Straps on Bench? ala Fankhouser

Training Bodybuilding
21

[quote]waylanderxx wrote:

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:

[quote]Goodfellow wrote:

[quote]adam_medic wrote:
i don’t think people are understanding what i mean. There’s a link in the 5th post, if you watch even a few minutes in, you’ll see how he wraps the bar before he benches.[/quote]

Using straps gives you a better grip, a better grip allows you to lift more weight (Even on pressing exercises). Chalk does the same thing, but to a lesser extent. [/quote]

It also DISALLOWS one from developing a stronger grip with their bare hands, something that lesser developed people (most on this board) should get before they use straps as a crutch for every damn exercise. [/quote]

I dont think this is true at all. When I rack pull around 600lbs I need to use straps. Now I can do my earlier sets up to ~400lbs (double overhand) without straps. When I first started rack pulling I couldnt pull 300 without straps. Just because someone has straps on doesn’t mean they arent squeezing the shit out of the bar. It is very possible to use straps and still get a ridiculous forearm pump. Unless the person is strapping up and then pulling the weight with their hands completely open I can’t see how it would be a problem. The forearms still do a lot of the work even with straps on. It’s not like once someone gets up to whatever big weight and start to use straps that their forearms stop doing work.

Yes, it is likely true that someone pulling 600lbs raw will have a stronger grip than somoene doing it with straps but when pulling for multiple reps (6+) it would be a shame to miss reps because of grip failure, this goes for any development level.

[/quote]

x2, I’d actually venture to say I get more forearm stimulation because I use straps. I use them for all pulling movements and when using straps I wrap up and hold the bar in my fingertips using a hook grip. The straps keep my grip from slipping, but I’m still holding a good bit of the weight in my curled fingertips. Try holding 80 pounds while making a fist then try holding 50 lbs in the tips of your fingers and see which is harder.
[/quote]

X3.

I wrote this in another thread were this same subject came up and I think it is relevant here as well.

[quote]
In my experiance, straps are used to save my hands from getting torn to hell. Whenever my grip fails, its because a large chunk of one of my callouses has ripped off. TO be sure, your grip still gets some stimulation from the use of straps. The bar would fall from your hands if you straped up but did not squeeze the shit out of it at the same time. Like others have said, I really only think grip strength should be worried about if you have small forearms or if you fail at max attempt deadlifts because of your grip. Even if one of those two situations is the case, I still think straps have a place in training. [/quote]

Brick, I do see your point that any piece of equipment can become a crutch if it is overly relied upon, but I think this is a line that can be walked by most.

22

[quote]DoveofWar08 wrote:

[quote]waylanderxx wrote:

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:

[quote]Goodfellow wrote:

[quote]adam_medic wrote:
i don’t think people are understanding what i mean. There’s a link in the 5th post, if you watch even a few minutes in, you’ll see how he wraps the bar before he benches.[/quote]

Using straps gives you a better grip, a better grip allows you to lift more weight (Even on pressing exercises). Chalk does the same thing, but to a lesser extent. [/quote]

It also DISALLOWS one from developing a stronger grip with their bare hands, something that lesser developed people (most on this board) should get before they use straps as a crutch for every damn exercise. [/quote]

I dont think this is true at all. When I rack pull around 600lbs I need to use straps. Now I can do my earlier sets up to ~400lbs (double overhand) without straps. When I first started rack pulling I couldnt pull 300 without straps. Just because someone has straps on doesn’t mean they arent squeezing the shit out of the bar. It is very possible to use straps and still get a ridiculous forearm pump. Unless the person is strapping up and then pulling the weight with their hands completely open I can’t see how it would be a problem. The forearms still do a lot of the work even with straps on. It’s not like once someone gets up to whatever big weight and start to use straps that their forearms stop doing work.

Yes, it is likely true that someone pulling 600lbs raw will have a stronger grip than somoene doing it with straps but when pulling for multiple reps (6+) it would be a shame to miss reps because of grip failure, this goes for any development level.

[/quote]

x2, I’d actually venture to say I get more forearm stimulation because I use straps. I use them for all pulling movements and when using straps I wrap up and hold the bar in my fingertips using a hook grip. The straps keep my grip from slipping, but I’m still holding a good bit of the weight in my curled fingertips. Try holding 80 pounds while making a fist then try holding 50 lbs in the tips of your fingers and see which is harder.
[/quote]

X3.

I wrote this in another thread were this same subject came up and I think it is relevant here as well.

[quote]
In my experiance, straps are used to save my hands from getting torn to hell. Whenever my grip fails, its because a large chunk of one of my callouses has ripped off. TO be sure, your grip still gets some stimulation from the use of straps. The bar would fall from your hands if you straped up but did not squeeze the shit out of it at the same time. Like others have said, I really only think grip strength should be worried about if you have small forearms or if you fail at max attempt deadlifts because of your grip. Even if one of those two situations is the case, I still think straps have a place in training. [/quote]

Brick, I do see your point that any piece of equipment can become a crutch if it is overly relied upon, but I think this is a line that can be walked by most.[/quote]

You guys are all talking about PULLING exercises - rows, lat pulldowns, chins, and deadlifts. At the intermediate and especially advanced level, straps become almost necessary to keep making gains in back exercises. I do still believe that they SHOULDN’T be used by newbs until they reach at least something like 275 in deadlifts.

But these guys are talking about using them on pressing exercises - exercises in which they’re unnecessary and in which they can strengthen their grip without having the bar slip from their hands (a dip station isn’t going anywhere, nor is a bar in your palms when pressing overhead or on a bench unless you grip it like an old lady).

23

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:

[quote]DoveofWar08 wrote:

[quote]waylanderxx wrote:

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:

[quote]Goodfellow wrote:

[quote]adam_medic wrote:
i don’t think people are understanding what i mean. There’s a link in the 5th post, if you watch even a few minutes in, you’ll see how he wraps the bar before he benches.[/quote]

Using straps gives you a better grip, a better grip allows you to lift more weight (Even on pressing exercises). Chalk does the same thing, but to a lesser extent. [/quote]

It also DISALLOWS one from developing a stronger grip with their bare hands, something that lesser developed people (most on this board) should get before they use straps as a crutch for every damn exercise. [/quote]

I dont think this is true at all. When I rack pull around 600lbs I need to use straps. Now I can do my earlier sets up to ~400lbs (double overhand) without straps. When I first started rack pulling I couldnt pull 300 without straps. Just because someone has straps on doesn’t mean they arent squeezing the shit out of the bar. It is very possible to use straps and still get a ridiculous forearm pump. Unless the person is strapping up and then pulling the weight with their hands completely open I can’t see how it would be a problem. The forearms still do a lot of the work even with straps on. It’s not like once someone gets up to whatever big weight and start to use straps that their forearms stop doing work.

Yes, it is likely true that someone pulling 600lbs raw will have a stronger grip than somoene doing it with straps but when pulling for multiple reps (6+) it would be a shame to miss reps because of grip failure, this goes for any development level.

[/quote]

x2, I’d actually venture to say I get more forearm stimulation because I use straps. I use them for all pulling movements and when using straps I wrap up and hold the bar in my fingertips using a hook grip. The straps keep my grip from slipping, but I’m still holding a good bit of the weight in my curled fingertips. Try holding 80 pounds while making a fist then try holding 50 lbs in the tips of your fingers and see which is harder.
[/quote]

X3.

I wrote this in another thread were this same subject came up and I think it is relevant here as well.

[quote]
In my experiance, straps are used to save my hands from getting torn to hell. Whenever my grip fails, its because a large chunk of one of my callouses has ripped off. TO be sure, your grip still gets some stimulation from the use of straps. The bar would fall from your hands if you straped up but did not squeeze the shit out of it at the same time. Like others have said, I really only think grip strength should be worried about if you have small forearms or if you fail at max attempt deadlifts because of your grip. Even if one of those two situations is the case, I still think straps have a place in training. [/quote]

Brick, I do see your point that any piece of equipment can become a crutch if it is overly relied upon, but I think this is a line that can be walked by most.[/quote]

You guys are all talking about PULLING exercises - rows, lat pulldowns, chins, and deadlifts. At the intermediate and especially advanced level, straps become almost necessary to keep making gains in back exercises. I do still believe that they SHOULDN’T be used by newbs until they reach at least something like 275 in deadlifts.

But these guys are talking about using them on pressing exercises - exercises in which they’re unnecessary and in which they can strengthen their grip without having the bar slip from their hands (a dip station isn’t going anywhere, nor is a bar in your palms when pressing overhead or on a bench unless you grip it like an old lady). [/quote]

Some people have small hands and need all the grip help they can get. I really dont see how the bench press is an exercise to train the grip anyway. If using straps on the bench press allows the person to lift more weight to stimulate the pecs/delts/triceps how is it a bad thing?

Its the same thing as the guys who use the neoprene squares to improve their grip. It actually adds circumference to the bar. Based on the popularity of thick bar work and fat gripz there actually may be a benefit to using straps while pressing.

24

[quote]bugeishaAD wrote:
I know 2 big guys that pretty much wear straps in the gym 24/7. I think it’s just out of habit and a mental comfort kinda thing more than anything.[/quote]

Yeah I think for some lifts it’s necessary and others it’s just a ritual.

25

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:

[quote]DoveofWar08 wrote:

[quote]waylanderxx wrote:

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:

[quote]Goodfellow wrote:

[quote]adam_medic wrote:
i don’t think people are understanding what i mean. There’s a link in the 5th post, if you watch even a few minutes in, you’ll see how he wraps the bar before he benches.[/quote]

Using straps gives you a better grip, a better grip allows you to lift more weight (Even on pressing exercises). Chalk does the same thing, but to a lesser extent. [/quote]

It also DISALLOWS one from developing a stronger grip with their bare hands, something that lesser developed people (most on this board) should get before they use straps as a crutch for every damn exercise. [/quote]

I dont think this is true at all. When I rack pull around 600lbs I need to use straps. Now I can do my earlier sets up to ~400lbs (double overhand) without straps. When I first started rack pulling I couldnt pull 300 without straps. Just because someone has straps on doesn’t mean they arent squeezing the shit out of the bar. It is very possible to use straps and still get a ridiculous forearm pump. Unless the person is strapping up and then pulling the weight with their hands completely open I can’t see how it would be a problem. The forearms still do a lot of the work even with straps on. It’s not like once someone gets up to whatever big weight and start to use straps that their forearms stop doing work.

Yes, it is likely true that someone pulling 600lbs raw will have a stronger grip than somoene doing it with straps but when pulling for multiple reps (6+) it would be a shame to miss reps because of grip failure, this goes for any development level.

[/quote]

x2, I’d actually venture to say I get more forearm stimulation because I use straps. I use them for all pulling movements and when using straps I wrap up and hold the bar in my fingertips using a hook grip. The straps keep my grip from slipping, but I’m still holding a good bit of the weight in my curled fingertips. Try holding 80 pounds while making a fist then try holding 50 lbs in the tips of your fingers and see which is harder.
[/quote]

X3.

I wrote this in another thread were this same subject came up and I think it is relevant here as well.

The bench isn’t an exercise that trains the grip in the same way that chins don’t train the chest even though the chest does have some activation in the exercise. However, benching to succeed in pressing exercises, a strong grip is required. Most powerlifters emphasize gripping the shit out of bars when pressing.

Neoprene squares would actually force a stronger grip while doing an exercise because of the increased bar circumference.

26

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:

Neoprene squares would actually force a stronger grip while doing an exercise because of the increased bar circumference.
[/quote]

How would straps not do the same thing?

I know you aren’t a slow guy. Straps help pull more weight. How are they going to help move more weight while pressing other than giving somone less opportunity to lose grip of the bar (what chalk is used for). I can almost guarantee that straps will not increase a persons max bench press to even close to the degree that they can increase a deadlift. Which was the basis of your point about straps being used as a crutch.

27

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:

It also DISALLOWS one from developing a stronger grip with their bare hands, something that lesser developed people (most on this board) should get before they use straps as a crutch for every damn exercise. [/quote]

Why do people think this?

when you rack pull, you aren’t developing your chest, does that mean that if you rack pull, you have a small chest?

So why exactly is it that if you don’t train grip on pulling movements does it mean you have a weak grip?

28

Because of this thread, I used straps for my shoulders today.

Pressing felt great, and it was the first time I ever did lat raises with a suicide grip, that shit felt amazing (and my shoulders feel nice and sore/warm right now).

Thumbs up for straps on presses, and even raises :slight_smile:

29

[quote]silverhydra wrote:
Because of this thread, I used straps for my shoulders today.

Pressing felt great, and it was the first time I ever did lat raises with a suicide grip, that shit felt amazing (and my shoulders feel nice and sore/warm right now).

Thumbs up for straps on presses, and even raises :)[/quote]

Pretty sure I’ve seen Lee Priest using straps on raises… the youtube pros didn’t like that, lol.

30

Some experience far elss pain using the suicide grip and avoiding suicide in the process by using straps seems like a great idea FOR THOSE PEOPLE.

The OP never discussed pulling, only the “unconventional” use of straps.

31

I use versa gripps. You can wrap them around the bar for pulling and cup them in your hands for pushing. http://www.versagripps.com/

32

Straps work great for DB pressing exercises. They give a much more firm hold on the DBs and you are always incontrol. Chalk does primarily the same thing, but having to rechalk every few minutes is a pain if you’re sweating heavily (like I always am). So if you can get a few more good, solid reps out of a press, then why not use them.

You can always train your grip later. Bodybuilding is about stimulating muscle growth in certain areas of the body. If you’re training shoulders/chest/triceps and wraps help you put up more weight why on Earth would you neglect using them? Doesn’t make much sense to me.

It’s like arguing that wearing a belt on your heaviest sets of squats is a stupid idea, simply because your core muscles should be able to hold you under a load. But if you’re trying to train your legs with heavy squats, I don’t know many people who go into a 90-95% 1-RM load without a belt. Why would you, unless you’re strickly training for powerlifting purposes. It’s an unnecessary risk on your low back and the extra support gives you a few extra reps for your legs.

So as long as your training aids are used in an appropriate manner when dealing with loads that would normally be hard to control or awkward to handle use them.

Gremlin

33

[quote]BONEZ217 wrote:

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:

Neoprene squares would actually force a stronger grip while doing an exercise because of the increased bar circumference.
[/quote]

How would straps not do the same thing?
[/quote]

x2 My straps are kind of thick anyhow (at least as twice as thick as any other brand I’ve seen), so I get a decent forearm workout when using them.

Not to say that it doesn’t necessitate extra grip workout, but still