So if I can deadlift triple bodyweight without straps, it’s wrong for me to use straps for high rep sets when I don’t want grip strength to be a limiting factor?
It doesn’t make sense.
You can obviously do as you wish. Grip doesn't have to be a limitation. I used to DL well past triple bodyweight and did various sets and reps. It never occurred to me to wear straps. I have a strong grip even without the extra training I did for it which can be fun.
To answer the other poster. Not using straps is not about ego. I firmly believe there are good technical reasons especially for DL, not to wear them.
So if I can deadlift triple bodyweight without straps, it’s wrong for me to use straps for high rep sets when I don’t want grip strength to be a limiting factor?
It doesn’t make sense.
You can obviously do as you wish. Grip doesn't have to be a limitation. I used to DL well past triple bodyweight and did various sets and reps. It never occurred to me to wear straps. I have a strong grip even without the extra training I did for it which can be fun.
To answer the other poster. Not using straps is not about ego. I firmly believe there are good technical reasons especially for DL, not to wear them.
"A belt can contribute to safety, but straps are just a confession of weakness. Throw out your straps and work on it!"
This sounds like ego to me...Everyone is different, some people struggle more with grip than others and it is their weak link despite training grip. If they listened to you they would be holding themselves back unknowingly. I know you mean well, but using straps...like using a belt...is a tool to help people break through strength plateaus, obviously if it's used as a crutch it will have a negative effect. Keep in mind people are built different and plateau for different reasons than you. According to you, you have a strong grip even without extra training. It's not like that for everyone. They can also be used to manage fatigue or push past grip failure.
"It is very easy to train your grip to be far from the weakest link in any lift." I hate straps!"
This is your personal bias showing through. There's nothing wrong with that, just please be aware of this.
You can obviously do as you wish. Grip doesn't have to be a limitation. I used to DL well past triple bodyweight and did various sets and reps. It never occurred to me to wear straps. I have a strong grip even without the extra training I did for it which can be fun.
To answer the other poster. Not using straps is not about ego. I firmly believe there are good technical reasons especially for DL, not to wear them.
"A belt can contribute to safety, but straps are just a confession of weakness. Throw out your straps and work on it!"
This sounds like ego to me...Everyone is different, some people struggle more with grip than others and it is their weak link despite training grip. If they listened to you they would be holding themselves back unknowingly. I know you mean well, but using straps...like using a belt...is a tool to help people break through strength plateaus, obviously if it's used as a crutch it will have a negative effect. Keep in mind people are built different and plateau for different reasons than you. According to you, you have a strong grip even without extra training. It's not like that for everyone. They can also be used to manage fatigue or push past grip failure.
"It is very easy to train your grip to be far from the weakest link in any lift." I hate straps!"
This is your personal bias showing through. There's nothing wrong with that, just please be aware of this.
I mean no hate, only love btw. Cheers!
Yes, definitely my personal bias. I know many top lifters use them to some degree, we just never used them in my training group. I don't like watching someone bent down one side at a time tying them on as I feel it disrupts the best DL setup routine. I've never trained anyone who couldn't get a strong grip fairly quickly...
According to you, you have a strong grip even without extra training. It's not like that for everyone. They can also be used to manage fatigue or push past grip failure.
"It is very easy to train your grip to be far from the weakest link in any lift." I hate straps!"
This is your personal bias showing through. There's nothing wrong with that, just please be aware of this.
I mean no hate, only love btw. Cheers!
Yes, definitely my personal bias. I know many top lifters use them to some degree, we just never used them in my training group. I don't like watching someone bent down one side at a time tying them on as I feel it disrupts the best DL setup routine. I've never trained anyone who couldn't get a strong grip fairly quickly...
Cheers.
Does wrist girth determine wrist strength? I have dainty wrists — barely 6 inches at the narrowest point — and even before my injury, I vaguely remember my wrists would give me anxiety even when I was lifting under body weight, so I’ve readily assumed my grip is my bottleneck.
Are warmup deadlifts, pull-ups, barbell rows etc. good enough to gradually strengthen grip or are there special grip exercises you’d suggest? Even barbell rows sometimes feel grip-limited for me as I don’t use straps coz they seem onerous for rows.
Yes, definitely my personal bias. I know many top lifters use them to some degree, we just never used them in my training group. I don't like watching someone bent down one side at a time tying them on as I feel it disrupts the best DL setup routine. I've never trained anyone who couldn't get a strong grip fairly quickly...
Cheers.
Fair enough, nothing wrong with having a preference of not using them.
I used to not use them, now I've found a few uses for them, but still heavily lean towards training grip to be clear.
And I agree, most people's grip can get much stronger than they think, especially with smart training...but mostly just a willingness to actually train grip is all that's needed.
I have no problem with people using belts. I rather see a new lifter get comfortable lifting without one first then introduce the belt. I see your doing strong fits 5x5 . I know 5x5 at 85% is super tough. Lifting like running is a slow progression.
Yes, definitely my personal bias. I know many top lifters use them to some degree, we just never used them in my training group. I don't like watching someone bent down one side at a time tying them on as I feel it disrupts the best DL setup routine. I've never trained anyone who couldn't get a strong grip fairly quickly...
Cheers.
Does wrist girth determine wrist strength? I have dainty wrists — barely 6 inches at the narrowest point — and even before my injury, I vaguely remember my wrists would give me anxiety even when I was lifting under body weight, so I’ve readily assumed my grip is my bottleneck.
Are warmup deadlifts, pull-ups, barbell rows etc. good enough to gradually strengthen grip or are there special grip exercises you’d suggest? Even barbell rows sometimes feel grip-limited for me as I don’t use straps coz they seem onerous for rows.
There are a few easy things to get a better sense of your grip and improve it. There are many options for training abs, but pick ones where you are hanging from a bar. Does your grip start to fail before you finish a set of abs? Try a bit of chalk and reset and keep at it. Most of the time you are gripping a bar with similar thickness. It can help to challenge your grip in different positions. I used to load up a bar in the rack and do one armed shrugs holding the fat end of the bar, not so much for the shrugs, but to work the grip. You can try lifting one or more plates of various weights and thicknesses in a pinch grip. You can do towel chins, and pushdowns with the rope. You can get some spring grip strengtheners. I don't think you need to buy a bunch of stuff though.
Everyone’s comments have been very helpful on here, thank you. While I have your attention, can you please do a DL form check for me? I’d never bothered to record myself deadlifting before as I felt like I was feeling all the cues I read online, but I did record myself this week and am now like yikes, this doesn’t look quite as smooth as it did in my head, but I’m also not sure what’s important to fix. In particular, the bar path seems to curve inwards a bit on the ascent even though it’s against my shins at the start, but I’m not sure if it’s just the camera angle or something I can be improving (how?). And my descent often feels not smooth and hesitant to me internally, like I don’t quite know in what order I should doing what when I consciously think about it, but I’m not sure if I’m overthinking.
Everyone’s comments have been very helpful on here, thank you. While I have your attention, can you please do a DL form check for me? I’d never bothered to record myself deadlifting before as I felt like I was feeling all the cues I read online, but I did record myself this week and am now like yikes, this doesn’t look quite as smooth as it did in my head, but I’m also not sure what’s important to fix. In particular, the bar path seems to curve inwards a bit on the ascent even though it’s against my shins at the start, but I’m not sure if it’s just the camera angle or something I can be improving (how?). And my descent often feels not smooth and hesitant to me internally, like I don’t quite know in what order I should doing what when I consciously think about it, but I’m not sure if I’m overthinking.
Doesn't look too bad. Your hips come up a little early, but your back stays flat and you're not rounding.
My main suggestion starts at set up. I prefer flatter shoes, lower is better. Don't spend so much time down in position before starting, and don't bob, bending your arms either. Stand in front of the bar, straight and tall, chest up and shoulders back, arms locked in grip position. Reach down with abdominal tension and focus as though lowering the weight. Grip fairly quickly and go.
Early on when grip was an issue for me I started doing rack pulls. After a while grip was no longer a problem.
I am also assuming the lifter with grip issues is using an alternating grip?
Grip is also something that will just develop over time by doing any pulling movement.
Alan
My grip without straps is slowly being better, especially with chalk use. I’m wondering if I should transition to mixed grip on deadlifts. I read online that beginners shouldn’t switch to mixed grip until they have a couple years of experience, but I see folks in the gym who lift less than me using a mixed grip as well as a small girl who lifts more than me and said she only has been lifting for a year.
I’ve been lifting for six months and don’t really understand why I shouldn’t switch to mixed. It has a clear upside, but what’s the downside?