Thread: Get a grip, GIRLY MON!

Originally Posted by Focus

A friend of mine showed me this site, which has some great prices for strength equipement... ie bands, grip tools, ect

He spoke highly of this particular gripper on the top of the page...
http://www.ironwoodyfitness.com/hand_grips.html

Just ordered one myself minutes ago, and expect to get it by Friday.

Let me know what you think. I was looking at that. It looks like a good way to get more variability in one piece of equipment so I don't have to buy 2-3 levels of other strength-oriented gripping tools.

Originally Posted by CowPimp

Let me know what you think. I was looking at that. It looks like a good way to get more variability in one piece of equipment so I don't have to buy 2-3 levels of other strength-oriented gripping tools.

I'll post back this weekend how it goes. The design seemed appealing to me- those traditional handgrippers never really felt right to me. The adjustable feature gets me too
My friend who referred me had great results. In a few weeks he blasted his pullups from 13-19... aside from the crazy grip strength he claims now too

I have that gripper, its not bad. More of a forearm trainer than anything. I prefer the captian of crush series, those are challenging. I can close the #2 three times in each hand. The #3 wont even budge.

that thing sucks.

A friend of mine had it. It broke pretty easily. Plus, it is not as comfortable to hold as teh captains of crush.

For my forearms I have half a broomstick which I drilled a hole through with a rope holding some weights. I roll this up and it seems to work good. Any idea how this compares to those grippers? It seems like it might hit different muscles than just forearms.

I wwant something liek this to train my forearms and my grip because i bevelive it'll help me at grapplling
are those things good where u like clinch ur fist and let go and do it again and so and so. ??
or is somethign liek this better???
anbydoy know a link to a really good grip/forearm strength machine/tool?

Originally Posted by dontsurfonmytur

I wwant something liek this to train my forearms and my grip because i bevelive it'll help me at grapplling
are those things good where u like clinch ur fist and let go and do it again and so and so. ??
or is somethign liek this better???
anbydoy know a link to a really good grip/forearm strength machine/tool?

There are a bunch of exercises to help you out, with two methods already posted in this thread. Try the gripping tool I posted, or something in similiar fashion. The smaller grippers can be found in most stores that have exercise equipment, and even in places like Walmart and Target.
What Ziggy posted is the other method that seems to really blast the forearms. I don't believe it increases grip strength as much as the grippers, but I think it frys the forearms to quite a degree that might not be achievable with the grippers. Follow Ziggy's method as well.... build your own. I have yet to try it, but I know it's a great exercise... I will be building one in the coming weeks.
You could even do more functional training, such as holding heavy weight. Grab a 25 pound plate by the outside with your fingers, and just hold it for as long as possible. Get on your knees and bend over a mat and time it.
Pushups on the fingers... would that increase finger strength? For gripping?

Originally Posted by Focus

There are a bunch of exercises to help you out, with two methods already posted in this thread. Try the gripping tool I posted, or something in similiar fashion. The smaller grippers can be found in most stores that have exercise equipment, and even in places like Walmart and Target.
What Ziggy posted is the other method that seems to really blast the forearms. I don't believe it increases grip strength as much as the grippers, but I think it frys the forearms to quite a degree that might not be achievable with the grippers. Follow Ziggy's method as well.... build your own. I have yet to try it, but I know it's a great exercise... I will be building one in the coming weeks.
You could even do more functional training, such as holding heavy weight. Grab a 25 pound plate by the outside with your fingers, and just hold it for as long as possible. Get on your knees and bend over a mat and time it.
Pushups on the fingers... would that increase finger strength? For gripping?

So any kind of those would work right?? And that they are bad for your wrists is just a myth?

BTW those gripper toools are like a gun trigger right?

That appears to be the Ivanko design. I have the Captains of Crush #1 and #2, they are great.

Originally Posted by Mudge

That appears to be the Ivanko design. I have the Captains of Crush #1 and #2, they are great.

How often do you use a gripper?
I plan on doing "sessions" sort of. What is a typical rep/set count?

Or is it moreover something you can just squeeze all day long whenever you feel like it, constantly increasing strength.

Originally Posted by dontsurfonmytur

So any kind of those would work right?? And that they are bad for your wrists is just a myth?

BTW those gripper toools are like a gun trigger right?

I've personally never heard of wrist problems arising from a gripper... it only strengthens the rist. Idm think they would be recommended in rehabilitation programs.

A gun trigger design? I don't think so..... check out the link or the ones P-Funk and Mudge listed to find pictures.

Originally Posted by Focus

How often do you use a gripper?
I plan on doing "sessions" sort of. What is a typical rep/set count?

Or is it moreover something you can just squeeze all day long whenever you feel like it, constantly increasing strength.

I like to use a variety of intensities with grip work. Sometimes I will go more for endurance and do farmer's walks for like 3 round trips across my gym floor. Sometimes I will go for strength and I will do a static hold with something I can only hold for several seconds.

Originally Posted by Focus

How often do you use a gripper?
I plan on doing "sessions" sort of. What is a typical rep/set count?

If you want true strength and nothing else then you can't be doing it all the time at high volume. You have to judge your own recovery time, but there are example routines provided with the Captains of Crush grippers.

People training for hypertrophy dont train the same as people training for power or strength. You use your hands a lot already, which is part of the reason volume must be watched very closely.

Originally Posted by Mudge

If you want true strength and nothing else then you can't be doing it all the time at high volume. You have to judge your own recovery time, but there are example routines provided with the Captains of Crush grippers.

People training for hypertrophy dont train the same as people training for power or strength. You use your hands a lot already, which is part of the reason volume must be watched very closely.

I agree. You can't expect your grip to get stronger by training daily. It is just like anything else, it needs to rest and recover.

Got the gripper this weekend, and I must say I do like it.
The standard package is two springs, which can be moved through 12 different grooves for intensity. I havn't gone near the 12th groove, the hardest. Love the adjustability.
I do need to wrap it in a towel though for grip.... the material is smooth to start with, and once there is a the tiniest bit of perspiration on the thing it becomes difficult to squeeze.
Overall though, I like it a lot. For 25 dollars shipped, I think it's FTW... with the adjustability in mind