have small weak hands and forearms. I forced myself to NOT use straps and work my grip. Not just with deadlifts, but with all lifts where grip was a concern. I also added in DB holds until failure each week at the end of my "Back" day.

It took some time, yes. Several months in fact, before my grip caught up to the rest of my body. Now, my grip is the last thing to fail for most everything. Farmers walks included.

Having a weak grip doesn't mean you ALWAYS have to have a weak grip. It just means that you will have to work very hard to increase your grip strength.

However, if your goals in the gym do not require that you have a strong grip, then by allmeans, use straps to to get to your goals.


Joker

 

[b fold the truth]

I find it funny how many people play the macho man and say they never ever use straps. . . .good for you.

I am still deadlifting and pulling more than the majority of these people with or without straps.

Use them if your grip is the weak link. . I am not going to make my lats suffer because of a weak grip.

Its amazing how these macho SOBs. . . brag about not using straps. . . . but their back development blows more than the victim in the Kobe Bryant case.

Man...I'm just dying to jump all over this one.

I don't use straps.

You don't deadlift or pull more than I do.

My lats don't suffer IMO.

I wouldn't consider my self macho or an SOB. I think that it would be safe to say that my back development doesn't BLOW either.

B True

 

[b fold the truth]

I read that Whit Baskin (the guy with crazy grip who competes in pro-strongman) says that people should use straps on heavy exercises, and have a separate grip training

Whit has a good grip?



B True