Thread: Straps or no Straps, that is the question?

I don't use straps myself. Although my back/legs sometimes get restricted by doing this, my grip strength has been slowly but steadily improving. Grip strength is extremely important not only in weight training, but in everyday activities. I like the idea of using straps once your grip really starts to give out, but I wouldn't use them as a crutch.

no straps

DeadBolt how come I see power lifters & IFBB pro bodybuilders using straps for say 405lbs bent over barbell rows or on shrugs?

Because they are puttin up some damn serious weight lol. I myself am not a powerlifter I just train for general every day strength rather then breaking records. I'm sure they couldn't put up that weight without the straps...its the same as using a belt or the benching shirts. It allows them to put up more weight and this is very important to them because they are competeing.

DeadBolt you forgot to mention the pro IFBB bodybuilders they use straps if they're doing 405lbs for bent over barbell rows & if they're using a 130lb dumbbell for one arm rows.

They wouldn't be able to do that without the straps. If the pro bodybuilders are using them, they must be doing something right.
There's no way they could grip 300+lbs for barbell rows for 6 or more reps without losing there grips & then they'd lose another 8 or 10 or more reps.

I'm beginning to think that if you're at a point where your back & traps can handle much heavier weights, but your grip no matter how strong it is won't be able to grip that type of weight for very long losing a lot of reps.

Some people believe the tendons stretch out and/or become damaged if they dont use assistance. Since I am not rowing 5 plates and that kind of thing I can hardly comment on what they do to themselves.

Mudge but what if you know you could barbell row 275lbs or 315lbs but are being held back because of your grip?

Shouldn't you at this point use straps to break a plateau in growth?

I row around there just fine, if I have problems its because I have let my forearm training go to pot.

If you care more about your back than your forearms then the answer would be yes. For me someone walking in with a bunch of assistance items is like cheating. If I put a belt on I can up my squat about 45 pounds, maybe even more, but to me its cheating.

Mudge [qoute]I row around there just fine, if I have problems its because I have let my forearm training go to pot.
[/quote] I train my forearms hard once or twice a week & they do get harder & stronger & a bit thicker as well as using a gripper 5 times a week, but neither seem to help when barbell rowing for than 250bls.

If you care more about your back than your forearms then the answer would be yes. For me someone walking in with a bunch of assistance items is like cheating. If I put a belt on I can up my squat about 45 pounds, maybe even more, but to me its cheating.

Well if your back is very important, it's one of the areas that should be thick & wide & if it's not growing enough because of something like your grip, than I think straps will help. But like I said I do my forearms once or twice a week.

As for a belt during squats, I don't think it helps much. It's more for lower back support & keeping your back straight during the squat.

I just realized I spelled the first quote incorrectly. Excuse me, but I'm in a bit of a rush I have to get back to work.

Just go without straps for as long as you can. Once your grip starts to fail, then you should wear straps.

CowPimp I agree. But in another situation for example, using heavier weights that you know you won't be able to grip for very long, don't you think straps should come into play?

Originally posted by Johnnny
CowPimp I agree. But in another situation for example, using heavier weights that you know you won't be able to grip for very long, don't you think straps should come into play?

Maybe. I think you should work very hard on increasing your grip instead though. It is really up to you, but I don't like when one body part prevents another from reaching its maximum potential. It is my personal preference to keep my grip in line with what I am lifting.

CowPimp like I said, I'm working very hard on trying to develop my forearms & grip. Sometimes it's just not enough to lift the weights that you know your back or traps could handle & make you grow.

Hi Johnnny

There is no cheating in bodybuilding, so if you need straps then use them.

For me, I use them and I am not lacking in the forearm area.
I don't use them all the time but towards my last sets of pull downs and t-bar I'm strapped.

I always use them dead lifts.

I use to think like Mudge but I soon found out that your muscles can become much stronger than the tendons and bones can handle. All I'm trying to say is don't get hurt, if you feel the need to use straps and a belt use them.

Good luck and take care.

Regards

Pete

Straps are great!! Think of straps as if your using a belt. Just use them if you are pushing serious weight.

Liftzor that's what I'm beginning to think.

I would have to say that it really depends on what you are attempting to improve. I personally don't use straps; as a result, I know for a fact that the most I can currently deadlift will be 520. I know this, because I put that on the bar with it on the safety squat rack and did partial deadlifts. The most I could physically hold was 520. As a result of that, I am now working on my grip strength; I know it will increase gradually. If you are doing bent over rows, and need some assistance so that you can hold the weight to get the extra reps, then absolutely use 'em. I want to get my deadlift over 500, so it would be counterproductive for me to use straps.... I NEED the grip strength to accomplish my training goals. Quite honestly, when I'm doing rows, I WISH I had my straps... I opt to not put them in my gym bag, so that I won't be tempted to use them as a crutch.

In the final analysis, you've got to look at what your training for. If you've determined that you need to go heavier than you can grip on a particular exercise to accomplish your goals, then do it.

-Dan

I will say this johnny. Speaking for myself and myself only, I do not buy into any self serving notion of cheating or not cheating or even of what cheating IS. This is me Im talking about.

For example - and for example only -, I know I can shrug a hell of a lot more than my grip will allow. And when it gets to that point, you better believe I will use straps. Im not going to let one muscle lag because of some notion about what is cheating or not. Im not going to let my traps lag simply because my current grip wont allow me to do all I can.

Now thats NOT saying I wont work on my grip. I will. Most definately. But in the mean time I will not let my traps, or lats, or whatever, lag behind because of what my current grip wont allow.

But before someone thinks I was insulting, once again, this is my view. I certainly dont demand or expect that anyone agree. I think the cheating or not cheating notion is a personal one. I dont think its wrong to do it. But I wont look down on those that do. No one has to answer to me on anything. To each his own.

Originally posted by Mechanic Pete
There is no cheating in bodybuilding, so if you need straps then use them.

Mostly true save for synthol (thats also another opinion though). I am not a competitive bodybuilder though, I lift for fun.

Originally posted by Mudge
Mostly true save for synthol (thats also another opinion though). I am not a competitive bodybuilder though, I lift for fun.

(?????) .....if thats you in that picture then you're having a LOT of fun, lol. I salute you.

sftwrngnr you say for rows straps would be beneficial to get more reps, but not for deadlifts to get more reps why?

Metal V Player so you think it's okay to use straps? The IFBB pro's do.

Originally posted by Metal V Player
(?????) .....if thats you in that picture then you're having a LOT of fun, lol. I salute you.

Agreed

I can’t wait to his updated picture 6 months from now.

Hey Johnny,

I wasn't necessarily excluding deadlifts (or any other exercise for that matter)... I was just using rows as an example. I don't know about anyone else, but right this second, I can't physically deadlift more than I can grip. I can grip and hold 455 for a count of 10... 520 I can grip and hold for a count of 5. When I did deadlifts yesterday, I pulled up 455 with no problem. Put a dime more on each side, and simply couldn't get the weight off the ground (I thought that was kinda bizarre... 20 lbs isn't that damned much of a difference! Could have been me psyching myself out, or perhaps I was just tired... either way, the bar and weight remained stubbornly on the ground as though I'd welded it there.).
While on this topic, I'm curious as to what everyone DOES use for grip strength improvement. I pull partial deadlifts and hold for a 10 count. I start with 315, and go up from there.

-Dan

Originally posted by sftwrngnr
While on this topic, I'm curious as to what everyone DOES use for grip strength improvement. I pull partial deadlifts and hold for a 10 count. I start with 315, and go up from there.

-Dan

I just do a few sets of direct forearm work on arm day, 3 sets to be exact. Usually it just consists of a couple of sets of wrist curls and a set of reverse wrist curls. It actually made a noticeable difference. I figure repeatedly going to failure while maintaining my grip in other exercises is intense enough. One exercise that really kills my forearms is romanian deadlifts. I have to hold the weight for such a long time. When I am using a slower tempo, I have to keep the weight suspended for approximately one minute straight.

I think this thread is getting too many posts. It is simple men and women. Use straps if you want. It is all going to be about the way you feel with holding the bar. If the bar slips off your hand, then buy gloves, or get straps to help out.

Originally posted by Johnnny
Metal V Player so you think it's okay to use straps? The IFBB pro's do.

Im saying its ok for ME to use straps.

Personaly speaking again, to argue that using them is cheating is to argue that taking supplements is also cheating. Every supplement, taken wisely and unless you are a non responder, helps you to some degree. Just like straps.

My views only.