Jesus man, I can feel my chest tighten and my nose run like fuck just looking at that pic
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Stronger. Unequivocally and massively stronger. It allows you to lift more weights than you can without it. Lifting more weights makes the muscles stronger than lifting less weights. Itās like using straps on a deadlift to bypass the grip and push the whole body further.
One of my biggest regrets in lifting was not using a belt on day 1. I left a lot on the table. Straps are up there too.
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I donāt use straps on deadlifts because my grip is a total non-issue at the weights I use. But I get your larger point, i will have to start remembering a belt.
Your training style of deadlifts most likely wonāt benefit from straps other, which also means there is an untapped avenue available for said straps.
Once I started employing straps, I could do VERY heavy high rep sets of touch and go deadlifts, which, in turn, drove my deadlift in VERY good directions. The double overhand pulling style also allowed me to make my body ālongerā and cut down on ROM.
To say nothing of the benefit of straps on other back work as well.
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Once deadlifts become a factor again, Iāll definitely consider learning to use straps.
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Between this and a few other conversations Iāve had on here over the last few days, Iāve started thinking about plans and goals for next year.
Iāve already committed to a year of 531, and my long term lifetime goals of 2/3/4/5 plates in terms of strength still stand. A little bit of quick maths, then, tells me that with 52 weeks in a year, I get more than 17 cycles of 531. Add in a decent amount of deloads and I can still run through 15 cycles. Working backwards from my goals, and assuming 5kg TM increase per cycle on lower body and 2.5kg on upper body, i could theoretically start with the following training maxes:
Deadlift: 125kg
Squat: 85kg
Bench: 87.5kg
Press: 42.5kg
Start too light, indeed.
It also occured to me that bench looks like itās going to be far and away the most difficult of those goals to hit, Iāve got a lot of ground to catch up there, particularly as I doubt Iāll be willing to commit to a whole year in a heavy surplus. In fact, Iām pretty confident that a reasonable amount of time will be spent eating less.
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Iāve tried ohp once with belt and didnāt like it, now thinking I should give it another go, probably hugely individual but is it better to wear higher or lower for ohp?
Also in the same boat as @dagill2 on straps but your follow up comment interests me. Iāve got straps that I use mostly for rowing, never for deadlift, might have to try this out, my deadlift and ohp both suck, so a new approach to experiment with is always with considering!
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I always wear a belt low, no matter the movement. Wearing it high makes zero sense to me.
Definitely worth investing in learning the straps. Thereās a LOT of deadlift growth available when grip is taken off the table.
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Would you then recommend aiming to high rep deads for a long period of time (kind of thinking 531 with amrap top set, strapped up).
I usually get some nasty bruises in my hip cease from squats so Iām on board with low just wasnāt sure if press had any different considerations, but Iāll just keep it in my normal place and try it again!
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I tend to make it clear that I never recommend anything, as Iām not a coach and havenāt worked hands on with you, but I am a big fan of higher rep touch and go deadlifts to build size and strength. Dead stops and low reps have their place, but theyāre easier, which is why people like to do them.
20 rep deads it is then, thanks coach!
Seriously though, understand the not coaching thing but talking through stuff with someone whoās been there and discovered effective paths Iām all ears and it helps inform my self experimentation.
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Itās why I am always specific to say what I would do, rather than what you should do. Iām more than happy to talk about what has worked for me, as Iām VERY good at making me big and strong. Not as much a track record doing it for others.
I figure human physiology is generally similar enough in all of us that your advice will almost certainly work well to help me get bigger and stronger too!
Either that or itās your superior genetics 
It has been proven that the belt helps the abs contract harder, and is not just crutch. And yeah it helps me quite a lot on OHP too.
If I hook grip does that count as straps ahahah? But yeah when I started, using straps helped my deadlift a lot
I feel you, I have a short torso, wide hips but a 31" waist relaxed so thereās pretty much only one spot I can put my Brahma belt and it ends up with bruises ahahah
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Ah yes another member of the hook grip fraternity. Clearly a man of culture.
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Mixed was just annoying and led to unbalances. And you canāt olift mixed ahahah
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I am definitely trying to get onboard with the idea of using the belt for OHP, although I cannot yet tell if it is giving any immediate benefit. I have a feeling I am not bracing 100% correctly.
When you guys talk of wearing it lowā¦how low? Feels like we should be able to describe this in tangible terms.
Belt placement is an individual thing. Iāve seen some pro powerlifters use it high
I started with lasso type straps for dl, as you grip gives out the lasso bit can tighten up and I was noticing wrist pain the day after. Go for figure of 8ās if that becomes an issue. I much prefer them.
You and me both.
Although there is also a thought that holding 50kg in your hands just isnāt heavy enough for a brace to be a factor. Having now held 80kg, thatās a totally different feel and i can definitely see the need to get a good brace there. Time to get working on that.
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