I didn’t like straps until I used them. Then I liked them a lot.
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I prefer hooks.
I use them for all deadlifts. Only exception is if I’m using deadlifts as part of a WOD and really want to get in a fast time. I also tend to use them for the majority of any rows I do, along with pulldowns/machine work.
Grip is so easy to train that I don’t try to NOT train it. If my goal is to improve my grip, I use grippers for 5 minutes OR I will hold a double overhand hold for 90 seconds AFTER my deadlift training is done. But when I’m pulling, I want my WHOLE body to work as hard as it can, and, often, the body WON’T engage if it does not feel securely connected to the implement. I find straps allow me to train HARDER as a result.
I still prefer traditional lasso straps over figure 8s, when given the choice. Again: 8s are good for speed, but the traditional ones lock me in much better.
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What does the “P” stand for again?
Haha
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For whatever reason, though I never considered that I had a strong grip, I never found my grip strength a limiting factor in my deadlift. The truth is that I can deadlift a max single without straps more than with straps.
My strongest (most weight) deadlift was at a meet where after the Bench Press, I would find a place to lie flat on the ground so that my back could completely relax. I would warm up a few minutes before my opener and lie back down. When called to the platform I would walk to the bar. Stand there with my entire mental focus on the pull. Stare until everyone in front of me became a blur. At that moment I would bend over, grip the bar, and immediately pull. Had I used straps my back would begin to tighten as I wrapped them around the bar. The pull would be much less effective.
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…
Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of deadlifting purists
Or to train lats against a sea of grip failures
And by strapping build them. To hide, in shirts,
No more.
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I find straps annoying when pulling sumo
I like them for high rep conventional and a must for RDLS
Gotta get on board the Duff train with the “Why Our Way” straps
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IIRC, I tried 3-4 times to switch to hook grip before I was successful. In hindsight, I would have started deadlifting with hook grip, and then I wouldn’t have to go through the pain learning with “heavy” weights. Another bonus to using hook or straps is that mixed grip I believe caused me some unevenness. I looked in the mirror one day, and noticed my shoulders weren’t quite even. I also would slightly “helicopter” the weight (with the underhand side coming out). I think this really stressed my left side erector muscle, and had several brutal cramps (or where the muscle locks up and it feels like I threw out my back). That hasn’t happened since hook grip and straps.
I do think my thumbs have lost a bit of feeling in the tips from hook grip. I mostly use straps for deadlifting and rows now, and I think I have regained some thumb feeling. I can still pull max weights hook. It is kinda weird that way. One or two reps a week with a decent weight seem to maintain grip strength.
I do all the vertical pulling without straps, and that helps grip too.
Also I think it is worth mentioning, that I can’t pull as much with straps. I believe this is a set up thing. I breath at the top before a single on deadlifts, then bend down, grip, then pull. Doing that with straps is too time consuming, so I breath at the bottom and the brace isn’t quite as good, and the amount I pull goes down a bit.
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Serious question: why do 2 ft long straps help?
I use straps for heavier weight or once my grip starts failing.
Your forearm muscles will fatigue before larger muscles do - especially if you are moderate to advanced in lifting with some decent size or above.
I don’t powerlift, so I could care less about anything other than getting optimal fatigue and muscle breakdown for growth.
Plus, anyone who has used considerable gear and growth knows what happens and it makes straps a necessity.
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I’ve always used straps for things like RDLs, rows and pulldowns if needed. Even when I was competing in powerlifting. My grip was never a limiting factor for my deadlift so it never made any sense to me to allow my grip to limit what I could lift on assistance exercises.
I don’t powerlift any longer and so only deadlift once in a blue moon. When I do I strap up now – after two bicep tears I’m not screwing around with mixed grip.
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You can let the bar hang REALLY low in your fingertips to make an even shorter ROM
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Seems this is done a lot with figure 8 straps as well.
Absolutely. One of many strongman cheats.
If it’s legal it is okay, IMO.
But I would prefer my advantage of a good grip, if I were choosing federations to compete in. Example: I could push off my chest more than I could lock out. I would fair better in a raw meet in the bench press against the competition.
Thats a great opinion
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IMO, it is the only rational opinion a competitor.
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I prefer being irrational personally
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I’ve had people tell me that they won’t lift with a wider grip or wider stance for powerlifting even though they are stronger that way. I can’t make any sense out of it.