Will gloves help?

[Soapz]

I'm constantly finding my lifts hampered by a weak grip. My back+legs could take a MUCH heavier beating from deadlifts, but my forearms are too weak to hold on to the darn bar.

I'm already using an alternate grip, and I've recently started using a grip strengthener 2-3 times a week, but the problem still persists.

So I was wondering if getting gloves will help? They could possibly increase my grip (friction). Or those...grip strap things I've heard a bit about. What do you guys recommend?

Obviously, I'll need to increase my forearm strength, but I'm really anxious to improve my deadlifts NOW, instead of waiting months for my forearm to grow.

Thx for any input guys!

p.s. how would you recommend me use my grip strengthener? Currently, I'm just doing 2 sets of as many reps as I can go, then do a static hold for as long as I can. Any better ideas?

 

[Teflon_Mcgee]

Gloves will not likely help your current grip as they add width to the bar. They may actually help you build your grip though. I wouldn't recommend straps as you won't work yout forearms very much and then your grip will remain weak.

To buid grip:

Do reverse curls.
Hang a towel from a pull up bar and then grab the towel and hang for as long as possible. rest, repeat.
When you do pull-up (You do do lots of pull-ups, right?) hang for ten seconds between each rep.
Grip a plate (as heavy as you can) using various grips (i.e., between fingers and palm or between thumb and index finger) for as long as possible.
Wrist curls.

 

[Warboss Alex]

Follow Teflon's advice for grip strengthening. Look into farmer's walks (personal favourite if you can find dumbbells heavy enough) and static holds also.

Gloves are useless. They may look cool (especially the neon pink ones I bought as a joke for my missus) but they don't actually do anything other than protect your hand from a few blisters/callouses. Straps on the other hand actually serve a purpose, and I find them essential for all back movements (deadlifts and variations, rows, chins/pullups/downs). Unless you have a crazy grip you can't overload your back through your grip strength (and if you tried to it'd be dangerous). Invest in a pair of nice straps.

(and if anyone tells me that wearing straps will means your forearms won't grow, I say bull - rowing in the 300-400 range and deadlifting in the 400-700 range will make anyone's forearms grow, straps or otherwise)

your forearms and grip will improve as your deadlift does.. don't worry.

 

[VSTbeserk]

My palms tend to get sweaty so my grip goes to sh1t so i find gloves useful... doesn't seem to have hampered anything. as far as straps go....I liked them the few times i used them mostly just for 1 rep max lift

 

[cuzza]

I'm gonna get some gloves; at times I'm lifting and I can't continue, not because of the weight, but because it's hurting my hands too much.

 

[Warboss Alex]

If it's hurting your hands gloves won't help.. you just have to get used to the pain over time. My hands don't feel anything much anymore. lol.

 

[mrRuckus]

Gloves are useless. They may look cool (especially the neon pink ones I bought as a joke for my missus) but they don't actually do anything other than protect your hand from a few blisters/callouses.
.

I use gloves on my max set on bench press because I can't use chalk and sometimes my hands get really sweaty and will actually start sliding down the bar as i lift. This is more of a warm weather problem in my not so greatly ACed gym but it's still a mental boost to me whether or not it physically helps when i'm not sweating too much because i feel more stable and like i can grind out my 2 record breaking reps out better.

 

[cuzza]

Well I've done weights at my mates house using gloves and the pain is nothing like it... it doesn't cut into my skin when I wear gloves.

 

[Soapz]

Cuzza, I know what you mean when you say it cuts into your skin.

Thx guys for the input. I'm gonna get both gloves AND straps. Its like...10 bucks anyways- no biggie.

Warboss, as far as I can tell, farmers walks involves holding very heavy dumbells and...walking? Whats your recommendation with those? 2,3 sets?

 

[Warboss Alex]

Cuzza, I know what you mean when you say it cuts into your skin.

Thx guys for the input. I'm gonna get both gloves AND straps. Its like...10 bucks anyways- no biggie.

Warboss, as far as I can tell, farmers walks involves holding very heavy dumbells and...walking? Whats your recommendation with those? 2,3 sets?

start from the dumbbell rack, turn around, keep walking until you can't hold them anymore, take a breather, pick up the dumbbells again, walk back to the rack and put them back. Simple.

 

[Skilla_Staz]

I'm 100% RAW. No straps, no belts, no pads.

However, I have used straps once, granted they were an old stiff pair, but they did help a bit. I just choose not too. Instead I use a staggered grip on my deadlifts.

 

[spesmilitis]

I just reached the point where i can't do deadlifts using my regular grip strength alone. Can't wait till I get those straps.

 

[Skilla_Staz]

Have you tried the staggered grip? I can do MUCH greater amout of weight with that.

One hand over hand. One hand underhand.

 

[Soapz]

^^^Yup, been doing that for a while- it really helps! Thx for the suggestion anyways.

I just got these Gloves: http://www.versagripps.com/

They're f*cking great! I just increased my Deadlift weight by nearly 50 percent!!! I highly recommend them, especially for people like me, who have good core strength, but a pathetic forearm. My hands don't hurt after using these gloves either! Also, I must say they're mostly useful only for pulling excercises (dealifts, rows), and not much use for pushing ones (although they do provide better grip).

Get them! And don't say I'm not exercising ym forearms either, because I just increased my deadlift weight by 50%, and my forearms still get their fair share of a beating.

Thx guys!