Deadlift grip loss

[EDINN2505]

Today I did deadlift, managed to lift 300 lbs for 3 times but bar started to slip from my hands. I have strength to do much more, but slipping bar is holding me back. It's not problem just for deadlift, it happens often on lat pulldown, pull ups etc. How to improve this? Thanks for help!

[mtownballer20]

Try switch grip on deads or add in straps/chalk.

[mtpaquette]

Do some direct forearm work to strengthen your forearms. Do alternating grip for deads, or at least on heavier sets. Also, look into a set of straps. I use Animal canvas straps as they are cheap and serve their purpose.

[GentlemanLifter]

Hook grip is the best grip. For everything. Always. Babies, eggs, surgery, everything.

[EDINN2505]

Try switch grip on deads or add in straps/chalk.

They don't have chalk in my gym, I tried putting rubber on bar helped a little but not enough. Will try to buy straps. Thanks for help!

Do some direct forearm work to strengthen your forearms. Do alternating grip for deads, or at least on heavier sets. Also, look into a set of straps. I use Animal canvas straps as they are cheap and serve their purpose.

Thanks for help!

Hook grip is the best grip. For everything. Always. Babies, eggs, surgery, everything.

Haven't heard of this before but seems interesting! Will try for sure! Thanks for help!

[AK56]

Farmers' walks have done much to improve my grip strength and other attributes. Maybe consider them. I use heavy kettle bells and walk around till I nearly drop them. Rest for a bit them to do it again and again.

I know there are many ways to improve grip strength.

[HippyHeart]

This used to happen to me for a little while and I eventually got by it by staying with raw deadlifting only to get my forearm strength up. Never used wrist straps because I don't think I should be pulling the weight up anyway if I can't even hold it. I know many like to use it to obviously put up more numbers, but this kinda of IMO crutches the forearm weakeness still. I actually deadlifted today close to that 4 plate (400lbs) and I only deadlift raw. I do four sets and can still grip that barbell like its my lover except for maybe my last rep or two in my final set. I do mixed grip and switch it up after every set.

[dski79]

THIS!! if your trying get stronger on the deadlift as a whole, use chalk and only chalk! go with double over hand till you cant no more then do over under! after that use chalk!! if your past a beginner and if your doing some BB routine then i guess you could use straps! no beginner on a strenth routine should use straps! again if your training for strength, you dont wanna neglect the grip strength that deadlifts and for example farmers walks give you!!

This used to happen to me for a little while and I eventually got by it by staying with raw deadlifting only to get my forearm strength up. Never used wrist straps because I don't think I should be pulling the weight up anyway if I can't even hold it. I know many like to use it to obviously put up more numbers, but this kinda of IMO crutches the forearm weakeness still. I actually deadlifted today close to that 4 plate (400lbs) and I only deadlift raw. I do four sets and can still grip that barbell like its my lover except for maybe my last rep or two in my final set. I do mixed grip and switch it up after every set.

[davisj3537]

With mixed grip you should have no problem holding a weight you can DL. Do all sets you can with a DOH grip...grip strength should never be an issue.

[mtpaquette]

Hook grip is the best grip. For everything. Always. Babies, eggs, surgery, everything.

Isn't hook most often used for Olympic lifting? I don't like fully grasping the bar for dead lifts, shrugs or etc., and always have an open grip as I've strained my (right) thumb in the past from having a closed grip. It's my only finger that isn't "double jointed", but I also have some issue with arthritis.

THIS!! if your trying get stronger on the deadlift as a whole, use chalk and only chalk! go with double over hand till you cant no more then do over under! after that use chalk!! if your past a beginner and if your doing some BB routine then i guess you could use straps! no beginner on a strenth routine should use straps! again if your training for strength, you dont wanna neglect the grip strength that deadlifts and for example farmers walks give you!!

I would be far from advising anyone to ever do a supinated grip for dead lifts.

[Blix72]

Buy a chalk ball on eBay or something, makes a huge difference and it's not very messy.

[AwestinG]

Alternate grip is the best when doing heavy weight. but try to focus on strengthening your forearms. the workout that got my grip tightened up the most are dead hangs. you'll be about half a monkey after you add this into your workouts every week.

[MrGreenTea]

Today I did deadlift, managed to lift 300 lbs for 3 times but bar started to slip from my hands. I have strength to do much more, but slipping bar is holding me back. It's not problem just for deadlift, it happens often on lat pulldown, pull ups etc. How to improve this? Thanks for help!

One way to strengthen grip/forearm strength for double overhand is to lower the weight and just hold the bar at the top of the deadlift for as long as you can (30 sec to 1 min). Squeeze it as hard as you can while doing it. Do these in sets once or twice a week. I can't dead as much as you but this helped me when my grip was starting to fail me.

[EDINN2505]

Farmers' walks have done much to improve my grip strength and other attributes. Maybe consider them. I use heavy kettle bells and walk around till I nearly drop them. Rest for a bit them to do it again and again.

I know there are many ways to improve grip strength.

Should I do farmers walk with legs or?

This used to happen to me for a little while and I eventually got by it by staying with raw deadlifting only to get my forearm strength up. Never used wrist straps because I don't think I should be pulling the weight up anyway if I can't even hold it. I know many like to use it to obviously put up more numbers, but this kinda of IMO crutches the forearm weakeness still. I actually deadlifted today close to that 4 plate (400lbs) and I only deadlift raw. I do four sets and can still grip that barbell like its my lover except for maybe my last rep or two in my final set. I do mixed grip and switch it up after every set.

is raw deadlift without belt and other equipment? I use belt just on my last heaviest set, because I was told that I can get hernia by liftin heavy weights without belt.

THIS!! if your trying get stronger on the deadlift as a whole, use chalk and only chalk! go with double over hand till you cant no more then do over under! after that use chalk!! if your past a beginner and if your doing some BB routine then i guess you could use straps! no beginner on a strenth routine should use straps! again if your training for strength, you dont wanna neglect the grip strength that deadlifts and for example farmers walks give you!!

I don't know if they will allow me to use chalk in my gym. It's small gym in small place where I live. I started working out when I was 14 but because of some problems I had to stop and started again 9 months ago constantly training, so in total I lift for about 2 years. Im not trying to BB to compete or something, I do it just for myself.

With mixed grip you should have no problem holding a weight you can DL. Do all sets you can with a DOH grip...grip strength should never be an issue.

I use alternate grip, never tried any other but I will next time to see how it works.

Isn't hook most often used for Olympic lifting? I don't like fully grasping the bar for dead lifts, shrugs or etc., and always have an open grip as I've strained my (right) thumb in the past from having a closed grip. It's my only finger that isn't "double jointed", but I also have some issue with arthritis.

I would be far from advising anyone to ever do a supinated grip for dead lifts.

I always used alternate grip but next time I will try double overhand to see if that works better.

Buy a chalk ball on eBay or something, makes a huge difference and it's not very messy.

But I don't know if they will allow me.

Alternate grip is the best when doing heavy weight. but try to focus on strengthening your forearms. the workout that got my grip tightened up the most are dead hangs. you'll be about half a monkey after you add this into your workouts every week.

I used alternate grip always but will try double overhand to see if it works. So should i do dead hangs just on back day or?

One way to strengthen grip/forearm strength for double overhand is to lower the weight and just hold the bar at the top of the deadlift for as long as you can (30 sec to 1 min). Squeeze it as hard as you can while doing it. Do these in sets once or twice a week. I can't dead as much as you but this helped me when my grip was starting to fail me.

So do static hold?

Also what do you guys think if it will help to put the bar on ground for second and go up again as some do, because I never do that, I lower it just before it touches the ground and lift it up again.

Thanks everyone for help! Will try to give repp to all!

[MrGreenTea]

Yeah man, static holds.

And Deadlifts should go back to the ground. :S

[davisj3537]

If you're already using alternate grip and failing then you DO need grip specific training. I took my mixed grip hold from mid 400s to mid 600s in about 6 weeks by just doing BB holds 2xweek.

Ex:
3 sets of double overhand holds 10 seconds each 60-90 second rest

When my DOH went from 315 to 405 for 10 seconds my mixed grip had increased from 400-600. Get chalk if your gym won't throw a fit. My gym won't allow it, but i bring a towel and always clean up after. No one has ever said a word.

[bmontgomery87]

lots of options.

chalk
switching from double overhand to an alternate grip
using straps (people can talk all the **** they want, but if you're missing out on a proper workout because your grip sucks, use straps)
do some grip work. there is no reason to lose the bar with 300 pounds.

[229time]

Not fully understanding the question.

If you lost grip strength - You are not giving your hands enough time to recover between workouts. Forearms recover quickly, but not the hands.

If you want a quick solution - Gloves or straps

If you want a long term solution - Improve your grip. Squeeze the bar as hard as you can when doing heavy deadlifts, shrugs, or pull-ups. Start using fatgrips or a thick bar. Start doing farmers walks, static holds, pinching exercises etc.

[ZidaneIX]

Hook/mixed grip, chalk, and hold the last rep of deads in your hands as long as possible.

[EDINN2505]

Yeah man, static holds.

And Deadlifts should go back to the ground. :S

Just did it after my shoulder workout, man my grip is weak, 220 lbs hold for 15 seconds so I took some rope and wraped around my hands and bar just to see if i can do it then and held for 30 seconds and then tried some deadlift with no rest after it and it was very easy, but ropes stopped my blood in hand, but I won't use it just wanted to see, will do farmers walk after legs tomorrow, static hold on last set of deadlift and after traps workout. Thanks for help!

If you're already using alternate grip and failing then you DO need grip specific training. I took my mixed grip hold from mid 400s to mid 600s in about 6 weeks by just doing BB holds 2xweek.

Ex:
3 sets of double overhand holds 10 seconds each 60-90 second rest

When my DOH went from 315 to 405 for 10 seconds my mixed grip had increased from 400-600. Get chalk if your gym won't throw a fit. My gym won't allow it, but i bring a towel and always clean up after. No one has ever said a word.

just did holds after shoulders and did 220 lbs for only 15 seconds, but I will do it after last set of deadlift and after trap workout to improve my grip, and farmers walk after legs. Asked about chalk too, they said some people used it before but others complained( not people who are committed to working out but people who come and mess around for few weeks and never come back again). Thanks for help!

lots of options.

chalk
switching from double overhand to an alternate grip
using straps (people can talk all the **** they want, but if you're missing out on a proper workout because your grip sucks, use straps)
do some grip work. there is no reason to lose the bar with 300 pounds.

Will try as I stated in above replys, thanks for help!

Not fully understanding the question.

If you lost grip strength - You are not giving your hands enough time to recover between workouts. Forearms recover quickly, but not the hands.

If you want a quick solution - Gloves or straps

If you want a long term solution - Improve your grip. Squeeze the bar as hard as you can when doing heavy deadlifts, shrugs, or pull-ups. Start using fatgrips or a thick bar. Start doing farmers walks, static holds, pinching exercises etc.

I do pullups before deadlifts, rest for 1 min and under 1 min rest between sets. I lose my grip, I cant grip bar hard on heavy weights and it starts slipping from my hands and I can lift more weight if grip didnt hold me back. First I will try static holds and farmer walks till new year, if that fails I will try to get straps or hooks. Thanks for your help!

Hook/mixed grip, chalk, and hold the last rep of deads in your hands as long as possible.

Will try all, thanks!

[davisj3537]

Most of the options people are advising in terms of grip training are good ideas. It is important to remember that your grip training should look like the rest of your training. You don't want to do a bunch of grip exercises. Just pick ONE in addition to the grip work that DL and pullups already provide. ONE is plenty man. 2-3 will actually slow down your progress.

[bluesky95]

I'm really light and short and never use straps, but I've noticed that much bigger guys will often use straps for the same weight I'm using. It makes me think that some guys get used to them and even start to rely on them, whereas I come from the perspective that without straps you get "free" grip strength training without even thinking about it. I don't mind if anyone else prefers to use them, but I can say that personally I see a big difference between grip strength of people who use vs. don't use them.

Also, I think doing lots of strict-form pullups and mixing up the styles of them has also helped my gs.

[euro7muscle]

Your grip will strengthen over time, just keep lifting raw and try to minimize strap use. Also, make sure to lower your reps or weight if your form starts going out, 2 good reps will always be better than 3 sh*tty reps. The first thing that usually goes is form when you can't hold on anymore.

[PerthShane]

Chalk. That is all.

A chalk ball from a store that sells outdoor sports equipment. Generally stores that specialise in things like hiking and camping often have rock climbing gear and often sell chalk balls. My gym doesn't allow chalk, officially, but nobody has ever said that I can't use the chalk ball. I keep it in a bag when I'm in the gym so once I apply it to my hands it's back in the bag so it doesn't leave white marks on anything but the bar, which I wipe down after I'm done.

Never used straps before and haven't felt the need and am looking to hit the 400 lbs deadlift mark very soon. If sweaty hands are the problem, chalk is the answer.

[Inb4Negged]

Dead hangs from a pull up bar and holding the deadlift at the top for as long as you can.

I normally do my working sets, then when doing warm down sets, I hold the weight at the top of the rep for 10 seconds or so

[chazzy1864]

lots of options.

chalk
switching from double overhand to an alternate grip
using straps (people can talk all the **** they want, but if you're missing out on a proper workout because your grip sucks, use straps)
do some grip work. there is no reason to lose the bar with 300 pounds.

^ This is the best post in this whole thread.

Anyone who says you shouldn't touch straps or that one grip is better than the other are talking out of their asses.
+ You're doing deadlifts to work your posterior chain. To let small muscles like the forearms hold back the hams, glutes, and various muscles in the back is something that only seems intelligent to the overly hardcore beginners who brag about pulling 300lbs.
++ Chalks & mixed grip is great. Quite strong. Honestly, my chalk & mixed grip had a higher PR than my strapped grip. I just generally preffered to maintain a DOH position so used straps.
+++ Hook grip is great if you have long fingers. Your thumb will hate you, but you can hold a god awful amount all on your own... if you have long enough fingers.

[greenleaf]

Is alternate grip a bit of a "crutch" for DL? I find alternate grip much easier on heavier lift. Will it hurt my left forearm strength and growth (the weaker arm) if I keep doing it with the left palm supinated and the right palm pronated as in alternate grip vs the double overhand?

[thinkgreen]

Is alternate grip a bit of a "crutch" for DL? I find alternate grip much easier on heavier lift. Will it hurt my left forearm strength and growth (the weaker arm) if I keep doing it with the left palm supinated and the right palm pronated as in alternate grip vs the double overhand?

It's not a crutch at all but you should probably switch hands every so often.

[sup_jason]

I've had this problem before myself. I couldn't do 405 for 3 sets of 8 without the bar slipping towards the end. on my next deadlift day i was able to hit 415 for 8 with a consistent grip with chalk. They're really cheap

[thinkgreen]

I've had this problem before myself. I couldn't do 405 for 3 sets of 8 without the bar slipping towards the end. on my next deadlift day i was able to hit 415 for 8 with a consistent grip with chalk. They're really cheap

405x3x8? *cringes*