Deadlift Grip Strength

[sen2two]

I thought I had decent grip strength before I started to do deadlifts. Turns out, not so great. I regularly use hand grippers/crushers and twist roller for grip strength. I spend a lot of time on pull ups and can hang from a bar for around 2 minutes max. I also hang from the bar for 3 sets of 1 minute every day.
I have NEVER done deadlifts prior to this. I started with them about 2 months ago. I have been doing 1 warm up with 135 for 10 reps. Then 5x5 with 275lbs. I do NOT let the weight rest on the floor each rep. I try to tap the ground before continuing the next rep.
Ok so… enough background.
My fourth and fifth set is where the bar is slipping out of my hands and I can barely complete the lift without dropping the bar. I feel I can definitely add weight, except for the grip problem. I do not want to use straps. I prefer the normal grip vs. the mixed grip. And I can’t get my thumb around the bar enough for the hook grip…so.

What have you done to increase grip strength for deadlifts?
Is it normal to let the bar rest on the ground before each lift?

[BG5150]

What have you done to increase grip strength for deadlifts?

Heavy rack pulls
Heavy static holds

Is it normal to let the bar rest on the ground before each lift?

Yes. It's called a "dead"lift b/c you are supposed to lift it from a dead stop.

[BenMcLeodNZ]

Fat Grip Zottman Curls are cool.

[OldFartTom]

Fat Grip Zottman Curls are cool.

One of these days, I'm actually going to get my FatGripz down from on top of a cupboard in the kitchen and put them back in my gym bag. They're great but I just hate extras in my bag (Fatgripz, squeezy tube of chalk paste, fractional plates, etc, etc).

I'm slowly increasing DL again (at snail pace) and I've never liked the feel of hook or mixed (and too scared of dropping a bar on a kneecap to monkey grip) so I always double overhand, normally chalk free.

Maybe your post is the kick in the azz I need to get the Fatgripz back into my bag again well before I get near weights that struggle with grip - prevention is better than cure

... ...Is it normal to let the bar rest on the ground before each lift?

Yes, people often gently touch the ground, sometimes people fully unload all tension and immediately set-up and lift again (as BG5150 says), but smashing into the ground each rep to get bounce is considered "cheating" and noisy (some gyms you might be spoken to with some strong words for doing that).

There are variations of course (RDL, SLDL, depending on knee bend etc) but no matter what you call a standard DL and stopping each rep 1 inch above the ground - that makes it harder. Personally I avoid touching the ground on all sets except my top set.

As long as you are happy, not being antisocial and making progress... that's what matters, not arguing on the minor details.

If you can hang for 2 minutes then you've got grip strength! I'm sure your body will just adapt very quickly through practice and convert it to holding a deadlift as it's similar kind of thing although more strength less endurance. A higher proportion of max grip strength is neuromuscular "skill" (than the other components of deadlifting), so grip should train up relatively quickly

[BenMcLeodNZ]

[QUOTE=OldFartTom;1574243651]One of these days, I'm actually going to get my FatGripz down from on top of a cupboard in the kitchen and put them back in my gym bag. They're great but I just hate extras in my bag (Fatgripz, squeezy tube of chalk paste, fractional plates, etc, etc).

I'm slowly increasing DL again (at snail pace) and I've never liked the feel of hook or mixed (and too scared of dropping a bar on a kneecap to monkey grip) so I always double overhand, normally chalk free.

Maybe your post is the kick in the azz I need to get the Fatgripz back into my bag again well before I get near weights that struggle with grip - prevention is better than cure]


The Zottman Fat Curls are the number one thing I found for forearms after trying everything I could think of with little success, I also do them on a preacher bench because otherwise they are too easy to cheat on. 3 sets of 8 with 30 seconds rest, doesn't take long to do, I do it halfway in my chest routine where I normally take 10 min to recharge anyway and the tired forearms don't weaken the later chest moves I do.

[OldFartTom]

FatGripz (cheaper ripoff version) back in the gym bag

[Squid24]

I keep forgetting to look into getting fatgripz

[jademonkey]

I just started a block of training, and doing touch and go defecits for a bit. My grip fails at 245x8. Not too concerned. Just a few months ago when I started I switched to mixed for anything over 225 resetting between reps. I do overhand for rdl, warm ups, speed pulls, basically everything but heavy DEADlifts. I also try and carry the 4" wide plates by gripping the top. Seems to be getting easier.

[sqal]

I feel like I may have screwed myself for grip strength. I've used hook grip since I started lifting and now double overhand grip hurts my fingers.

[MikeWrightMPS]

Heavy rack pulls
Heavy static holds


Yes. It's called a "dead"lift b/c you are supposed to lift it from a dead stop.

do you think, for quickness ones should try weight lifting, how it would help?

[BG5150]

do you think, for quickness ones should try weight lifting, how it would help?

wat?

[OldFartTom]

FatGripz (cheaper ripoff version) back in the gym bag

Not really been liking fat gripz. Back on top of the kitchen cupboard. Sorry to say it didn't last more than a couple of attempts
Part of the problem is I don't use dumbbells that much so I have to add an exercise that uses them like a biceps curl or something, but when pushed for time I drop those extras and don't use them, then resent having carried the fatgripz about for a couple of hours in my bag (they take too much space)

Moving to plan "B"
Just unwrapped a Captains of Crush "Sport" (normally people say "CoC" but that's going to attract trolls like strawberry jam does for wasps). Had no idea at all what strength I needed so went for sport. I think this is going to be a warmup gripper and I need to order a working gripper that's firmer.

Also really weird... on deadlift I always find my right hand is the one that gets tired first (or feels like it's coming open when I fail to lift double overhand), but the right hand is actually a lot stronger on the gripper than left.

Ordering "Trainer" and "1" grippers on Amazon as the Sport just isn't going to do more than warm up

Edit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captai...Crush_Grippers just in case anyone is unaware of them

[abond008]

I thought I had decent grip strength before I started to do deadlifts. Turns out, not so great. I regularly use hand grippers/crushers and twist roller for grip strength. I spend a lot of time on pull ups and can hang from a bar for around 2 minutes max. I also hang from the bar for 3 sets of 1 minute every day.
I have NEVER done deadlifts prior to this. I started with them about 2 months ago. I have been doing 1 warm up with 135 for 10 reps. Then 5x5 with 275lbs. I do NOT let the weight rest on the floor each rep. I try to tap the ground before continuing the next rep.
Ok so… enough background.
My fourth and fifth set is where the bar is slipping out of my hands and I can barely complete the lift without dropping the bar. I feel I can definitely add weight, except for the grip problem. I do not want to use straps. I prefer the normal grip vs. the mixed grip. And I can’t get my thumb around the bar enough for the hook grip…so.

What have you done to increase grip strength for deadlifts?
Is it normal to let the bar rest on the ground before each lift?

One way to improve your grip on the deadlift is not to use mixed grip. Your grip will improve the more you do it so don't rush.