Quote Originally Posted by dec11 View Post
of course it cheats grip, thats what its for, to aid holding onto a bar. 800 is a big number, what weight are you?
If it cheats grip then why do the worlds best deadlifters use them. I've seen most of those deadlifters, including Ed Coan compete in person. Doing singles is different than pulling for reps. The muscles in the hand will tax much faster than the other larger muscles that assist in deadlifting.

I hear this argument all the time. But it seems to me the one's who rail against using straps are, 1. not powerlifters or strength athletes or 2. not very strong deadlifters (usually around 600 regardless of weight). Not knocking you Dec. Your 595 deadlift at 200lbs is pretty good. But far from mind blowing. You are probably capable of much more, but you never give your larger muscles the work because you're limiting you strength to grip. Ed Coan pulled 900 at 220. He trains with straps. So I revert back to my original question...if using straps limits your deadlift potential, then why do the worlds best deadlifters use them. Even the worlds best olympic lifters use straps in training. They just don't use them on max effort singles (most of the time).

I pulled seven hundred and eighty pounds at 270lbs.