Also on Meadows Rows: gripping the end of the bar had me wearing out at 10 reps, with a strap got to 15 before I hit actual failure and couldn't lift the bar anymore.
I know this video is about straps, but (liquid) chalk is worth mentioning as it's a great way to drastically increase grip strength and is allowed in competitions.
Pantera- Cowboys From Hell, Alice in Chains - Them Bones, Primus- John the Fisherman and Tool- Sober. Excellent music taste right there, would be a delight to train in that gym
This video gave short-shrift to Versa-Grips. I love mine. Versa-Grips are quick to apply to the bar, work extremely well assisting with lat pull-downs, and greatly reduce callouses on your palms. They also can be cinched down to act as wrist support straps. Alas, Alan Thrall says he disfavors VersaGrips, but does not say why. Another thing: Rippetoe says cotton lifting straps are junk, and to use seatbelt material.
I appreciated the advice about not waiting until the bar feels like its slipping from your grip to strap up. I have always used this as my indicator for when to wear straps. I will be changing that in the future. I mostly use straps for farmers walks these days, and I usually use the figure 8 type on a trap bar for these.
Oh man, now I realize that my wrapping technique has been quite poor. I was wrapping it over itself. So probably been making things harder on myself when I shouldn't have.
I remember watching a video where Mark bell suggested to do this. I did it for some time and was able to deadlift way heavier than my normal grip ofc. But now I feel like I cheated myself by not just wrapping it normal and forcing my grip to get some extra work.
@@flabio7074 Yeah I didn't realize why that was bad until this video pointed out that you're making the bar thicker and therefore tougher for no benefit. Not sure why Mark Bell would suggest that, though...
@@flabio7074 for myself, it eliminated grip issues by making it secured to my wrist better. The problem was I was never working on my grip and just ego lifting so I never addressed the root of the issue. The double wrap I think is better for situations you really don’t want grip to mess you up.
I used them when I had golfers elbow for any exercise that required gripping and pulling. I could get away with a much lighter grip and it didn't aggravate my tendonitis.
I’ve used all the above except figure 8s. These days for RDLs I start warmups with Overhand, go to Hook as the weight goes up, then to Versa Grips. Pulling from the floor I do warmups the same way, but on a heavy set I do a few reps OH, a few HG, a couple OH, a couple HG, etc (takes less than a second to switch grip). This really extends my grip endurance. Then I go to Versa Grips. I do like to progress reps and weight on both the unstrapped and strapped parts of the series. I use a 28mm raw stainless WL bar with a great knurl, this really helps. Also, training hookgrip deadlift makes me really confident of my hookgrip at the lesser weight of cleans and snatches. Versa Grips are handy for weighted pull-ups, too. That’s originally why I got them.
Ive met many of them through the years, hardmen in groups, men that grows in numbers, but when on their own and confronted in a similar situation, cowers away
I use hook grip when not using straps (depends on how I'm feeling, but usually up until my last warmup set). I use Versa Gripps for my working sets. They're a lot easier for me to get in place than regular straps. I don't compete in any strength sports, so I'm not all that concerned about training my grip while doing deadlifts.
This is a fantastic video Alan. I used to never use straps. However, my hands get so torn up that it’s painful to deadlift effectively. On my heavy singles/doubles days, I don’t use straps. I use straps on every accessory and high rep days to save my grip for the heavy days
Using straps on curls, with getting them twice over the bar, is actually amazing. Almost completely takes the forearm out of the movement, and it's great for those like me who has a problem building a mind connection to the biceps.
oh wow i just tested my 1rm yesterday and dropped the deadlift cuz i forgot to bring my straps while my legs and lower back felt completely fine lol.. what a crazy timing that this video was uploaded today!
Great video! because of this video, I figured out that I have been using lifting straps wrong about 50% of the time. I would sometimes have them on backwards, and not having it running cross my thumb
Really appreciate this video never really used straps all that much in the past prefer raw but I think my grip is becoming a limiting factor. ty for this information love all the content you've put over the years
As a hook grip deadlifter, i do my training mostly with straps and when i max out i use hook grip without any issues, main reasoning is i dont want to kill my thumbs needlessly because it is rather painful going over 2 reps with hook grip
When talking about different types of grip, straps and all that, that you should also mention chalk. I get a good 40-50 pounds extra out of my double overhand deadlift when using chalk, so it can often be a good alternative to straps.
Interesting. I try not to use straps, and definitely limit the weight I could pull, but my grip strength is coming up because I don’t use them. Thanks! Great to hear from others...
can we just appreciate at 5:00 we got to faintly hear northlane....there are many reasons we all watch this channel, trying to figure out the music in the background is the main reason
Faaaaaaaaaaaaaak, love the Testament Legacy Banner. 1989 Chuck Landis' Country Club. Chuck Billy's voice was so loud, people heard it all the way in Northridge California.
I’m happy to do mixed grip for the rest of my life, I love it. But I’m scared of a bicep tear, that would ruin my life. I can’t afford to take that risk especially as I get stronger. It’s time for straps 😔
I use straps anywhere my grip is not the main focus. I train my comp deadlift without and use hook grip and then mixed when my thumb gets too chewed up. Things like shrugs, RDLs, barbell rows and other exercises were my grip will be my limiting factor I will use them.
Hey Alan, in this video you say that mixed grip does not cause muscle imbalences, but in the past you said that you had muscle inbalance in your back, because you used mixed grip, to the point were you felt that one side of your traps was more developed then the other. I dont mean no hate my question is, if the mixed grip does not cause imbalances, then what caused your inbalance?
I'm surprised you don't like Versa Gripps (maybe your opinion has changed since this video). It did look like you were using them incorrectly in this video, the strap that holds the bar should be pointing down into your hand, not pointing up to your forearms, and the bar should be between your hand and the strap. I use them for my hypertrophy training and find them to be a great tool for any exercise that grip could be a limiting factor. I've also used straps for many years, but these are way faster to use. Cheers man, great content, and happy holidays.
Started using hook grip about a month ago. Painful as hell at first, and had to go down in weight a bit to get used to it, but can already tell it's helping.
Late comment - I finally got some straps! My DL is pretty low - my top set now is 4 reps at 325lb - but I always do a drop set after 3 working sets and that's where grip strength is a problem. I'm also thinking they would be great for an aux DL day of Romanian, stiff leg, tap & go or just higher volume sets.
Ok, so something that probably should have been mentioned is that some people (like me), need to use straps to compensate for injuries/dissabilities. I for example have a paralyzed index finger on my right hand which means I'm holding onto the bar with about 3 fingers. Before I started using straps I could lift maybe 70kg before my right hand would just give up. After getting them I have been able to push the limit without feeling like the bar is going to rip my right hand off.
I do small strongman shows. I only use straps on high reps deadlifting in competition. In training I will use them for heavy rows training of my hands are beat up. But its helped my grip alot in competition not using them much.
I’ve never had grip issues, even when using them exclusively during entire training blocks. It prevents my hands from tearing so much, and is just easier in general
1:00 wait what do you mean it doesn't build muscle imbalance despite to contrary popular belief? Didnt you make a video that you felt that your trap muscle is imbalance just by sleeping, laying on your back?
With the way that you explained how to use the strap, I kept expecting to hear you yell: The next movement that I will name, demonstrate, and conduct practical exercise on is applying the lifting strap.
Alan once said that mixed grip cause imbalances, he change his mind? Im failing reps and dont know what to do. The transition for another grip is a problem, cause if you do only in the last set, you are trainig enough.
Could you explain someday the difference among bars? Deadlift barbel, elephant barbel, Oly Lifting barbel etc and there use? Why a deadlift world record is so polemic if the athlet use a elephant barbel, for example
I use mixed grip and I'm paranoid about losing grip strength so pretty much every deadlift set is without straps. I only use straps when my hands are cut up, but that doesn't happen often. I feel for people in bad situations though. I used to lift at a gym that didn't allow chalk and only had these crappy multi-bars with soft knurling. Holding on to the bar was way harder.
Get another gym. 🤷♂️ Funnily enough though, if you have good bars (Rogue deadlift bar for example) then you don’t need chalk as much if you aren’t big dogging 400+ pounds
