wrist straps - good or bad idea?

[sarahlou]

I have a tough time with deadlifts, rows, and front squats holding onto the bar. My wrists/grip don't seem to be strong enough to hold onto the bar but I really feel I can manage the weights for the exercises I am doing and maybe more if I could just keep a grip on the bar. I have seen some guys in the gym using wrist straps. I wondered if any of you used straps and if there are any downsides to using these. Are there any exercises that you could recommend that would help me develop a stronger grip.
Thanks and to all happy holidays.

[Erik]

I have a tough time with deadlifts, rows, and front squats holding onto the bar. My wrists/grip don't seem to be strong enough to hold onto the bar but I really feel I can manage the weights for the exercises I am doing and maybe more if I could just keep a grip on the bar. I have seen some guys in the gym using wrist straps. I wondered if any of you used straps and if there are any downsides to using these. Are there any exercises that you could recommend that would help me develop a stronger grip.
Thanks and to all happy holidays.

If your grip is holding back your other lifts, pick up a pair of lifting straps. There's no reason to short change a deadlift because you can't hold onto the bar.

I wouldn't suggest you overuse them as you do want your grip to develop, but definitely use them for the top sets where you know it's going to be your grip that's your weak link in that set, as opposed to the bigger, stronger muscles you're trying to hit.

For front squats, it's not a grip strength issue, but a wrist flexibility issue. You're not actually gripping or holding onto the bar. You're basically just keeping it in position racked on your front delts with your hands. That can be trained with some dynamic wrist flexibility work. (see the other thread a little further done on front squats and wrist flexibility). I used to have this problem as well.

[sarahlou]

Thanks so much for your reply! Have a terrific holiday - sorry I don't know how to make smilies!

[Erik]

Thanks so much for your reply! Have a terrific holiday - sorry I don't know how to make smilies!

You can turn that option on by doing this

UserCP - Edit Options - (scroll down) - Message Editor Interface - Choose Standard Editor - Extra Formatting Controls

[Espi]

Another suggestion. If you have small hands while your grip is actually quite decent, look around if there's a thinner bar.
I'm absolutely delighted with the very old bar the gym somehow acquired. It's shorter and lighter, but the best part of it, is that while having normal collars, the bar itself is much slimmer. This makes for a lot easier handling!

I've been able to bring up my weights by about 20 kg (yes and I KNOW the bar is lighter!) without needing to rely on straps!

Just in case you think to be cheating when using a shorter bar.. there's also regular length Oly bars that are slimmer and lighter (15kg). These are the official women's Olympic weight lifting bars. They are a rarity though.. a guy I know, trains female lifters and always brings his own bars to the training.