Poor deadlifting hands

Silkysausage
Silkysausage Posts: 502 Member
edited November 25 in Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
Heaviest ever at 30kg..please don't laugh :D

Felt great but hard on the hands, what are straps used for or should I go for gloves?
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Replies

  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    There exist gloves that inhibit grip less than most and still provide modest callous protection. For example gymnast straps/wraps.
  • Wheelhouse15
    Wheelhouse15 Posts: 5,575 Member
    I would avoid gloves but if you do you can go with the crossfit gloves that are full fingered and have no padding. Straps for heavier weights are fine because your grip is limiting and you aren't competing, but try to just build your grip strength. Going to you max that you can lift with a mixed grip then just hold for as long as you can is a great way to start building it.
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    Wheelhouse15 wrote: »
    I would avoid gloves but if you do you can go with the crossfit gloves that are full fingered and have no padding. Straps for heavier weights are fine because your grip is limiting and you aren't competing, but try to just build your grip strength. Going to you max that you can lift with a mixed grip then just hold for as long as you can is a great way to start building it.

    OP, if you're not trying mixed grip, then I suggest that before anything else.
  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    ^ Liquid chalk and mixed grip always worked for me.

    If you have no desire to compete in powerlifting, I don't see any problem with using straps or versa grips though.

    I use versa grips for majority of my pull movements now that I don't plan to compete again. They help me avoid fatiguing my grip/forearms before my back. Which, I think might be suggested in the Steve Shaw video above, if I remember correctly. ^ Steve is the person who got me into versa grips.
  • bobshuckleberry
    bobshuckleberry Posts: 281 Member
    Work on your grip. Do pinch plates and bar hangs. Mixed grip is good too. My coach is teaching us to do lifts without gloves, chalk, anything like that during our class workouts. Most folks still use their preference for competitions and such, however, they still recognize the need to improve grip strength over using other things to help with grip.
  • MegaMooseEsq
    MegaMooseEsq Posts: 3,118 Member
    Lean59man wrote: »
    Lean59man wrote: »
    Silkysausage wrote: »
    Heaviest ever at 30kg..please don't laugh :D

    Felt great but hard on the hands, what are straps used for or should I go for gloves?

    No to straps.

    Gloves ok if you want to avoid calluses.

    Getting woos on my post doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

    I've read a few places that gloves don't necessarily help avoid calluses and can even make them worse - that might be where the woos are coming from. I'm curious on that point as well.
  • Nama_Slay38
    Nama_Slay38 Posts: 178 Member
    Definitely chalk! I use to use gangsta wrists wraps, when I first started doing pulls..your grip strength will get stronger, the more you utilize that bar...Best of luck!
  • Silkysausage
    Silkysausage Posts: 502 Member
    The criss cross grip is evil! Am I going to look like a loon using liquid chalk for a measly 30kg for 3 sets :s
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    edited March 2018
    Silkysausage wrote: »
    The criss cross grip is evil! Am I going to look like a loon using liquid chalk for a measly 30kg for 3 sets :s

    Have you tried it both directions? One side feels much better to me than the other.

    What are your deadlifting goals?

    You could try gloves. I don't wear them because I can't compete it them. But if you're not going to compete, that part wouldn't matter.

    Back when I did try them, though, I found they slipped around between my hand and the bar and made my grip worse.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    quiksylver296 wrote: »
    Silkysausage wrote: »
    The criss cross grip is evil! Am I going to look like a loon using liquid chalk for a measly 30kg for 3 sets :s

    Have you tried it both directions? One side feels much better to me than the other.

    What are your deadlifting goals?

    You could try gloves. I don't wear them because I can't compete it them. But if you're not going to compete, that part wouldn't matter.

    Back when I did try them, though, I found they slipped around between my hand and the bar and made my grip worse.

    For at least 60% of people, gloves only come in 2 sizes... Too big and too small. Neither one improves grip.

    IF you find gloves that actually fit correctly, Good on ya.
  • Lean59man
    Lean59man Posts: 714 Member
    There is nothing wrong with the cross grip.

    That is another one of those no-nos that is just nonsense.

    Many women don't want "man hands" so they use gloves. No problem if you get proper gloves.

    Heck, in the winter I sometimes lift in my garage with Home Depot leather work gloves. They work fine.

    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Firm-Grip-Orange-Suede-Cowhide-Leather-and-Denim-Large-Work-Gloves-5033-27/100565937



  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    Lean59man wrote: »
    There is nothing wrong with the cross grip.


    I mean there is the potential for blowing a bicep......
    Or developing your back unevenly.
    (This coming from someone who used mixed grip religiously.)
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    Lean59man wrote: »
    There is nothing wrong with the cross grip.

    That is another one of those no-nos that is just nonsense.

    Many women don't want "man hands" so they use gloves. No problem if you get proper gloves.

    Heck, in the winter I sometimes lift in my garage with Home Depot leather work gloves. They work fine.

    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Firm-Grip-Orange-Suede-Cowhide-Leather-and-Denim-Large-Work-Gloves-5033-27/100565937



    I'd suggest the basic Mechanix brand is probably going to be more likely to have a comfortable and correct fit.
  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    I'm curious why so many people are for gloves, but completely against straps?
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    edited March 2018
    not_a_runner wrote: »
    I'm curious why so many people are for gloves, but completely against straps?

    Probably because Gloves don't add to your ability to pull weight, and straps do.

    They may allow you to pull more(volume) but they won't generally let you pull more(weight).
  • jseams1234
    jseams1234 Posts: 1,219 Member
    edited March 2018
    not_a_runner wrote: »
    I'm curious why so many people are for gloves, but completely against straps?

    Dunno... but these types of threads have popped up before. For some it's a badge of honor to lift without any type of assistance. I feel that if you are shorting your pulls because of failing grip strength you are just cheating yourself. Grip strength often lags behind the larger muscle groups and can be a limiting factor with longer sessions or high volume.

    Personally, I've started using Cobra Grips (a more robust and adjustable Versa Grip) and I love them. For me it was to help alleviate some tendinitis in my elbows related to grip. Especially valuable for things like heavy shrugs which I do near the end of my workout when I'm pretty darned tired already.
  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    stanmann571 wrote: »
    not_a_runner wrote: »
    I'm curious why so many people are for gloves, but completely against straps?

    Probably because Gloves don't add to your ability to pull weight, and straps do.

    They may allow you to pull more(volume) but they won't generally let you pull more(weight).

    If people are just lifting recreationally, I don't see why that really matters though.

    I can deadlift the same with mixed grip and chalk as I can with straps (but I would consider it safer to use the straps, for the reasons I mentioned upthread). Mixed grip alone adds hundreds of pounds to my pull, and I can't think of a time that I've ever missed a pull because of grip since I started pulling mixed.
    I mean if we really want to go purist, I would say mixed grip and chalk is just as much cheating as straps is for me lol.
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    jseams1234 wrote: »
    not_a_runner wrote: »
    I'm curious why so many people are for gloves, but completely against straps?

    Dunno... but these types of threads have popped up before. For some it's a badge of honor to lift without any type of assistance. I feel that if you are shorting your pulls because of failing grip strength you are just cheating yourself. Grip strength often lags behind the larger muscle groups and can be a limiting factor with longer sessions or high volume.

    Personally, I've started using Cobra Grips (a more robust and adjustable Versa Grip) and I love them. For me it was to help alleviate some tendinitis in my elbows related to grip. Especially valuable for things like heavy shrugs which I do near the end of my workout when I'm pretty darned tired already.

    I agree. While I only use chalk currently, I'm looking into getting some straps myself. I do back and legs 3x a week and my hands don't have enough time to recover between lifting days, even though the rest of my body does.
  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    jseams1234 wrote: »
    not_a_runner wrote: »
    I'm curious why so many people are for gloves, but completely against straps?

    Dunno... but these types of threads have popped up before. For some it's a badge of honor to lift without any type of assistance. I feel that if you are shorting your pulls because of failing grip strength you are just cheating yourself. Grip strength often lags behind the larger muscle groups and can be a limiting factor with longer sessions or high volume.

    Personally, I've started using Cobra Grips (a more robust and adjustable Versa Grip) and I love them. For me it was to help alleviate some tendinitis in my elbows related to grip. Especially valuable for things like heavy shrugs which I do near the end of my workout when I'm pretty darned tired already.

    I've also found them helpful for forearm/elbow tendinitis.
  • UKWildcatDave
    UKWildcatDave Posts: 15 Member
    I've yet to try it, but hook grip is always an option.
  • Wheelhouse15
    Wheelhouse15 Posts: 5,575 Member
    stanmann571 wrote: »
    Lean59man wrote: »
    There is nothing wrong with the cross grip.

    That is another one of those no-nos that is just nonsense.

    Many women don't want "man hands" so they use gloves. No problem if you get proper gloves.

    Heck, in the winter I sometimes lift in my garage with Home Depot leather work gloves. They work fine.

    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Firm-Grip-Orange-Suede-Cowhide-Leather-and-Denim-Large-Work-Gloves-5033-27/100565937



    I'd suggest the basic Mechanix brand is probably going to be more likely to have a comfortable and correct fit.

    Tactical gloves rule. :)
  • fb47
    fb47 Posts: 1,058 Member
    edited March 2018
    Silkysausage wrote: »
    Heaviest ever at 30kg..please don't laugh :D

    Felt great but hard on the hands, what are straps used for or should I go for gloves?

    I prefer hook grip (hence my profile picture), but it's not easy to master it, because it usually *kitten* hurts in the first 2-3 weeks (people initially give up on them because of the pain), but once your thumb gets used to the pain, it becomes easier and straps becomes obsolete. If pain scares you, you can go for gloves or straps....I prefer that old school method.
  • Wheelhouse15
    Wheelhouse15 Posts: 5,575 Member
    edited March 2018
    jseams1234 wrote: »
    not_a_runner wrote: »
    I'm curious why so many people are for gloves, but completely against straps?

    Dunno... but these types of threads have popped up before. For some it's a badge of honor to lift without any type of assistance. I feel that if you are shorting your pulls because of failing grip strength you are just cheating yourself. Grip strength often lags behind the larger muscle groups and can be a limiting factor with longer sessions or high volume.

    Personally, I've started using Cobra Grips (a more robust and adjustable Versa Grip) and I love them. For me it was to help alleviate some tendinitis in my elbows related to grip. Especially valuable for things like heavy shrugs which I do near the end of my workout when I'm pretty darned tired already.

    Strongman competitors use straps and I don't see any issue with using them if you are not going to be competing in powerlifting. There are far better ways to improve grip strength than deadlifting.

    I also use Cobra wraps for near max triples. I do the first two or three without assistance and use the wraps for the last one or two depending on my grip that day.
  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    Wheelhouse15 wrote: »
    jseams1234 wrote: »
    not_a_runner wrote: »
    I'm curious why so many people are for gloves, but completely against straps?

    Dunno... but these types of threads have popped up before. For some it's a badge of honor to lift without any type of assistance. I feel that if you are shorting your pulls because of failing grip strength you are just cheating yourself. Grip strength often lags behind the larger muscle groups and can be a limiting factor with longer sessions or high volume.

    Personally, I've started using Cobra Grips (a more robust and adjustable Versa Grip) and I love them. For me it was to help alleviate some tendinitis in my elbows related to grip. Especially valuable for things like heavy shrugs which I do near the end of my workout when I'm pretty darned tired already.

    Strongman competitors use straps and I don't see any issue with using them if you are not going to be competing in powerlifting. There are far better ways to improve grip strength than deadlifting.

    I’ve seen some top level Powerlifters who pull with straps during certain training periods and have a specific grip regimen separately. (Pete Rubish for one. And he pulls 900+ lbs)

    I deadlift to improve my deadlift, or the muscles it works. If I want to train my grip I will do grip work.
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