I recently got a captain of crush gripper (level 1) due to that fact that I have small bone structure in my hands ( in other words they’re weak little bitchly hands) . Obviously this poses a problem in many lifts. So far I can do 5 sets of 5 on each hand (just barely). But here’s my problem. On my left hand (considerably weaker), toward my pinky the back of my hand really hurts when I use the gripper. Just a little the first time and two days later(today). I’ve smashed my pinky knuckles up several times, although the last time on my left hand was a solid year ago. Does anyone else have this problem? If so what did you do?
I would say you need to make contact with your first two knuckles when you punch, not your pinky knuckle ;). Other than that I would say keep doing them and see if they still hurt after a couple of weeks.
Wanna come over my house so I can practice 
Just playing smartass. Uhh, anybody else have something to add. Boxers? MMA fighters?
Try beating off with the right for a while.
Or better yet, use the gripper with your left hand while you rub one out with the right. That should take your mind off the pain. Just don’t forget which hand is doing what.
RIT Jared
Alright the smart ass pervert shit is fine during the appropriate time in the appropriate place. This is the Strength Training board. A real answer would be appreciated.
In defense of RITJared, I was going to write something similar. It’s tough when we see your handle that is what we all are conditioned to respond to.
Seriously though, one thing you could try is to grip it with 4 fingers with the pink hanging off the end. It will probably make it harder but it may not hurt as much.
I also had this problem (pain in my hands after/during gripper sessions). However, I took the pussy way out and quit doing them. I used to be all gung-ho about gripper training after reading the entire ironmind catalog (I bought grippers, a wrist rollers, etc), but the pain turned me off.
So, I guess what I am saying is that I, too, would like to hear how to solve this problem so I could go back to using all that stuff I paid $$$ for.
how bout this for advice, cowboy the fuck up and deal with it!! Other than that I don’t know what to tell you.
Is the bottom of the gripper below the bottom edge of your hand when you are closing it or is the bottom of the gripper resting on your palm? If the base of the gripper is “in” your palm, all that pressure being focused into a small area like the edge of the gripper could be causing the pain.
Try Farmer walks. You work your grip in to utter exhaustion and you also get a trap exercise in while you’re at it. Nothing wrong with a little GPP while working a muscle group you need. Try towel chinups, just hang a towel over the chin up bar, and grip on either side and pull yourself up.
If these hurt your hands as well, then hey, maybe you have a little arthritis in those knucles. Many manual labor men I know have arthritis in their knucles just from smashing them a few times here and there with hammers, etc.
But, I recommend trying towel chins, and farmer walks first to see if those don’t hurt your fingers.
http://images.t-nation.com/forum_images/./1/.1103847182658.340lbloglift.jpg
You can also turn the gripper upside down so the wide part is at the top. Try this for a while, it might help. See if it will strengthen the flexor muscle that is attched to the pinkey.
Good Luck.
This might seem a little obvious: but perhaps you might think about picking up a CoC ‘Sport’ or a CoC ‘Trainer’, something that you could get 10-15 reps out of. Starting out with one of these might help you both warm up the hand, and slowly increase the strength of it.
Nice to see some real responces here. Thank you guys. I have used towel chins in the past and would like to try adding farmers walks into one of my next workouts (probably after dynamic bench day).
As for cowboying the fuck up and training through it. That seems like a good idea…if I one where a MORON. Nowhere in my hours of researching grip training do I remember anyone mentioning that it’s fine for your knuckles to feal as though you had just pounded someones skull in a few days ago. I’ve been in this game long enough to know the difference between pain and a coming injury. Thanks all the same though fuckaroo
I used to have a similar problem but between my thumb and index finger. I would make sure you warm up properly, I use the dexerity balls for that. It made a difference! Also, make sure you work your extensors too, rubber bands, mayo jar lifts, self-resistence, etc. If you’re interested in grip training, PM me, I have a good site for you to check out.
To-Shin Do
[quote]Wideguy wrote:
Nice to see some real responces here. Thank you guys. [/quote]
Sorry about the jerk off comment. Anyway I wanted to add that you should maybe incorporate some antagonist movements and stretches as ToShinDo suggested. Get a rubber band and stretch it around your fingertips, then flex your fingers outwards as if you were grabbing a big titty.
I think the mayonnaise jar hold is where you shove your fingertips in the mouth of the jar and hold it with outward pressure, which is also a good solution.
If you forget your rubberband and mayonnaise jar, you could probably use a vagina in a pinch.
Also in your free time, watching TV or driving or whatever, take one finger at a time, and stretch it back towards your forearm using the other hand. Hold for a count of 10, then move on to the next finger. Try to do this 3x per day.
Many bodybuilders/weightlifters develop mild or moderate hand problems because we are constantly squeezing dumbells, or barbells, but we almost never work the antagonist muscles.
Another idea is to take a bunch of the rubberbands you find on broccoli bunches and lobster claws (you might be able to ask at your local fish market), and stretch 4-5 of them over the pinkie side of your gripper. This will give you a little extra assistance during the initial movement, and might alleviate some of the stress on the pinkie-side of your hand as well as let you get a few extra reps.
RIT Jared
you’re welcome, glad I could be of no assistance. =p
[quote]RIT Jared wrote:
I think the mayonnaise jar hold is where you shove your fingertips in the mouth of the jar and hold it with outward pressure, which is also a good solution.
[/quote]
Yep. Throw in a handful of sand for extra weight every now and then.
The other suggestions are right on point. I would make sure that you warm up (I bought a nice weak gripper from wal-mart for like 7 dollars), also make sure you do some extensor work.
Good luck
WIll42
I’d aggree with most of the (sensible) suggestions here; extensor work / low tension gripper - I use a “nothing” gripper (can get 150+reps) to warm up then the COC Trainer, COC#1 then #2.
Try doing easy east reps most days, the once a week try increasin the intensity BUT be prepared to back off if the bad pain starts. I think using a gripper upside down could be a good idea. One device you might try is a Snowball from Iron Mind, they come in 2 sizes, they might be a way to work your bad hand, try their site,
Most of all-LET US KNOW HOW YOU GET ON!
Old Dax
[quote]RIT Jared wrote:
Try beating off with the right for a while.
Or better yet, use the gripper with your left hand while you rub one out with the right. That should take your mind off the pain. Just don’t forget which hand is doing what.
RIT Jared[/quote]
Hahahahahahaha. Best advice I’ve ever heard. Who says it isn’t appropriate for the Strength Training board.