Dip bars - width of hand grips (not distance between bars)

jemhh
jemhh Posts: 14,260 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I use a set of sawhorses like the ones below as the safeties for my squats/bench press. I have been using them for dips as well, putting one behind me for my hands and then I elevate my feet on the other. Pretty much bench dips without a bench. I would like to attempt regular dips (or probably band assisted to start) so I thought that I could just put them closer together and use the sawhorses like parallel bars. I started to do this and then suddenly got worried that the boards were too wide (they are 2x4s) and that it may cause some sort of problem down the road. I've been trying to search to see if there is any advice on how wide the hand grips should be but I'm not finding much of anything. Possibly I'm not getting my search terms right because I just keep coming up with things saying that the bars should be shoulder width apart. Any advice/warning/experience on this?

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Replies

  • pinggolfer96
    pinggolfer96 Posts: 2,248 Member
    A wider grip will have more emphasis on the chest, while I closer grip with the elbows hugging your sides puts more emphasis on your triceps.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,260 Member
    I'm not talking about how close the parallel bars are too each other or if my elbows are tucked in. I'm talking more about how wide the parallel bars are themselves. As in, their circumference or diameter. Or, in this case, the 2x4 is 3 1/2" across.
  • rileyes
    rileyes Posts: 1,406 Member
    Here's a thread:
    https://www.gymnasticbodies.com/forum/topic/1471-how-far-apart-should-parallel-bars-be/

    I've been looking at galvanized pipe to construct some parallel bars in my backyard. I want them long enough to do a variety of moves like I did as a kid.
  • rileyes
    rileyes Posts: 1,406 Member
    Here is a link for uneven bar circumference:
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uneven_bars#Dimensions

    I am looking at the 1-3/4" pipe for mine.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,260 Member
    rileyes wrote: »
    Here is a link for uneven bar circumference:
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uneven_bars#Dimensions

    I am looking at the 1-3/4" pipe for mine.

    Thank you! Now I just have to figure out what to do with the info :)
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    I doubt it matters much. I used to do dips in a very similar way. Just pay attention to how you place your hands, you could possibly put too much pressure on your wrists if you let them bend back too far.
  • angrydads
    angrydads Posts: 162 Member
    Just go get some flange fitting and 1" pipe at Home Depot and make some small raised grips .... Like a homemade pull up station but a lot smaller
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,260 Member
    angrydads wrote: »
    Just go get some flange fitting and 1" pipe at Home Depot and make some small raised grips .... Like a homemade pull up station but a lot smaller

    Good idea. I could do this on one end of each so that it doesn't interfere with bench pressing.
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    Putting your hands on the flat surface to do dips, shouldn't cause any more issues than doing push ups. If it does start bothering your wrists, you could always try doing them on your fists.
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