Do you have any gadgets that enhance your training?

[MajorTendonitis]

Dumbbell Spotter Hooks

(linked for example, I do not have these specific ones and can't attest to their quality)
https://www.amazon.com/Body-Solid-BS...0480920&sr=8-1



Feels weird the first few times you use them, but for me after getting used to them it significantly raises the quality of my sets not hoisting into position to get started particularly for incline DB presses.

I removed the Velcro sleeve that goes around the handle , and simply rely on that thin piece of steel that’s left over . I haven’t had any issues doing it that way ,but I do use gym gloves .
The sleeve makes the handle too thick in my case ,and once I got a sharp pain in my hand , so that’s the reason for removing them .

At one time I was seriously looking into using electromagnetics to hold the dumbbells up , and using a foot switch on the floor to release and reattach them .
May require a UPS for safety lol

[-=FLEX=-]

Ok dammit, I just ordered one. I gotta see if I can close this mofo . Bad news is that it won't be here for a week.

Look at this:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DYz97EFokPE

so damn close

Sorry for the noise I am at work. I can't believe how loud it sounds in the vid I don't even notice it. I'm not even in the plant.

[Karl_Hungus]

Look at this:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DYz97EFokPE

so damn close

Sorry for the noise I am at work. I can't believe how loud it sounds in the vid I don't even notice it. I'm not even in the plant.

Damn....you weren't kidding....looks like about a millimeter away from closing that. You'll probably have it within a week or so.

[-=FLEX=-]

Damn....you weren't kidding....looks like about a millimeter away from closing that. You'll probably have it within a week or so.

Had a great deadlift session this morning and was feeling feisty so when I got to my office I gave it another try. Closed it with an audible click on the 2nd attempt.

Also pulled 500lbs + 75 lbs in chains (575 lbs @ lockout) this morning at the ripe old age of 56 with no straps, and a good long static hold.

[Karl_Hungus]

Had a great deadlift session this morning and was feeling feisty so when I got to my office I gave it another try. Closed it with an audible click on the 2nd attempt.

Also pulled 500lbs + 75 lbs in chains (575 lbs @ lockout) this morning at the ripe old age of 56 with no straps, and a good long static hold.

That is a damned impressive deadlift -- I am guessing that static hold at the end may have primed your forearms for the gripper. I know a few people who grip train and it took all of them some time to close the #1, so your concentric grip strength is excellent. I get mine on Nov 29, so I'll post my results, good, bad, or indifferent

[Karl_Hungus]

That is a damned impressive deadlift -- I am guessing that static hold at the end may have primed your forearms for the gripper. I know a few people who grip train and it took all of them some time to close the #1, so your concentric grip strength is excellent. I get mine on Nov 29, so I'll post my results, good, bad, or indifferent

I got the grippers on Wednesday. Tried to close with each hand and missed by about half a centimeter on the right hand and probably a full centimeter on the left. I watched a couple of videos and realized I was gripping it incorrectly -- the gripper was essentially sitting at my thumb joint. Today I moved it a bit higher in the palm and that made the difference -- I closed it on the right hand and was just a couple of millimeters short on the left. I am guessing I will get the left hand next week.

[-=FLEX=-]

I got the grippers on Wednesday. Tried to close with each hand and missed by about half a centimeter on the right hand and probably a full centimeter on the left. I watched a couple of videos and realized I was gripping it incorrectly -- the gripper was essentially sitting at my thumb joint. Today I moved it a bit higher in the palm and that made the difference -- I closed it on the right hand and was just a couple of millimeters short on the left. I am guessing I will get the left hand next week.

I went full potato and bought the 0.5 and the 1.5 to go with my #1

I closed the #1 13 times consecutively today, but usually about 6-7 times.
The #0.5 I can close 10+ times for 4-5 sets
The #1.5 I can close 3-5 times .

Almost ready for the #2 already!

[IronCharles]

I went full potato and bought the 0.5 and the 1.5 to go with my #1

I closed the #1 13 times consecutively today, but usually about 6-7 times.
The #0.5 I can close 10+ times for 4-5 sets
The #1.5 I can close 3-5 times .

Almost ready for the #2 already!

GI Jim.

[Karl_Hungus]

I went full potato and bought the 0.5 and the 1.5 to go with my #1

I closed the #1 13 times consecutively today, but usually about 6-7 times.
The #0.5 I can close 10+ times for 4-5 sets
The #1.5 I can close 3-5 times .

Almost ready for the #2 already!

That is some fast progress -- Does the #0.5 help much for the heavier grippers? Or is it too easy?

[-=FLEX=-]

That is some fast progress -- Does the #0.5 help much for the heavier grippers? Or is it too easy?

Easy? No. Not at all.

I was surprised there isn't much difference between each iteration.

But I keep the #1 at on my desk at work and the #0.5 and #1.5 next to my computer at home so I've been going hard daily on all 3 and making good progress.

As of this morning I have 14.25" forearms at 56 yrs old. Not bad.

[mtpockets]

Look at Flex and Karl...

Flex you advanced fast. Well done.

You go Boys


I can see this becoming an addiction and why I will stay clear of them lol

[Karl_Hungus]

Easy? No. Not at all.

I was surprised there isn't much difference between each iteration.

But I keep the #1 at on my desk at work and the #0.5 and #1.5 next to my computer at home so I've been going hard daily on all 3 and making good progress.

Dammit, just ordered the 0.5 and 1.5.

As of this morning I have 14.25" forearms at 56 yrs old. Not bad.

Not bad at all!

Look at Flex and Karl...

Flex you advanced fast. Well done.

You go Boys


I can see this becoming an addiction and why I will stay clear of them lol

Lol...yup, seeing FLEX blow through the grippers this quickly is motivating me to keep up.

[-=FLEX=-]

Tried to get a vid of closing the 1.5 five times consecutively this morning in between sets.

Can't do it and hold my phone and focus on the task at the same time. LMAO.

Y'all just gonna have to trust me I can do it. LOL.

[Karl_Hungus]

Tried to get a vid of closing the 1.5 five times consecutively this morning in between sets.

Can't do it and hold my phone and focus on the task at the same time. LMAO.

Y'all just gonna have to trust me I can do it. LOL.

I believe you -- you'll have to update when to crush the #2.

[friesbruh]

this. fookn luv dis watch.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1

[mtpockets]

this. fookn luv dis watch.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1

That is pretty friggin sweet...

[LWW]

Here's a vid of me closing my filed down #1, this fuller ROM.

I haven't touched a gripper in years, years, like maybe twice in the last decade.

I gave the 1 a shot yesterday to see how it would help my tennis elbow, it actually helps it. I couldn't close the fuker even close yesterday, it hurt my elbow so bad, but it made it feel better about a 1/2 rest.

Today I mashed it, I did these BORs to warmp up my elbow.

FLEX, whaddya think of my background music here!!!

I also just attempted a #2 but can't fully close it yet, I'll post that in bit.

Notice how the handle is filed down-

[LWW]

frick, I accidentally set my previous vid to restricted for kids.

Here's the #2 attempt with a heavy BOR before, but I can't fully close it yet, first try in a decade -

[-=FLEX=-]

WTF are you listening to?

[LWW]

WTF are you listening to?

“Blood and Guts”!

It’s my new training music!

[Karl_Hungus]

Tried to get a vid of closing the 1.5 five times consecutively this morning in between sets.

Can't do it and hold my phone and focus on the task at the same time. LMAO.

Y'all just gonna have to trust me I can do it. LOL.

Got the #.5 and #1.5 today and you are correct, the #1.5 feels only slightly more difficult than the #1. I closed the #1.5 first try on the right hand, but couldn't quite get it on the left. I can close the #1 consistently with both hands now. Once I can get #1.5 for a few reps on both hands, I will order the #2.

[mtpockets]

Got the #.5 and #1.5 today and you are correct, the #1.5 feels only slightly more difficult than the #1. I closed the #1.5 first try on the right hand, but couldn't quite get it on the left. I can close the #1 consistently with both hands now. Once I can get #1.5 for a few reps on both hands, I will order the #2.

Ya'll gonna need an intervention...

Good job Karl and Flex.

[LWW]

Today, I feel the grippers did a good job with my tennis elbow bout.

Last night the elbow was a bit sore, but today seems a world of difference.

No doubt the tennis elbow is still there, but in my case I now have a lot more squeeze power with only a minimal amount of pain.

This tennis elbow has affected my squeeze/crush grip strength to the point we’re just closing a barbell spring collar wasn’t possible without warming up my elbow.

I’m my case the thick bar wasn’t doing much, but the grippers did good of getting my grip strength back in just two days.

[illriginalized]

Fat gripz

Apple Watch - really it’s for heart rate, don’t care about rest inbetween sets based on time anymore

Figure 8 straps for cardio deadlifts

Neoprene compression bottoms for heavy squat days and deadlift days

[illriginalized]

.

Im dealing with tennis elbow, but it seems in my case any thickbar work isn’t really helping it. I’ve been just using different grip angles which seems to be better. I was using my 2.5” handle in my journal before the elbow, but since stopped until it’s better.

Chin-ups. Do them. And don’t fkin use straps.



It’s how I fixed mine everytime. Biceps/triceps are stronger than my connective tissue. So chit happens.

[illriginalized]

I broke down and bought some Versa Grips a few months ago. I was always a chalk and hook grip guy, but my old gym went belly-up during COVID and my new gym doesn't allow chalk, so now I use versa grips when I need them. I've also started doing some new exercises that would be nigh impossible without them, so am pretty happy with them overall.

… liquid chalk.



If y’all are trying to build grip strength and do deadlifts, on the last rep of the last top set (especially if it’s an AMRAP set), hold the weight at the top for as long as you can.

Another grip builder with deadlifts, a natural grip (not hook or alternate grip), do your warm ups and as many of your working sets as you can until failure, repeat failed set with your normal grip, but wouldn’t advise it if you use alternating grip.. it’s how I tore my distal biceps tendon.

Hook grip for life.

[LWW]

Chin-ups. Do them. And don’t fkin use straps.



It’s how I fixed mine everytime. Biceps/triceps are stronger than my connective tissue. So chit happens.

I saw this when I first got this tennis elbow. Unfortunately I don’t have any chin bar setup here unless I drive to the playground up the road.

Some old farts around here got thier panties in a bunch once about saying to do chin ups at the playground, LOL.

[Karl_Hungus]

Ya'll gonna need an intervention...

Good job Karl and Flex.

LMAO

… liquid chalk.



If y’all are trying to build grip strength and do deadlifts, on the last rep of the last top set (especially if it’s an AMRAP set), hold the weight at the top for as long as you can.

Another grip builder with deadlifts, a natural grip (not hook or alternate grip), do your warm ups and as many of your working sets as you can until failure, repeat failed set with your normal grip, but wouldn’t advise it if you use alternating grip.. it’s how I tore my distal biceps tendon.

Hook grip for life.

I've tried liquid chalk a few times (I even still have an old bottle of the stuff) and it has never worked all that well for me. Lately I've been doing trap-bar deadlifts with just regular OH grip, and my grip holds strong up to about 425 lbs. However, I also do single arm rows with a barbell and there is just no way I can maintain my grip on that when it gets really heavy which is when I break out the Versas. I'm with you though, chalk + hook = unbreakable grip.

I saw this when I first got this tennis elbow. Unfortunately I don’t have any chin bar setup here unless I drive to the playground up the road.

Some old farts around here got thier panties in a bunch once about saying to do chin ups at the playground, LOL.

You can get some rings. They are easy to set up anywhere and you can do a ton of things with them (in addition to chins). During the pandemic I was using them with a weight vest to do weighted ring dips. Would raise them up a bit and do the same with pullups.

[LWW]

LMAO



Lately I've been doing trap-bar deadlifts with just regular OH grip, and my grip holds strong up to about 425 lbs. However, I also do single arm rows with a barbell and there is just no way I can maintain my grip on that when it gets really heavy which is when I break out the Versas. I'm with you though, chalk + hook = unbreakable grip.



You can get some rings. They are easy to set up anywhere and you can do a ton of things with them (in addition to chins). During the pandemic I was using them with a weight vest to do weighted ring dips. Would raise them up a bit and do the same with pullups.

Doing holds on the trap bar is 100 percent supporting grip.

The barbell is NOT supporting grip because there is torque. The trap bar handles can’t roll.

Thanks on the rings, I’ll check them out. I’m going to make a trip to Diks Sporting soon, finally, hopefully.

I’m going get some straps and some bands. I got some ideas for the bands and neck work. The straps are for heavy wall sits and behind the back dead lifts.

[Karl_Hungus]

Doing holds on the trap bar is 100 percent supporting grip.

The barbell is NOT supporting grip because there is torque. The trap bar handles can’t roll.

I don't do them to "support grip". I was simply pointing out that I don't need any grip aids until I start doing one-arm rows with a barbell. His point about doing static holds (or double OH deads) with a barbell is a good one if you're interested in improving static grip strength.