grip question

[accismus]

Is it ever acceptable to use an open grip for the bench press, military press, or lat pulldown?

[smuggie]

Open grip?

[Strive2Define]

I'm trying to visualize how one would do a open grip on a lat pulldown?

[Iron Will]

I'm trying to visualize how one would do a open grip on a lat pulldown?

voodoo

[Patricia]

I'm trying to visualize how one would do a open grip on a lat pulldown?
Me too.
What is open grip? Like pushing with your palms open?

[accismus]

Open grip just means without your thumbs wrapped around the bar.

[Iron Will]

I wouldn't do it for any type of pressing movement its just too dangerous... I have had two instances where my wrists have rolled over and if i had been using an open grip i would probably have been in the hospital or dead.

[accismus]

Yeah I know it is a safety issue. It is just much more comfortable since I have such small hands..

Would the lat pulldown be ok? If the bar slipped the worst that could happen would be the loud crash as the weight stack slammed down, and everybody in the gym looking at me.. :oops:

[Iron Will]

i would think personal preference on the pulldowns, i don't seeing any different either way

[Aaron_F]

if you can hang onto a pulldown with an open grip its fine.
benching can be a bit worse, but ive seen people drop it with a closed grip

[char-dawg]

I'm trying to visualize hands small enough that this would be an issue... :blink:

[accismus]

:shrug: What is the average hand size for women? I know that gloves never fit me..

I broke out the ruler: My right hand is 6.5 inches from the base of my wrist to the tip of my middle finger, and almost 7 inches from the tip of my thumb to the tip of my pinky with my fingers stretched as far as they will go.

It isn't that my hands are too small to grip the bar, it is just more comfortable without my thumb wrapped around.

[char-dawg]

I broke out the ruler: My right hand is 6.5 inches from the base of my wrist to the tip of my middle finger, and almost 7 inches from the tip of my thumb to the tip of my pinky with my fingers stretched as far as they will go.
Your hands aren't that small. I have fairly large hands for a 6' tall guy and mine are only about 9.5 inches from thumb to pinky tips.


It isn't that my hands are too small to grip the bar, it is just more comfortable without my thumb wrapped around.
I wouldn't worry about it. I've gone through phases when I've used thumbs over grip for all the exercises you mentioned. Never had any issues one way or the other.