Programming Hand Grippers

I thought to ask a question on this thread, instead of making a new one and it isn’t a derail.

I had for a few years a lever type grip exerciser, that pulls against a spring. I would at the end of an exercise session do 3 sets each hand of whatever I could muster, 90 seconds between. this seemed to be reasonably effective until I accidentally damaged the spring, now it is lower resistance and not worth my using.

I just recently replaced it with a Pro Hands by Gripmaster, extra heavy tension. I have used this for two sessions so far and my reps achieved are starting out much lower. I am also getting an XX heavy duty of the same thing for the time I max out the one I already have.

Or should i use both in a sort of Pyramid? Basically it occurs to me since I have all this new hardware I should find out if there are any better programs for them.

Please and thanks to anyone who would suggest something.

I do two grip training sessions per week. One is holds for time so either a hang from a fat bar, a plate pinch, farmer handle holds or holding an axle.

The other is for weight. So a rolling thunder, a double overhand axle bar deadlift, a meadows row holding the barbell sleeves, sometimes a wrist roller or grip crushers. The grip is challenged too much to fatigue other body parts.

I usually throw these inbetween a pressing movement in 6-8 week blocks and then drop them all together.

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It is about time I got back to fitness related posting, thanks for the attempt.

I currently have a home setup in which a lot of these suggestions are not available. When my right forearm strain heals (it is separate from my past left lower bicep tendon strain, that has healed) I will be able to do weighted carries with my 125lb bag. So I would use one hand underneath the bag as part of lifting it onto my shoulders before carrying.

Other than that i could do plate pinches, but I would rather not risk dumping something heavy on the floor tiles.

Basically I am asking if anyone has any particular programming for a dedicated hand grip exerciser.

That’s pretty cool, a Time workout and a Weight workout.

Here’s an old one from Charles Poliquin

Weeks 1-3

Three times holds with gripper, working to 3 holds of 60-70 seconds.

Weeks 4-6

4 sets of 4 closes or “reps,” holding the close for 6 count each rep

4 holds working towards 60 seconds each

Some grip need wrote a gripper program called “Kinney Adapted Training” that lots of guys used for grippers. You can do a search and download the whole program for free.

“Closing Big Grippers” by Heath Sexton is a nice article from some guy’s blog you could check out for ideas.