When I do power cleans, I prefer to keep my thumb next to the rest of my fingers, wrapped around the top of the bar, this is a comfortable grip, and my fingers are long enough to where i can just about touch my own palm when gripping the bar, and I have never had issues with grip strength, I never use straps or hooks.
Today I had someone “correct” me on this and told me to wrap my thumb around the other way and meet my fingers on the other side, I asked why, and was told that that was “just the proper way to do it”. Any thoughts on this subject, Any opinions for or against this correction? I tried it his way for a rep or two, decided I did not like it, and continued doing it my way.
I can clean around 300 lbs, and im no olympic lifter, i just add them into my workout to be a well rounded athlete. Just looking for some opinions, this guy has a habit of taking his personal preferences, and saying they are the only proper way to do things, and it irritates me. I want to know if he is right, and im just being hardheaded, or I was correct to brush him off and continue my workout, somewhat of an ethical dilemma as well.
Are you currently competing in olympic weightlifting or do you ever plan to perform the snatch and clean&jerk in competition? Sounds like no.
Has grip strength ever been an issue, at any weight, while performing cleans or power cleans? My guess is no, since you say you prefer a grip which makes it harder to hold the bar, but easier to transition from the pull into the rack position.
So, with that said: do whatever you want. Granted, I don’t think any olympic lifting coach would EVER let you lift with a thumbless grip. It limits grip strength at a certain point, there’s no getting around that. Even if it doesn’t limit you with what you can clean at the moment, its better to practice is now and be comfortable with it, than to suddenly try it when you’re trying to clean 450lbs for the first time.
I can’t imagine trying to snatch or clean with a thumbless grip (even though I remember doing so because my turnover at the catch sucked).
TL/DR: He’s technically right, but train however you want if you aren’t trying to compete or perfect form in the classic lifts.
Thank you for your input. Ive never had any problems with grip . And i simply do the power cleans to supplement my sport, I do not plan on competing in olympic lifting. Another reason i do this, is for some reason, the TOP of my thumbs get the skin ripped off of them when i do this, idk how or why, maybe i have crooked thumbs or some shit.
HOWEVER i will say in the past, when I have done heavy weight I did switch to a thumbed grip for a better hold on the weight, and transitioned without a problem.I think its because i like to focus on GRIP and forearm strength, so therefore making it harder to hold the bar with less weight, should build up better grip, without me putting too much stress on the rest of my body ( because i do cleans as a part of a workout, usually 8-9 lifts in a day, usually start with the money lifts and move progressively to less important ones).
You are suicide gripping a PC? Or are you just holding the bar normally with your thumb over your fingers?
The guy is describing the hook grip
It’s easier to exert more force with a hook grip as you are bolted on to the bar. Most people will fail to Sn or Cn a heavy amount of weight without a hook grip due to the power they put in to the lift. But if your not struggling then no biggie for you. This is also why a lot to most powerlifters use an alternate grip whilst DL. Some will double over and some will double over with hook grip.
nk is correct in that no weightlifting coach would tell you to not use a hook grip or at least get use to it. Pretty much 100% of olifters will use a hook grip in comp.
Yes your thumb will take a bit of a battering as you get use to it though.
