Training Grip Strength?

[Shards of Narsil]

I've been doing the conventional methods of building up grip strength but don't seem to get much milage out of it.



Are there any better training tools than free weights out there? Been looking at Gripmaster and wondering if it's any good.

[thombrogan]

Shards of Narsil,

Don't know what you've been doing, but are you training the muscles that open your hand as well as the ones that close it into a grip?

One of my teachers showed me a way to train those muscles by filling a jar with anything heavy, placing the hand-to-be-trained inside the jar, and lifting the jar by expanding the fingers against the side of the jar and holding it up in that manner for as long as possible (it's very humbling at first.

Another method, which may be used for both the muscles involved in extending and flexing the fingers and thumb is to train each digit separately by contracting against manual pressure from the other hand. That is, each single finger faces the resistance of five of its cousins. If you move slowly and perform several reps of each exercise before switching exercises or fingers, it should work better.

Whatever training method you use, train the muscles that extend the fingers. It will help reduce your susceptibility to tendonitis and carpal-tunnel injuries.

Hope that helps.

[HoB]

Go to www.ironminds.com and get one of the captain of crush for starters. They are your usual hand impanders (two grips connected by a spring like a safty needle)....with a little twist: iron minds sells 5 strengths, trainer and 1-4. You can get certified if you actually manage to fully close the number 3 or 4. There are currently only 4 people in the world who are certified for #4. Even better, you get a standard Emerson knife for free if you close the #3 at their booth at a blade show. You get a custom Emerson worth up to $3000 if you can close the #4!
Aside from that, they have an entire cataloge full of hand training equipment. I think I am going to get the "holle-it-up" to complement my captains. I also like the green "power putty" available at REI, which is more for a holding grip and I use it as a warm up and cool down after I have worked on the captains.

[Shards of Narsil]

Sounds good! Will give that a try, thanks!

[vampyrewolf]

the 100lbs on the COC trainer is more than most ppl can close... had a passaround of it on BFC a while back, was quiet fun passing it around at work with the weaklings.

<img src="http://www.members.shaw.ca/pjharyett/sp ... pyder5.gif">
Mei Fides, Mei Victus
We are programmed to receive. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

[stanley_white]

Kettlebells help me with my grip strength. www.dragondoor.com



-Stanley White

[dhpd9807]

I use about 5 pieces of silly putty all mushed together. I do it while I drive around or whatever, it wears me out after a bit.

[K Williams]

Captains of Crush
http://www.ironmind.com

Gravity Gripp
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Product ... REI_SEARCH

Baoding Balls
http://www.wle.com//products/td12l.html


K. Williams

Edited by - K Williams on 7/14/2004 11:25:36 PM