Hook Grips

[buffal2001]

Does anyone use hook grips. If so are they a good investment?????My grip is shite and my grip usually fails b4 anything else......got any advise.......i know usin hook grips will diminish the part my forearms and grip play in the movement but a few people have said theyre good despite that.Cheers.

 

[enrage]

listen at one point most of us had really poor grip strength. I for one ditched my straps a long time ago once i realized it was hindering my forearm development and grip strength. Your better off not buying a pair and just stick it out. Believe me one day you'll appreciate this advice if you forego any plans of buying straps/hook grips.

 

[Welsh power house]

good point, were you also working forearms directly, whilst using the straps, i am using them on and off for deadlifts, i can dead 200 for 6-8 without them and 215 ish for 6 with.....anyone else got anything to say about this issue????

 

[big4life]

I don't like to use straps or anything to help my grip.
If you use them, use them only on the heaviest
lifts, and also work your forearms directly.

 

[Jacked Johnson]

I wouldn't rule out hooks or straps, as I believe they play an important role in training. Yes, they do take away from grip strength, but I find them essential in heavy lifting situations. For instance, when doing shrugs with anything over 315lbs, my grip becomes tired well before my traps do. The hooks that I use for these heavy lifts have allowed me to break through several plateaus. As with anything in life, everything in moderation.

 

[Big Arnold]

Lifting straps

I agree with Jacked Johnson, I feel they do give one an advantage when your trying to work a muscle part and your handgrip tires before the muscle worked does. I use the following type and they're great, they are metal with a cloth covering and a velcro wrist wrap,... ..http://www.bodytrends.com/rrhook2.htm.
I use 'em in wide-grip chinups and barbell shrugs and cable pulldowns for the back.

 

[strengthmonster]

Use them for heaviest sets only like heaviest deadlift or shrug set.
They can actually make your grip even weaker if you start to rely on them too much.
Start doing grip strength training to bring up the imbalance if you must and on every set (even things like biceps kurl) try to grip the bar as hard as you can.

 

[Y_lifter]

Shrugs ONLY...
Everything else I want to build my grip and I don't seem to have a problem holding on.
Maybe it's because shrugs are straight arm and put more stress on the fingers/grip?

 

[gymtime]

I'd agree with most of what's being said here. You don't have to eliminate wraps or hooks completely, especially if they will help you through a plateau. But you don't want to use them for anything but the heaviest lifts..IMO. I'll use them for the last set of shrugs and deads.

 

[Belial]

"Hook grips"?

Never heard of that. I've heard of the hook "GRIP", where you tuck your thumb under your fingers while wrapped around the bar; hurts your thumb like a bitch but makes your grip stronger. (not over time, just at that instant).

Anyway, I use straps for my last two sets of deads, after my grip is already fried. If your grip is really holding up your back/leg development, get some straps and use them after your grip goes (assuming you've still got juice left elsewhere)