Thread: AM I 'cheating' my back by using straps for deadlifts?? (lifted 150lbs more with it)

It wont be cheating your back, as long as the rest of the exercise has good form, but it should be a major point in your routine now to improve your grip strength a bit.

From a bodybuilding perspective probably not

not at all.

if you are not competing in sports where grip strength is neccessary (powerlifting, o-lifting, strongman) then it would be silly to hold yourself back because you don't have enough grip strength to handle more weight.

Originally Posted by juggernaut2005

Am I??

Reason being.. I just started doing deadlights 3-4months ago and always stopped at 225lbs for 8reps. (I don't consider myself too weak, I can bench 315lbs x 10 & 405lbs x 6-8).

I do agree with P. If grip strength isn't required why hold your development back? I DL 315lbs without straps and will use straps on anything higher. My grip strength is more than adequate for my needs.

Originally Posted by largepkg

I do agree with P. If grip strength isn't required why hold your development back? I DL 315lbs without straps and will use straps on anything higher. My grip strength is more than adequate for my needs.

Yeah go figure.. benching has little to do with grip strength tho!! SO the consensus is go with straps?? Maybe I'll go 225lbs w/o straps and anything over 225lbs with straps??
Does it mean ive been wasting my time for 3-4months DLing 225lbs?

o well

Originally Posted by juggernaut2005

Yeah go figure.. benching has little to do with grip strength tho!! SO the consensus is go with straps?? Maybe I'll go 225lbs w/o straps and anything over 225lbs with straps??
Does it mean ive been wasting my time for 3-4months DLing 225lbs?

o well

It's irrelevant at this point. Just focus on your future workouts. Lift as much as you can handle without straps then use them when needed.

When it comes to pulling, I use straps or hooks with any pulls over 350 lbs. Under that I just use my grip strength.

I don't mean to flame you, but let me offer you this stark contrast: I am a weakling with a 200 max bench, and my grip strength is about on par with your grip strength...

"Maybe I'll go 225lbs w/o straps and anything over 225lbs with straps??"

Well it sounds like your grip strength hasn't improved in the months that you have been lifting 225 W/O straps, so no. If you want your grip to improve you have to use progressive overload, so either start doing your deadlifts heavier W/O straps or start doing some additional grip work to improve your grip strength.

Originally Posted by kcoleman

I don't mean to flame you, but let me offer you this stark contrast: I am a weakling with a 200 max bench, and my grip strength is about on par with your grip strength...

"Maybe I'll go 225lbs w/o straps and anything over 225lbs with straps??"

Well it sounds like your grip strength hasn't improved in the months that you have been lifting 225 W/O straps, so no. If you want your grip to improve you have to use progressive overload, so either start doing your deadlifts heavier W/O straps or start doing some additional grip work to improve your grip strength.

You make a valid point and thats why I asked whats more important?? using straps and maximizing my back workout OR going w/o straps and working on grip strength?? I think Ill use straps for DLs over 225lbs and do exercises for grip strength?? Sounds like a plan?

Originally Posted by Tough Old Man

When it comes to pulling, I use straps or hooks with any pulls over 350 lbs. Under that I just use my grip strength.

Do you do direct workouts for your grip strength? or is it natural?? Again for a rec bodybuilder, why is maximizing grip strength important??

I will have to try that next wednesday, my grip seems to be holdin me back when i got with a heavier weight

Originally Posted by juggernaut2005

You make a valid point and thats why I asked whats more important?? using straps and maximizing my back workout OR going w/o straps and working on grip strength?? I think Ill use straps for DLs over 225lbs and do exercises for grip strength?? Sounds like a plan?

personally, I love training grip. And I have a pretty good grip to show for it....I do all my pulling movements from the floor with an overhand hook grip and have not used straps in years.

If you are a BB'er and don't care about grip strength then fuck it. Use straps. It wont affect you on stage if you don;t have a great grip BUT it will affect you if you have been holding back in your workouts because you weren't using straps. just something to think about.

Now, if it is the 'offseason', no contests for awhile, and you are interested in building some grip strength and/or overal strength and expecially pulling strength then go for it and work on your grip. But, I would ditch the straps all together in this case.

When I have someone that is interested in working on grip strength but they have a weak grip we don't use straps. We just do multiple sets of lower reps with timed rest intervals at their working weight.

So, you got 365 for 6 with straps. Which means, maybe you can get 2 reps without them. Lets start below 365 and I will show you how to train your grip to become a machine.

Start with 350. Warm up. Then, you are going to go for 8 sets with 2-3 reps per set with 30sec in between them. If you got 8 sets of 3, next week, drop the rest interval 5-10sec. Allow your grip to build up. If you get 8 sets of 3 then up the rep range to 3-5 and keep the rest interval at 20-25sec. Then start to add weight as your grip gets more comfortable. As you start to build that powerful grip, 350 for 5 without straps will feel like nothing to you.

For your goals you can use straps. I wouldn't use them as a crutch; go strapless for your warmup sets up to whatever you can handle and whip out the straps when you really need them.

You could also work on your grip strength simultaneously. It might even lead to some forearm growth, which is always a good thing.

Do the deadlifts with straps, because it is stupid that all the muscles that get worked by deadlifts are not getting hit good, cause your forearms dont have enough strength, I think you should do deadlifts, and do grip strength seperately, just hold heavy ass dumbbells in your hand for as long as possible.

If your only goals are strictly related to recreational bodybuilding, then straps would be fine... If you're going to get into powerlifting, or O-lifting at some point, then you'd be better off working on grip strength.

I would use em, but make an effort to improve my grip.

thats a lot for all your input guys.. I'm gonna go strapless untill I get to the heavy stuff then go with straps.. Valid point about not hittin all the muscles because I'm going strapless..

225 x 8 w/o straps vs 225 x 20-30 with straps is significant... I LOVE dealights and wanna make sure I'm going all out when I'm doing them

Originally Posted by P-funk

personally, I love training grip. And I have a pretty good grip to show for it....I do all my pulling movements from the floor with an overhand hook grip and have not used straps in years.

If you are a BB'er and don't care about grip strength then fuck it. Use straps. It wont affect you on stage if you don;t have a great grip BUT it will affect you if you have been holding back in your workouts because you weren't using straps. just something to think about.

Now, if it is the 'offseason', no contests for awhile, and you are interested in building some grip strength and/or overal strength and expecially pulling strength then go for it and work on your grip. But, I would ditch the straps all together in this case.

When I have someone that is interested in working on grip strength but they have a weak grip we don't use straps. We just do multiple sets of lower reps with timed rest intervals at their working weight.

So, you got 365 for 6 with straps. Which means, maybe you can get 2 reps without them. Lets start below 365 and I will show you how to train your grip to become a machine.

Start with 350. Warm up. Then, you are going to go for 8 sets with 2-3 reps per set with 30sec in between them. If you got 8 sets of 3, next week, drop the rest interval 5-10sec. Allow your grip to build up. If you get 8 sets of 3 then up the rep range to 3-5 and keep the rest interval at 20-25sec. Then start to add weight as your grip gets more comfortable. As you start to build that powerful grip, 350 for 5 without straps will feel like nothing to you.

Thanks p-funk.. Ill definately give that routine a shot!! Sho8ld I try and figure out my maximum first before doing this routine?? (attempt 405lb DL??) or stick with 365 for your advice? thanks!

Also would it make sense to train legs day 2 after back??? I havent squatted (or trained legs) in 5years and wanna start doing squats and deadlifts as part of my core training routine!!

Originally Posted by LexusGS

I will have to try that next wednesday, my grip seems to be holdin me back when i got with a heavier weight

you should definately give it a shot.. you might be surprised

Originally Posted by juggernaut2005

Thanks p-funk.. Ill definately give that routine a shot!! Sho8ld I try and figure out my maximum first before doing this routine?? (attempt 405lb DL??) or stick with 365 for your advice? thanks!

Also would it make sense to train legs day 2 after back??? I havent squatted (or trained legs) in 5years and wanna start doing squats and deadlifts as part of my core training routine!!

it isn't about finding your max with the straps. it is about what you can do without them....if working on your grip is what you are interested in.

if you don't care all that much then train how you train and use the straps.

Originally Posted by P-funk

it isn't about finding your max with the straps. it is about what you can do without them....if working on your grip is what you are interested in.

if you don't care all that much then train how you train and use the straps.

good deal... thanks p-funk and everyone that contributed

Am i the only one that doesn't use straps at all? I don't plan on being a bodybuilder, olympic lifter, or powerlifter. My deadlift max is 425 for now, so would the straps help/benefit at all?

I don't ever use straps either.

Originally Posted by shiznit2169

Am i the only one that doesn't use straps at all? I don't plan on being a bodybuilder, olympic lifter, or powerlifter. My deadlift max is 425 for now, so would the straps help/benefit at all?

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wow 425lbs w/o straps? thats impressive... how long have you been dead lifting?? how are your other lifts??

Originally Posted by shiznit2169

Am i the only one that doesn't use straps at all? I don't plan on being a bodybuilder, olympic lifter, or powerlifter. My deadlift max is 425 for now, so would the straps help/benefit at all?

I don't use straps either. Never have and never will.

I ONLY use straps when deadlifting. And that's because of the huge difference it makes for me....I have TINY little girl hands and a pretty weak grip....225 starts slipping after 4 or 5 reps but with straps I've gotten 405x4.

Originally Posted by juggernaut2005

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wow 425lbs w/o straps? thats impressive... how long have you been dead lifting?? how are your other lifts??

Overall, i have only been lifting for a year and 3 months. I started out at 145 pounds skinny and just ate like a madman and trained smart and i am currently 188 pounds and a lot bigger than i used to be.

My big 3 for now

Deadlift - 425
Squat - 275 x 3
Bench - 245 x 3

I never tested my 1RM for both squats and bench. Don't really plan on it either.

Originally Posted by shiznit2169

Overall, i have only been lifting for a year and 3 months. I started out at 145 pounds skinny and just ate like a madman and trained smart and i am currently 188 pounds and a lot bigger than i used to be.

My big 3 for now

Deadlift - 425
Squat - 275 x 3
Bench - 245 x 3

I never tested my 1RM for both squats and bench. Don't really plan on it either.

You gained 43lbs in a year?? Yeah, I gained almost 60 this past year at my biggest...but I was chemically enhanced....and got kinda soft too....I was 140lbs when I graduated from high school a few years ago...Holding 185ish right now...