Wrist Straps Pros and Cons

[Smilee21]

Wrist Straps Pros and Cons

I am in the 2nd week of a new Phase of Weight Training and I am supposed to lift my Max weights on all Exercises I do.

Can you please tell me the Pros and Cons of using Wrist Straps? IMO, I don't know if I should be using Wrist straps in the very beginning or if I should try to do everything I can to strenghten my Grip, Wrists, and Forearms first.

Please provide any input, I love your guys/gals insight.

 

[Solid Snake]

ill only use them on my heaviest sets of barbell rows, deads, and barbell shrugs. you can use them to max out but for normal workouts id avoid them as much as you can...maybe use them for your last set or two when you are fatigued.

 

[Smilee21]

ill only use them on my heaviest sets of barbell rows, deads, and barbell shrugs. you can use them to max out but for normal workouts id avoid them as much as you can...maybe use them for your last set or two when you are fatigued.

I use them when i am doing my Seated Cable Rows- weight of 160-170lbs 5 sets of 5 reps (I begin to lose my grip after the 3 set of 5 reps). I have not reached my Max weight yet BC I begin to lose my grip

Dead lifts when my weight is over 175lbs

And I think I will definitely need it when I am working my core (hanging from a bar doing abdominals with Barbbell on top of my feet)

 

[Solid Snake]

just use them at your discretion. I would definitely try to do as much as you can without them and then if they are needed for a few sets have at it. you might also want to try using chalk too. it might be more of a problem with slippery hands than forearm strength. if you dont already, id also throw in some direct forearm lifts to assist in gaining strength.

long story short, there is no shame in using straps. you will get stronger forearms/grip without them, but if youre shortening yourself on other lifts because you dont have the forearm strength to keep up with your back, abs, etc then by all means use them. I doubt your ultimate goal is to get monster forearms.

 

[Smilee21]

just use them at your discretion. I would definitely try to do as much as you can without them and then if they are needed for a few sets have at it. you might also want to try using chalk too. it might be more of a problem with slippery hands than forearm strength. if you dont already, id also throw in some direct forearm lifts to assist in gaining strength.

long story short, there is no shame in using straps. you will get stronger forearms/grip without them, but if youre shortening yourself on other lifts because you dont have the forearm strength to keep up with your back, abs, etc then by all means use them. I doubt your ultimate goal is to get monster forearms.

Ya, I do not want to have monster forearms. I just want to be able to hang using my body weight while doing core work and not have to stop BC my grip becomes to loosen. It's annoying the heck out of me, I have the strength every where else but my Hands...

 

[Smilee21]

I am going to try to first just do a lot of Wrist and forearm exercises to strenthen that area of my body, and I have to do these monkey bar type of exercises going back and forth across this Cable machine. Hopefully this will help me enough to where the Wrist straps will not have to be used just yet. My Weight isn't Heavy enough IMO to be needing them this early in the game.

 

[Mt-momma]

It's annoying the heck out of me, I have the strength every where else but my Hands...

I'm the same way! I'm strong as hell, but you should see me trying to open the jelly to make my girls pb&j's. It's a pretty pathetic sight...lol! I realize this has ziltch to do with wrist wraps, but your comment about hand strength made me laugh.

 

[Detour5]

Smilee

You may find that as you drop the weight and strengthen it'll be easier to take your own body weight. If you're using the straps when you're over 200lbs still (?) you may not reap the benefits of your strength training. It will come, be patient.

 

[Smilee21]

I'm the same way! I'm strong as hell, but you should see me trying to open the jelly to make my girls pb&j's. It's a pretty pathetic sight...lol! I realize this has ziltch to do with wrist wraps, but your comment about hand strength made me laugh.

Lol
I can open up jars well just do not have a death grip

I am currently training for a Survivor Mud Run and Tough Mudder here in NorCal and trying to prepare myself for the obstacles I will have to do. I am going to have difficulties with some but I will not give up

 

[Smilee21]

Smilee

You may find that as you drop the weight and strengthen it'll be easier to take your own body weight. If you're using the straps when you're over 200lbs still (?) you may not reap the benefits of your strength training. It will come, be patient.

Very true..this is one reason why I don't want to use them. I'm sitting at 200lbs right now, I wear a size 12 jeans currently and a med/large shirt. I figure 40-60 more lbs to go and I should be strong enough to not rely on wrist straps

 

[Detour5]

Very true..this is one reason why I don't want to use them. I'm sitting at 200lbs right now, I wear a size 12 jeans currently and a med/large shirt. I figure 40-60 more lbs to go and I should be string enough to not rely on wrist straps

I don't know how much weight you need to drop before it works out for you, I don't think you should think about that either, your strength will go up as your weight goes down, as long as you continue to challenge yourself. I'm in the UK and have no idea how big a size 12 is, over here that is an average size. I had a baby 5 months ago and am slowly building my core strength back up alongside other things, I'm just making sure I don't run before I can walk. It's all in the recovery. Allow enough recovery time and your strength will shoot up.

 

[Detour5]

Ahh - a US size 12 is a UK 16. How tall are you?

 

[Smilee21]

Ahh - a US size 12 is a UK 16. How tall are you?

US size 12... I am 5'8"

 

[Smilee21]

I don't know how much weight you need to drop before it works out for you, I don't think you should think about that either, your strength will go up as your weight goes down, as long as you continue to challenge yourself. I'm in the UK and have no idea how big a size 12 is, over here that is an average size. I had a baby 5 months ago and am slowly building my core strength back up alongside other things, I'm just making sure I don't run before I can walk. It's all in the recovery. Allow enough recovery time and your strength will shoot up.

I wish I didn't wait as long as I did to get back into Weight Training. It took me 6yrs, but at least I am doing it again. Slow and Steady wins the race always. I am in no rush. Before my pregancy I weighed between 135-150lbs depending on how much training I was doing and could wear between a size 6 and size 10.

I am defiinitely a lot stronger than I was when I was in my early 20's and have more muscle now. I just need to keep building up my strength and the muscle so it continues to burn the layers I had accumulated over the years (from eating like my ex- very unhealthy) I chose to eat clean, ate clean for years and slowly adapted to his bad habits... which I will never do again. I wasn't happy for a long time bc of it. Each day I remind myself of how I once treated my body... Good and the Bad and I prefer to feed my body with clean healthy fuel and work it like the machine it is.

 

[Detour5]

Don't look backwards wishing things you can't erase, you've made the change now so just stick with it. Everyone has slumps and hurdles, that doesn't matter. No use worrying about it. Channel your energy into positive things that you do now, you can take your 6yr sabbatical as a bit of life experience or a been there, done that if you like!

Most importantly you need to be happy and live upto your name

 

[Smilee21]

Don't look backwards wishing things you can't erase, you've made the change now so just stick with it. Everyone has slumps and hurdles, that doesn't matter. No use worrying about it. Channel your energy into positive things that you do now, you can take your 6yr sabbatical as a bit of life experience or a been there, done that if you like!

Most importantly you need to be happy and live upto your name

Yes, very very true.

I have learned a lot over the years, it has made me stronger and more determined to reach my goals.

 

[stevenmd]

I have a death grip - which is great for all the masterbating I have to do while on this effing cycle - but I still gotta use wrist wraps when I go over 315 for shoulder shrugs. Everything else my grip is strong enough to handle.

Oops... TMI?

 

[a68rebel]

Only put the straps on after your grip gives out.

 

[Smilee21]

I have a death grip - which is great for all the masterbating I have to do while on this effing cycle - but I still gotta use wrist wraps when I go over 315 for shoulder shrugs. Everything else my grip is strong enough to handle.

Oops... TMI?

LMAO... Ur too funny my friend.

 

[stevenmd]

LMAO... Ur too funny my friend.

Oops, I just realized this was the Women's section! I mean no disrespect with my masturbation comment!