What is their rationale?
Intentionally performing a lift a certain way, instead of doing the lift legally different but lifting more weight? I like my chances against people like that. They are happy with the lower total?
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I think it has to do with their feelings on wide grip bench, and wide stance squats or sumo deadlifts being inferior. I’ve also heard this regarding the bench arch.
To me it seems like that within the rules whatever you do to maximize your total is a smart move as long as those things allow for long term progress, and don’t cause injury. I do think those things should be considered. One might be able to train with bench grip maxed out for awhile, but long term shoulders may not take it. On the long term progress, sometimes doing things the hard way transfers over to the easy way very well. For me for example, conventional stance deadlifts seem to bring up sumo much more than the opposite, so training conventional makes sense, but it doesn’t make sense for me to compete conventional.
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Eh, I get it, but I compete for fun. If the goal is to win, that’s goofy
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I suppose for them competing on their terms is fun. Same for me, but my terms are lift as much as I can within the rules. They have an internal code of lifting conduct it seems. I suppose I do as well in regards to geared powerlifting. I’d be more competitive (mostly a smaller talent pool) I think, but it just isn’t something I am interested in.
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Yeah, for strongman I refuse to wear grip shirts or wide receiver gloves. I also wont mix grip continental. Those are my terms. I would rather lose playing my way than win playing theirs
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Perfectly fine as long as you don’t say that you didn’t win because of those things you refuse to do that are within the rules. I guess that is what actually bothers me. People saying if they lifted how some other lifter lifted that they would beat them. Well, maybe, but then either do it, or shut up about it.
To me it is whining. There is a solution to their issue that they refuse to do, so IDK what else to call it other than whining.
I try to not be bothered by what others say
Give me the rules. Those are the terms. Play ball!!
this is a superpower
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Nah.
Misanthropy helps, haha
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This is a great way to look at it.
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I strap up for deads and lat pull downs always.
Prefer figure 8s. I feel that traditional straps can get cinched tighter to the bar, however, I like the feel of the knurling in my hands and feel like my technique breaks down if I’m not making direct contact.
Grip gets enough work with farmer’s, pull ups, rows, and dead hangs.
I had a strong negative opinion about straps before regularly using them, seems to be a theme throughout life
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My friend sent me a pair of these and I never really got the hang of them, which seems ridiculous - how hard can they be? A couple of you have mentioned them here; I need to dig them back out.
Think of them as a locking hinge, and not setting the bar in the loop. I put my hands through both loops with thumbs up, pull the strap tight about 2 inches outside where I want my grip, then roll my hands in.
Somewhere I sent @twojarslave a series of pix
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Why? I haven’t heard that one. I know allll about beltcleangate, but I’m unfamiliar with this idea.
I love my figure 8s, they’re all I use, specifically because they’re generally best for strongman for a couple reasons. They are the best option for fast transitions between implements in a medley, and they don’t break. I’ve seen too many examples of both of these happening in competition for me to use anything else. I don’t think there’s a massive advantage outside of that.
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That description was very helpful - thank you.
@flipcollar that definitely makes sense. I haven’t done any strongman, so it hasn’t been a need. I do like playing with new toys, though. I have seen it as more annoying rather than faster, but that’s just down to lack of practice I’m sure.
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Its because I dont want to, haha
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To revive an old thread…
I never really used straps. Although I don’t compete, I thought grip strength was part of the process. Of course, like belts, you don’t need to use them if not going heavy and you don’t want to leave gains on the table if forearms or grip tire before the back does.
But I bought a pair of figure eights. They were super snug and you could only do a thumbless grip, so I bought a bigger pair too.
They have increased my maximum lift on rack pulls and deadlifts more than I would have expected. But that doesn’t mean I like everything about them.
I like the feeling of a mixed deadlift grip and never felt this strained the biceps though I sometimes switch hand positions. Psychologically, I prefer feeling the kneeling to the thumbless grip.
I was fatigued but doing heavy rack pulls, too close to the edge, and was paying more attention to the lift than the landing. Somehow one side of the bar missed the rack and dragged my wrist along with it. No harm done and no foul, but it made me think things could have gone worse.
I also find wrist straps feel a bit awkward when using the trap bar where the wrists are perpendicular to the bar axis, finding it harder to get the thumb grip I prefer.
But straps seem a useful tool. Having lifted many years without them and using them only for heavy lifts, it is hard to argue my grip has a long way to improve. I don’t need bigger traps, it’s hard enough to buy dress shirts that fit my neck that don’t assume I am 6’4 or pudgy.
I haven’t used them on rows, dips or machines since grip strength would seem to be less of a limiting factor for me here. Maybe I could squeeze out a few more reps though.
I also find deadlifts more comfortable starting from the top, so am having to get used to short straps forcing lifting from the bottom using more emphatic leg drive. Not a bad thing, but still getting used to it.
Since I prefer to take time to set my grip, let me add deadlifting hooks into the mix. Are they helpful? Do they make you talk like a pirate?
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