Observation

**s1nc1ty** · 10-15-2023, 01:00 PM

So i have these steel grippers that i used to train forearms with twice a week. I have like 5 of them. 150 pounds, 200 pounds, 250, 300, 350

This is noname brand so the weight nr is not correct probably but it is irrelavent. I stopped using them like almost a year ago because i developed this pain in near the knuckle on one finger that was really annoying.

Last time I used them, i could close the 300 pound one, on a good day, with right hand 5x and with left 1-2 maybe. ANd on a bad day i couldnt close it at all with left and barely could close it with right. And that is with warmup using the weaker grippers and chalk.

I just moved so i found the grippers again and i took the 300 pounder and i can close it with ease for reps now with both hands(no warmup no nothing). I can even half close the 350 now what wouldnt budge at all before.

So i must say im very positively surprised. I guess gym training has some carryover to crush grip also. Ive been hitting wrist curls alot last 6 months or so also atleast maybe that contributed

**teedoff** · 10-15-2023, 01:27 PM

It takes grip strength to do so many exercises. deadlifts, rows, weighted sumo squats, farmer carries....tons of them require good grip strength, so not surprising you have noticed yours being stronger.

**Test Monsterone** · 10-15-2023, 01:53 PM

I don't think the fingers or wrist are the types of joints you want to put too much load on. The wrist has a lot of tendons and small bones. Lifting weights is enough tension for the wrist/forearm and fingers, imo. The rule is to always keep your wrist straight when lifting, and doing wrist curls is just the opposite of that.

**almostgone** · 10-15-2023, 03:26 PM

Grip strength is something that needs to be developed slowly, especially when you're focusing on the wrist flexors and even moreso for pinch gripping.
Recovery can take a long time; longer than you think.

**Fluidic Kimbo** · 10-15-2023, 04:19 PM

I hang from a bar with one hand in order to strengthen my grip. I can hang with one arm for about 30 seconds.

**Cuz** · 10-15-2023, 07:41 PM

Well, you probably need to get certified with COC if you are as strong as you say you are. You can be certified with a #3, I believe its 295 lb. I have one and they are pretty damn stout to close. I developed a golfers elbow from training them I no longer do it as it has caused me alot of pain on the daily.

**s1nc1ty** · 10-16-2023, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by Fluidic Kimbo

I hang from a bar with one hand in order to strengthen my grip. I can hang with one arm for about 30 seconds.

For forearms there are many different kinds of strength and they all need to be trained sperately.

There is crush grip, support grip, pinch grip. Grippers train crush grip. Hanging and holding bars dumbells is support grip. Pinch grip is another animal because it needs also a strong thumb. Then there is wrist strength like wrist curls. Leverage bar work categorizies as another kind of strength. Then there is also extensors that open up the fingers that are usually trained with a circular rubber band around the fingers opening it up

**s1nc1ty** · 10-16-2023, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by Cuz

Well, you probably need to get certified with COC if you are as strong as you say you are. You can be certified with a #3, I believe its 295 lb. I have one and they are pretty damn stout to close. I developed a golfers elbow from training them I no longer do it as it has caused me alot of pain on the daily.

Im not that strong. I dont even dream of closing the nr 3, its super heavy from what ive seen. The noname brand grippers are good for training and cheap but theyr resistance ratings are notoriosly unreliable. I bet the 300 and 350 ones i have are more like close to coc nr 2.

I bought them because they were cheap and i needed something fast but im planning on selling them and buying the nr2.

Wouldnt have even thought they could give you golfers elbow but yeah, gotta be careful i guess not to overtrain them.It takes alot tension to close them. they are a nice thing to own and use from time to time though. For me i dont have goals to get to the nr3. I think they say if you can close the nr 2 then your grip strength is respectable.
So il get the nr 2 and stick to repping it from time time just to keep myself in shape

**s1nc1ty** · 10-16-2023, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Test Monsterone

I don't think the fingers or wrist are the types of joints you want to put too much load on. The wrist has a lot of tendons and small bones. Lifting weights is enough tension for the wrist/forearm and fingers, imo. The rule is to always keep your wrist straight when lifting, and doing wrist curls is just the opposite of that.

I agree about not putting too much load on the fingers. When i trained the grippers twice a week ontop regular training it was too much load and i developed knuckle pain. The grippers take alot tension to close and it is abit hard on the fingers if you are working on a gripper close to 1rep max.

As far as wrist curls go, i swear by them. They are fucking good. I have 20kg dumbbell and 10 kg dumbbell at home. I use the 20 for wrist curls and 10 for reverse wrist curls and i do it twice a week, 3 sets each, religiosly. The weight is pretty light by now so i high rep that shit with this weight by now pretty much but yeah(i want to buy thick gripz it should make it harder again i think). My forearms have gotten alot stronger. When i punch the heavy bag (no gloves) my fists feel stone solid. Before wrist curls when i hit the bag hard my wrist would buckle sometimes. But now, they are like iron, atleast wrist wise, completely fixed

**wango** · 10-16-2023, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by s1nc1ty

I agree about not putting too much load on the fingers. When i trained the grippers twice a week ontop regular training it was too much load and i developed knuckle pain. The grippers take alot tension to close and it is abit hard on the fingers if you are working on a gripper close to 1rep max.

As far as wrist curls go, i swear by them. They are fucking good. I have 20kg dumbbell and 10 kg dumbbell at home. I use the 20 for wrist curls and 10 for reverse wrist curls and i do it twice a week, 3 sets each, religiosly. The weight is pretty light by now so i high rep that shit with this weight by now pretty much but yeah(i want to buy thick gripz it should make it harder again i think). My forearms have gotten alot stronger. When i punch the heavy bag (no gloves) my fists feel stone solid. Before wrist curls when i hit the bag hard my wrist would buckle sometimes. But now, they are like iron, atleast wrist wise, completely fixed

In the day I battled with golfers elbow for decades, but it always seemed to flare up when I was negligent of not regularly doing those wrist curls. When I did them, I liked letting the bar drop down as far as I could with my fingers. Same with reverse curls.

I liked my wrist roller as well for a nasty burn.

Ever use those attachments that make the bar really thick for reverse curls?

**almostgone** · 10-16-2023, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by wango

In the day I battled with golfers elbow for decades, but it always seemed to flare up when I was negligent of not regularly doing those wrist curls. When I did them, I liked letting the bar drop down as far as I could with my fingers. Same with reverse curls.

I liked my wrist roller as well for a nasty burn.

Ever use those attachments that make the bar really thick for reverse curls?

Fat gripz? I was given a set, but haven't used them yet. I was also gifted with bilateral carpal tunnel release on Halloween, so it's going to be a while before I use them.

**s1nc1ty** · 10-17-2023, 02:57 AM

I havent yet but i plan to buy it. Fat gripz its called i think. But i imagine its hard to reverse wrist curl any meaningful weight with it

**wango** · 10-17-2023, 06:46 AM

More difficult, but definitely doable. I prefer a thumbs over grip to work the fingers more.

Meaningful weight in this case is enough to challenge the muscles effectively, it’s not a contest.

**wango** · 10-17-2023, 07:24 AM

Originally Posted by almostgone

Fat gripz? I was given a set, but haven't used them yet. I was also gifted with bilateral carpal tunnel release on Halloween, so it's going to be a while before I use them.

I liked them back in the day. Good luck with the surgery, will you have to miss a lot of time from work?

**almostgone** · 10-17-2023, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by wango

I liked them back in the day. Good luck with the surgery, will you have to miss a lot of time from work?

Looks like 4-6 weeks. Of course, the worst hand is on the same side as the arm that gave me grief. Setting down a pill or something small and then trying to pick it up is an exercise in futility.

**wango** · 10-17-2023, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by almostgone

Looks like 4-6 weeks. Of course, the worst hand is on the same side as the arm that gave me grief. Setting down a pill or something small and then trying to pick it up is an exercise in futility.

Of course it is, Ugh

Thought I read that your wife is considering TKR???

Age and a breaking down body - the gift that keeps on giving. I’m currently waiting till my shoulder pain gets worse enough (intolerable levels) so I can get both of them replaced. No other options at this point.

**almostgone** · 10-17-2023, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by wango

Of course it is, Ugh

Thought I read that your wife is considering TKR???

Age and a breaking down body - the gift that keeps on giving. I’m currently waiting till my shoulder pain gets worse enough (intolerable levels) so I can get both of them replaced. No other options at this point.

LOL, she's still considering ( hip and knee). She's had three cortisone injections in the past 9 months or so and has gummies that she eats at night so she can relax and sleep.
Her pain decreased a lot after the shots, but I reminded her that it's a temporary band-aid, not the cure in the long run.
She has learned that being in the run, going shopping, etc. isn't as much fun as it used to be.

We're pathetic, lol. There are days that she has to button my work shirts. Really stomps all over my pride.

**Fluidic Kimbo** · 10-23-2023, 06:40 AM

Originally Posted by s1nc1ty

When i punch the heavy bag (no gloves) my fists feel stone solid. Before wrist curls when i hit the bag hard my wrist would buckle sometimes. But now, they are like iron, atleast wrist wise, completely fixed

My orthopaedic surgeon who did the surgery on my rotator cuff two months ago told me that punching in general is bad for the shoulder, especially when impact occurs and the shockwave goes through the shoulder.

He also told me that professional boxes can end up with arthritis in their hands from repetitive impacts.

In boxing I wrap my hands with two sets of wraps I'm the only person in my club who double-wraps their hands, but it works for me. If I punch a bag without wraps, I'll get out maybe 30 - 50 punches before I tweak my wrist (especially with a hook).

**s1nc1ty** · 10-24-2023, 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by Fluidic Kimbo

My orthopaedic surgeon who did the surgery on my rotator cuff two months ago told me that punching in general is bad for the shoulder, especially when impact occurs and the shockwave goes through the shoulder.

He also told me that professional boxes can end up with arthritis in their hands from repetitive impacts.

In boxing I wrap my hands with two sets of wraps I'm the only person in my club who double-wraps their hands, but it works for me. If I punch a bag without wraps, I'll get out maybe 30 - 50 punches before I tweak my wrist (especially with a hook).

Sounds like weak wrist / bad tehnique on hook. Lower arm training is very important for boxera. I smash the heavy bag in gym full force bareknuckle and no problem exept sore skin on knuckles abit after