Testing Grip Strength

[Black Beard]

I need to work on my grip strength.

Can anyone recommend a good one to start with?

80lbs?
100lbs?

Depends on your natural or baseline strength. They say most gym rats can't close a #1. The "Trainer level" is solid because a beginner can get a workout from it and a more experience person can use it as a warm up/cool down exercise.


I'd go with Trainer+#1 CoC gripper for starters. Most guys/gym rats can't close a #1. (Maybe even the #0.5 so you have a step between the two )

 

[OldManLogan]

Sort of related, when I first started lifting, I went to a rock climbing gym ( my son is a competitive rock climber )- those fuckers have ridiculous grip strength overall, and even more impressive when you account for size. It’s incredible how they specialize train for grip strength, especially for bouldering…

They kept me feeling very very humble while I lifted there…

 

[Bio]

Sort of related, when I first started lifting, I went to a rock climbing gym ( my son is a competitive rock climber )- those fuckers have ridiculous grip strength overall, and even more impressive when you account for size. It’s incredible how they specialize train for grip strength, especially for bouldering…

They kept me feeling very very humble while I lifted there…

The gym I go to has a lat pulldown with simulated rock pieces to use as well.

 

[alfresco]

Sort of related, when I first started lifting, I went to a rock climbing gym ( my son is a competitive rock climber )- those fuckers have ridiculous grip strength overall, and even more impressive when you account for size. It’s incredible how they specialize train for grip strength, especially for bouldering…

They kept me feeling very very humble while I lifted there…

Being nit-picky here . . .

At first glance you would logically deduce that it is grip strength when in fact, in rock climbing, it is a static strength, not so much as the ability to actually grip.

And you climb with your feet, the hands and fingers are just hooks. They do not contract in a fashion that aids in your ascent.

Your sons knows this as a competitive climber.

When I started rock climbing I embarked on long and arduous forearm / grip strength program. (I have outlined it here in a previous post.) Designed, built and used all kind of special grip equipment but nothing contractile.

The bottom line . . . in retrospect it added very very little to my rock climbing ability. (Actual climbing is what made me better). Sure it might have added some level of confidence but I don’t thing it propelled me one tic closer to the top.

If talking about “grippers” I do not know but highly doubt that their grip strength (contractile) is exceptional, is nothing special especially contrasted with what you might expect. Would be interesting to see how well they would do with a pair of grippers . . . but . . . they can hang on little stuff on for a long long time.

That’s my opinion. If there are any rock climbers here I would love your take on this.

 

[OldManLogan]

Being nit-picky here . . .

At first glance you would logically deduce that it is grip strength when in fact, in rock climbing, it is a static strength, not so much as the ability to actually grip.

And you climb with your feet, the hands and fingers are just hooks. They do not contract in a fashion that aids in your ascent.

Your sons knows this as a competitive climber.

When I started rock climbing I embarked on long and arduous forearm / grip strength program. (I have outlined it here in a previous post.) Designed, built and used all kind of special grip equipment but nothing contractile.

The bottom line . . . in retrospect it added very very little to my rock climbing ability. (Actual climbing is what made me better). Sure it might have added some level of confidence but I don’t thing it propelled me one tic closer to the top.

If talking about “grippers” I do not know but highly doubt that their grip strength (contractile) is exceptional, is nothing special especially contrasted with what you might expect. Would be interesting to see how well they would do with a pair of grippers . . . but . . . they can hang on little stuff on for a long long time.

That’s my opinion. If there are any rock climbers here I would love your take on this.

You’re 100% right- but I will say that their power to weight ratio and pulling strength, as well as overall grip strength relative to size/weight was still remarkable for the elite climbers. I’m talking USA climbing national ranked competitors.

But of course, I would assume a bodybuilder or power lifter, especially if they say, deadlift heavy and often without straps would eventually develop superhuman grip strength, right?