USE YOUR STRAPS and WORK FOREARMS. END of STORY!

[crew9]

I laugh every time I hear people say not to use straps. WHY? If your doing forearms as you should be you are getting plenty of grip and forearm work.

My workout partner and I had this argument last year. He never used straps and did little forearm work, so I challenged him. We did bent over barbell rows. Me w/straps and him w/ out at 225 he only got 6 reps, I got 15, His back did not give out, his grip did.

Also my forearms are twice as big as his. The moral of the story is: Use your straps and concentrate on the movement at hand, not your grip. Do your forearms twice to three times a week( it should only take 15 min). Keep it real boys!!

Here are my thoughts. You wouldn't need straps if you were working your forearms properly. Whats more impressive being able to one arm wrist curl 70 lbs or be able to hold a 4, 5, 6 hundred pound deadlift with brute strenght and not a piece of fabric?

 

[louden_swain]

Re: Re: USE YOUR STRAPS and WORK FOREARMS. END of STORY!

Here are my thoughts. You wouldn't need straps if you were working your forearms properly. Whats more impressive being able to one arm wrist curl 70 lbs or be able to hold a 4, 5, 6 hundred pound deadlift with brute strenght and not a piece of fabric?

I say the 400, 500, or 600lb deadlift is much more impressive for someone who is using straps rather than someone gripping a wimpy 70lb dumbbell.

 

[gymtime]

Re: Re: Re: USE YOUR STRAPS and WORK FOREARMS. END of STORY!

I say the 400, 500, or 600lb deadlift is much more impressive for someone who is using straps rather than someone gripping a wimpy 70lb dumbbell.

Doing wrist curls with a 70lb db is wimpy? I can get a decent set with a 60 tops. What does that make me?

 

[louden_swain]

Re: Re: Re: Re: USE YOUR STRAPS and WORK FOREARMS. END of STORY!

What does that make me?

I don't know you tell me.

 

[bignate73]

straps or no....its all about YOUR goal.

i dont want functional strength disparities so im "au naturale" in the equipment dept.

i took an ego blow once when i forgot my straps on back day and couldnt hang on to mediocre shrug and rowing weight. never again i swore, took a couple steps backwards to build up my grip (working with the weights i could hold on to) and now i dont have issues with my grip.

only occasionally on deads, but nothing else.

 

[he-man]

It's obvious that there are people here with different goals in mind. Those who feel working the muscle is more important than being able to hold on to it and visa-versa. Different stroke for different folks - everyone is gonna think their way is the best when all that's really important is doing what works best for you.

 

[JOKER47]

one thing i'll say...... having a strong grip has never really done anything for my forearm size....... to get size and vascularity i do wrist curls and such....... the straps are all about function. they dont inhibit my forearm growth.

X

That was exactly the post I was going to put up until I saw yours.

I have been cursed with small hands and correspondingly small forearms. I have never used strapes for deadlifting, and pulled 505lbs from knee height this week for 4 singles. My back failed long before my grip. Yet, my foreamrs are pretty much the same size as they always have been. Then of course, I do nothing for forearm size or development either.

But I do agree with Gymtime. You do whatever you have to do to meet your goals.
BBing and PLing both have different goals, therfore, they train differently. (Generally speaking.)


.02,
Joker

 

[gymtime]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: USE YOUR STRAPS and WORK FOREARMS. END of STORY!

I don't know you tell me.

Alright. What it makes me is............honest.

 

[gmanlax7]

bignate got it right with " it depends on your goal."

by the end of a back workout, my grip is far weaker than it was at the beginning, but why should the exercises at the end not get get the same treatment as the ones in the beginning ?

if using straps is gonna let me shrug or dead more weight and therefor put more stress on my back and allow for more growth potential, then im gonna use them.

 

[AustinTX]

Interesting thread. Some good points, and some bad points

Don't think I'll ever be a PL, but also don't think I'll ever use straps.

My opinion is that one's growth should be symmetrical (for a BB at least), someone properly proportioned always looks better than someone roughly the same size but with chicken legs, or whatever is lacking. If your grip/forearm can't keep up with the deads, well, then you need to work those parts more to catch up.

The only times I would probably use straps is if I had an injury that the straps would let me work around, or if I was on a cycle and my grip couldn't keep up, I'd strap myself silly, then catch up with the grip later.