If you pause to consider the amount of gear most athletic pursuits require, weightlifting ranks low on the list. It doesn’t take much equipment to “git’r done" for bodybuilding, power lifting, or just plain weightlifting. You can “get it going on” with access to a decent gym, workout wear, good shoes and for the hardcore, a set of weightlifting hooks or straps and a belt. In this respect things haven’t changed all that much since the Golden Age of weightlifting began in the early 1940’s, with exception of course to weightlifting straps/hooks...
You see grip aids weren’t much needed in the bygone era of fixed weight barbells, limited equipment and general ignorance of the principle of progressive overload. But that all changed with the passing years as advances in technology brought new exercise machines and weight adjustable barbells. A better understanding of adaptive processes also helped to convert repetition based workouts to more advanced escalating weight/descending rep. types. The end result of all this “progress” had weightlifters banging bigger weights than ever before as they pushed to expand the envelope of genetic potential. Along about this time...
A universally recognized “lift-limiter” reared its head as weightlifters found themselves struggling to hold on. Fact was the lesser muscles of hands and forearms were simply overcome at some point in the progression by legs, back and traps masses causing lifters to peak out prematurely. At least those who hadn’t acquired a set of those new “weightlifting straps" that some enterprising, overachieving muscle head created! This simple yet effective solution to the grip slip dilemma was nothing more than a strap with a loop sewn on one end. The other end was slipped through the loop to create a “noose” through which a hand was placed. The user would then wrap the dangling strap end around the resistance grip and go.
And so it went for this now primitive “hold on” which surprisingly is still being used today (due in no small part to its dollar store pricing), which brings us to the next progression in the world of grip aids, namely the “padded” weightlifting wrist strap. From there evolution morphed again into the non-constricting, “noose less” weightlifting wrist strap and from there into the latest version featuring a padded tongue with which to wrap the weight for less “fingernastics”. And so it seemed that with all the advancements and offerings weightlifting straps presented, all would be right in metal land...
Well not quite, for some despised the wrist crush of originals distained the “tedious wrap” crap and longed to forget gripping to better focus on their lifting. Enter in the “other” grip assist aid introduced to the world in the early 1980’s, the weightlifting hook. Now this ingenious item was first introduced as a nylon wrist wrap from which dual hooks suspended like the claws of an eagle. This invention promised lifters the ability to “hook and go” without the need to screw around with the tedious old strap and wrap process. Hoorah! Not so fast...
Unfortunately and due entirely to improperly designed hooks, these grip aids tended to come “unhooked” just as fast! Interestingly enough, despite progress in wrist wrap comfort, security and multiple versions of “hooks” over the years; this core issue was never addressed. Another problem with this now common grip aid was the inability to manipulate the hook location for optimal placement in the hand and while it’s true “one” manufacturer got this corrected, well okay two, once again the primary reason preventing hooks from achieving super star status was the hook design itself.
But, that was then and this is now...
Someone finally got this grip assist aid thing right! The newest kid on the block must have done his homework as this “hybrid” delivers the best of both worlds. That’s right, the latest in grip assist technology gives users a first ever choice between traditional “strap-n-wrap” or quick “hook ups” all in the same grip aid. As for the hooks themselves, these patented beauties were engineered to get-r-done with a true” center pull” design which stays put even with an open hand…(something you best never try with original style hooks)! You can also put these hi-tech hooks where you need them in seconds as these babies feature tricked out multiple hook slots. Lastly, you won’t find a more comfortable better made wrist wrap than these…as it seems they used the expensive closed cell foam which should make even the limpest of wrists happy!
And speaking of limp wrists...
It’s true that too much of a good thing is well…too much. Yes, the over use of grip aids will result in loss of grip strength. The trick to maintaining your grip on the sub max stuff is to use it! Then when the going gets serious heavy, hook up or strap up and go for it! The bottom line in all this is as our forefathers discovered long ago. Maximum potential will not happen if your”losing it”, period...
As for those bodybuilders that think grip aids are for” wimps” or “power lifters”, they obviously don’t understand the art of “muscle targeting”, which can dramatically improve results if practiced with a grip aid worthy of such (read hook)! If you don’t believe it, try “open handing” (finger “tip” grip only) a latt pull down or dumbbell row and you’ll soon understand the significance once the soreness settles in!
To summarize the point of all of this...
how bad do you want it?
History (and physiology) proves a limit to your strength and size exists, the law of adaptation demands this be overcome to progress. Modern technology has delivered the solution. Bottom line, if you’re serious about rockin' your world, don’t be a strap and hook up to your true potential!
