Pull-up bar

trudie_b

I'm on my way with my 2017 goal to be able to do unassisted pull-ups, now that we have a pull-up bar in the house. I've done some hanging time, and I also used a band to help me do some pull-ups, but my hands are letting me down. It's partly lack of grip strength, partly sweaty hands. I put gloves on, that solved the second problem, but I need to seriously improve my grip strength because my hands gave up before my arms/back did.

So what's the best way to strengthen my grip? I mean, this is going to be an issue with lifting too if I don't address it now.

sgt1372

Just doing lifts that require you to grip and hold the bar or dumbell, like deadlifts, rows, etc. Deadhangs on the pullup bar like you're already doing will also help.

There are also those spring grip things and putty or low to high density balls that you squeeze.

Just walking around holding plates w/only your fingers can also help. Make it a cardio activity by walking distances griping the plates.

But, it'll take a lot of time to increase your grip strength - - it won't happen over night.

A critic to follow may say don't do it but, if you want to increase your ability to hold onto the bar, just use straps until your grip strength increases enough to do it w/o them.

However, the more difficult problem you face will be gaining the upper body strength to actually do a pullup, just as it will be w/the push ups that you want to be able to do.

Pullups will be harder for you to achieve than pushups because they are mainly dependent on shoulder, lat and bicep strength, which are not a strongpoints of the female anatomy, but doing OHP, BP and Rows will help develop strength in these areas, just as they eill for pushups.

Good luck!

trudie_b

Cool, thank you!

canadianlbs

i feel kind of like a Bad Friend for suggesting hook grip. but i discovered this horribly-helpful nightmare myself for deadlifts a while back. someone else said if i like it for deadlifts, i should see what it does for pullups, so i'm just going to pass it on and play the don't-look-at-me card if it mangles your thumbs.

i will say that it does seem to do things for me in the sense of forcing me to engage those last two fingers. and neurologically it seems as if that in turn does a lot for getting your brain to turn on certain muscles like lats. but i'm waiting for my right thumb to calm down before i go back and try it again.

trudie_b

Would I be right in thinking that the lat pull down machine is similar training for the pull up action? I can currently pull down 90lb, and I weigh 146lbs, so would I be right in thinking that when I've worked up to my body weight, I should be able to do pull-ups too?

Right now I'm just practising hanging from the bar, I can do that in 30 second increments. I have a band, but I can't quite do a pull-up even with that.

Cylphin60

trudie_b wrote: »

Would I be right in thinking that the lat pull down machine is similar training for the pull up action? I can currently pull down 90lb, and I weigh 146lbs, so would I be right in thinking that when I've worked up to my body weight, I should be able to do pull-ups too?

Right now I'm just practising hanging from the bar, I can do that in 30 second increments. I have a band, but I can't quite do a pull-up even with that.

You would be correct

They're both excellent compound exercises that work the same muscle groups.

One thing on the pull ups. They are difficult, and a tough workout even for an intermediate, so yes, go after them because they're awesome, but do not beat yourself up if you aren't hitting what you think you should.

Cheers

trudie_b

Good to know, thanks!!