Thumbless Grip on Bench Press...Suicide Grip

[raytayse]

how do you know the second without trying the first? The main point i you can properly secure the bar either way.

There are a lot of things I know from empirical proof without having to try myself. Seriously, what kind of question is that?

[DCSpartan]

There are a lot of things I know from empirical proof without having to try myself. Seriously, what kind of question is that?

it means you have never tried to hold on to a bar with your thumb on the same side as your fingers and you assume you cant hold on to it securely. That's a wrong assumption. And between you and me, Ive actually tried it with both grips. Again, you arent going by empirical proof, you are going by faith.

[Brackneyc]

it means you have never tried to hold on to a bar with your thumb on the same side as your fingers and you assume you cant hold on to it securely. That's a wrong assumption. And between you and me, Ive actually tried it with both grips. Again, you arent going by empirical proof, you are going by faith.

I've done both, and I find the thumbless grip to be less safe compared to a conventional grip.

[Juggertha]

I've stopped using suicide grip on free weights - still use it on machines though.

[Smelly bull]

Pretty good "false grip" pros and cons video by Dave Tate. Based on my experience, it seems most of the big benchers use a false grip.

[raytayse]

it means you have never tried to hold on to a bar with your thumb on the same side as your fingers and you assume you cant hold on to it securely. That's a wrong assumption. And between you and me, Ive actually tried it with both grips. Again, you arent going by empirical proof, you are going by faith.

First, I said a full grip is MORE secure. I do not see how you can even argue that point to be honest.

First, I have not tried it; Second, it is not as secure as having the thumb on the opposite side.

Second, I never said you could not hold onto the bar "securely." Your securely and my securely can be and obviously are different.

Third, There are many things in this world I KNOW are true without doing the experiment myself. I KNOW a plasma arc will burn straight through my arm, I do not have to test it my self to know this. Holy ****, do you people just come here to argue?

[MrNismo]

I've done both, and I find the thumbless grip to be less safe compared to a conventional grip.

I hope everyone agrees there is no debate to that one.

Rather, I think what proponents are saying ISN'T that its just as safe to go thumbless but that they know how to minimize the risk to a level they are willing to take as a tradeoff between safety and 'feel'.

I read the Christian Thibaudeau article the other day and decided to try the false grip for the first time ever on bench the other day. It was instantly and without a doubt a noticeable improvement for me in external rotation and thus felt a lot more comfortable.

Now, I'm using very light weight (135) and my sole purpose at this point is to fix my movement patterns in order to hopefully solve the joint pain and begin increasing weight again. My external rotation SUCKS on pull and push. I found a false grip on pullups gives me the same relief as it does on bench.

To those that don't believe the external rotation -- next time your on a Bench, grab the bar how you normally would and externally rotate, gripping as hard as you can. Then do the same with thumbless. At least in my case there is a good amount more rotation thumbless. Might be due to my deficiencies or physical makeup or something else I don't know. I just know I rotate more thumbless

[DuracellBunny]

21 years of suicide grip on all barbell presses.

[rawelite]

I'm not here to debate thumb/thumbless but I've always benched thumbless and the reason i do is exactly stated in that article. i turn my hands outward so the bar sits almost diagonal across my hands. this allows for a very natural tuck and more power. it also has protected my shoulders from many years of heavy pressing. I've pressed over 550 touch and go raw and into the mid 600's with a titan ram. at no time did it feel unsafe. the key is getting used to it. in my exerpience, I've seen more benches dumped with a thumb over grip. when I've seen bars dumped in benching the wrists are weak and they roll suddenly.

here's my super dangerous 535x1 paused suicide grip bench and a 585 paused with the titan.

[Phattso]

Suicide grip makes sense for power lifters. Full grip makes more sense for bodybuilders, IMO.

[Brackneyc]

I'm not here to debate thumb/thumbless but I've always benched thumbless and the reason i do is exactly stated in that article. i turn my hands outward so the bar sits almost diagonal across my hands. this allows for a very natural tuck and more power. it also has protected my shoulders from many years of heavy pressing. I've pressed over 550 touch and go raw and into the mid 600's with a titan ram. at no time did it feel unsafe. the key is getting used to it. in my exerpience, I've seen more benches dumped with a thumb over grip. when I've seen bars dumped in benching the wrists are weak and they roll suddenly.

here's my super dangerous 535x1 paused suicide grip bench and a 585 paused with the titan.



[youtuve]FhqkFitiCWc[/youtube]

It is "possible" that your experience level is not quite comparable to the average joe in the gym.

The skinny teenager struggling to get 110 off the rack might be wise to use a conventional grip.

[rawelite]

It is "possible" that your experience level is not quite comparable to the average joe in the gym.

The skinny teenager struggling to get 110 off the rack might be wise to use a conventional grip.

i didn't become experienced and then switched. I've used it all along. the thumbless grip is like anything... you have to learn to use it. like i said before, in all my years of lifting I've seen many more thumb over grip dumps. in all cases it isn't the grip, it's either a balance issue or limp wrists. of course there are freak accidents that can happen but that can happen at anytime. i once saw a guy doing leg press and some crazy crap happened and the platform came down and cut ALL his fingers off.

[JRT6]

and like I said, you can get a tight squeeze with a "thumbless" grip (which actually just means your thumb is onthe same side as your fingers, not that you dont use it). Have you tried it or are you just going on faith that you cant have a good grip without wrapping your thumb?

You must have the grips of steel because if you're gripping a arm, a kimura for example, the opponent only has to move his arm where your thumb should have been. That's why you use a thumb grip to gain control then switch to thumbless to apply the finish.

[rcclaffe]

scary, guess that's why i decided to stop using a suicide grip
(while reading this thread)

[USMarine03vet]

Pretty good "false grip" pros and cons video by Dave Tate. Based on my experience, it seems most of the big benchers use a false grip.

Great video and post!!! I use false grip..

[hmmmm16417]

I don't wait a half hour after eating to go swimming.....

That is seriously hard core lol

I actually only use the open grip when doing close grip press for my tris because it relieves pressure from my wrists

[hardNheavy2011]

I've used the suicide grip for over 20 years now without so much as a close call. However, I have some nerve issues in my right hand from a childhood injury that makes it impossible for me to use a conventional grip. I've switched back to a conventional grip many times over the years and what ends up happening is that because of my injury, my hand will immediately go weak and numb and I think you can figure out how quickly the bar will drop out of my hand. My accident had to do with a table saw. lol I should have put that f'n guard down.

[JRT6]

The thumbless grip does allow for a little rotation of the hand which is way easier on my bone spurred elbows. I however bench in a power cage since I workout in my basement so the bar falls I'm reasonably safe.

[RT1957]

We have thumb for a reason.....It's called opposing digit for a reason. Why you would want to not use it I could never understand. The weight room is a dangerous place to begin with so use every thing you can to make it a safe as possible. Have you tried to open a door without your thumb? not very particle so why would you not want to secure the bar the best way you can and save yourself from an accident

[immune18]

I use thumbless grip due to a problem in my hand. Some kind of tendon that sticks right out near my thumb and is absolute agony to bench with. However, I also use the smith machine for all my presses, and use the safety guards. I can't imagine how anybody would risk themselves not using the safety guards. Fair enough some people have done it for 20 years with no problem, but it only takes 1 time to seriously injure or kill yourself.

[DuracellBunny]

Fair enough some people have done it for 20 years with no problem, but it only takes 1 time to seriously injure or kill yourself.

I bet you think that people need a belt to squat and DL too.

[JungleBoots]

unless you're doing it in a cage, I can't see why youd do it. I don't see the appeal.

[T.C.]

I've Been using a Thumbless grip myself since I was in my early 20s, and I Never had a problem either..
This is also the only way I have flat benched ever since..
I wouldnt advise people to Start using it later in life unless they have a couple spotters..
This grip may not be for everyone, But with my particular Build/Bone structure, Using a Very Wide Grip, I am able to Throw my Lats more into the lift and it seems to create a more controlled, smoother movement,, Almost rolling the weight (So to Speak) rather than Flat out trying to Pushing it!
I also feel this Grip with many different excercises, along with Pullovers (again, probably while in my early 20s) Helped turn My ribcage from extremely Shallow to a much thicker deeper one, That has remained for over 20Yrs!

[MyEgoProblem]

Its not for me.. Cant justify it to MYSELF. My thumbs around grip is kinda diagonal in my palm anyway, with my elbows flared by default untill I actively tuck them. Bulldog grip I heard it called?

But I do standing press (or any pressing machine) with a false grip because if it goes, it doesn't come down on my chest/neck. That I can just justify for the risk reward gamble.

For other people? Do what you gotta do! ill spot or unstaple anyone. Regardless of grip.

[txdave]

Years ago I was too near an idiot trying to go heavy on incline DB presses with a thumb less grip. He had a spotter supporting his elbows as he badly pressed two heavy DBs. Suddenly the DB in his right hand slipped, gravity took over on the nice lever on the left side, and the lifter plus spotter suddenly did a left side cartwheel. Both lifter and spotter were badly hurt.

[drudixon]

Just want to say, have now done 3 sessions with thumbless grip using versa grips for safety. Wow, shoulder feels fantastic. It's definitely a little more Tricep involvement, but I like it. Will stay with it a while.

[ElrondHubbard]

I just hope you're using the spotter bars.

[drudixon]

I just hope you're using the spotter bars.

I'm using versa grips, basically wrist straps. The bar is bound to my hands and can't roll.

[JRT6]

I'm using versa grips, basically wrist straps. The bar is bound to my hands and can't roll.

I forgot all about using the versa for that. I use the red fat grips so I have to depend on the safety pins of my rack.

[T.C.]

Just want to say, have now done 3 sessions with thumbless grip using versa grips for safety. Wow, shoulder feels fantastic. It's definitely a little more Tricep involvement, but I like it. Will stay with it a while.

The Best place to start with this if you havent tried it thus far, is the Hammer Strength, Body Masters, Cybex,,any similar machine-s.... Sorry,, But once you Start to implement the thumbless grip.. You wonder why you haven't ever Tried... The gains are usually quite rewarding!