+ 1 Lifting Hooks / Straps vs Raw Grip
Wanting to start a debate on whether one should use lifting hooks/wrists straps or raw dog every lift, what is your point of view on this topic and why?
It comes down to what your aiming for in my eyes. Are you a power lifter or body builder?
For me personally, I genetically have very small wrists from my mother. I do have strong grip for my size and can knock out 20+ perfect full rom pull ups from a dead hang position faster than "inset your comedy here" however, I always use lifting hooks on back days and for shrugs. The only time I don't use hooks is for pull ups. I work forearms and wrists on biceps and db bench and also when I carry a kettle bell on the treadmill for 10 min so they still get worked.
Using hooks allows me to really concentrate on the muscle i am trying to contract without having to concentrate on grip.
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You have it right. If you’re a powerlifter that cannot use straps for deadlift in comp you really are only as good as your grip strength. Bodybuilding, use straps on top sets and train forearms separate.
Straps, sleeves, belt, chalk, whatever floats your boat...
Just don't compare an assisted lift to unassisted (raw), they're different categories
The pleasure of my 250kg squat with a buttplug is non comparable to your raw squat
My buttplug always pops out
The trick is to dip it in liquid chalk before inserting, dries out and stays putt
Sounds sticky. Hell, I was thinking gorilla glue butt, I like white liquid more.
I see no issue with lifting aids. If your grip is the current limiting factor on a particular lift then why not use something that will allow you to put more weight on the bar? As @press1 mentioned it can be a safety buffer with dead’s. You even mention hooks allowing you to focus on the muscle more which is a valid reason to use them.
Hell. You said you train grip. Maybe your grip is trashed from a previous training session and you still wanna get some pulling in. Straps, hooks, etc are great for times like that.
I suppose in the end as long as your training grip then there’s absolutely nothing wrong with using aids here and there. Hell some guys might have lingering injuries that put them in a position to use straps and wraps all the time. Now I’m rambling.
Just do you mang.
For sure, I love using hooks, even if im not lifting heavy. I know why I use them and will continue to do so. Just thought it would be a good subject for people to think about and or bitch at each other about. All valid points broskie
Just wait for the 'If you can't hold it you have no business lifting it' brigade to chime in LMAO
The only reason you should refrain from using straps or figure 8's etc, is if you are a competing powerlifter and do Deadlifts in competitions where you are required to be able to hold the bar, even to alternate grip 220kg and above you HAVE to train your grip to stand a chance of holding it.
Wherever possible though, try to refrain from using gripping aids because this will severely limit your forearm and finger gripping potential. EVERYONE I am sure wants big fucking forarms and an iron melting grip. I do bodyweight and weighted chins specifically for the grip strength it gives and as a result have grown some pretty thick forarms from them. I have also NEVER used wrist wraps on bench press even on max lifts - as a result this also gives a solid forarm as it cannot tilt forwards or backwards when the bar is in your hand or you are fucked lol
You can DEFINATELY deadlift more with figure 8's and straps, no doubt about it. You waste less energy on gripping the bar and making sure it doesn't fall out of the ends of your fingers, and can in turn channel all of this force through your back, leg and hips etc. Straps are also going to make sure you don't rip a Bicep clean off the bone too when doing them - even when guys have an incredibly strong double overhand grip I have still seen biceps getting ripped off. When this happens it SEVERELY fucks up your lifting for a long time because biceps are involved in everything, bench goes and the lot!!!!
If you have never tried it before mate - Get yourself a tub of quick drying liquid chalk that you can take to the gym with you. The difference this stuff makes when applied to the fingers and palms is game changing, I will also use it on heavy bench sets because when pressing you are also exerting horizontal forces on the bar when the triceps engage, something which doesn't happen when dumbbell pressing because otherwise they would vere to the sides lol
Lol! Exactly why i thought this would be a good topic "raw brigade" . For me personally, I absolutely love using lifting hooks on my back days. I use them every single back day and will continue too. The mind muscle connection i can get with my back is phenomenal with hooks as compared to without them. We all lift differently though and do different lifts. I'm no power lifter, that's for certain but I just wanted to stir some thoughts up on the subject. Havent seen anything on it so why not?
I haven't used chalk, I will have to try that out for bench. I only work db's for bench, but i see where that could be helpful. I'm guessing it would be helpful for chins as well. My chin ups have advanced like crazy since I hit the juice. I chin up to my shoulders /tits, so my head is quite a ways above the bar. I really try and use my lats to almost push myself that high. Feels so good. When i get about 80 percent to failure on chins I lock myself at shoulder height with the bar and swing side to side. I want that demon face to appear in my back
End of the day it depends what you’re chasing. You a powerlifter or a bodybuilder?
For me, raw is king. Yeah straps/hooks have their place, but if you can hold it raw, hold it raw. Builds grip, forearms, wrists, all that small stuff that makes you stronger overall. Plus feels way better knowing you didn’t have to strap in like you’re about to bungee jump.
I’ve got tiny wrists from my mum but I still train grip hard. Only time I even think about straps is on stupid heavy high rep stuff when the grip’s cooked imo.
Raw just makes you tougher. Bar in your hands, no help, get it done.