deadlifting - belt/straps

[thecasioguy]

I started deadlifting this past summer. I have never used a belt or straps. at what point should i consider using a belt?

should i ever consider using straps? i know it is beneficial to not use straps because it improves grip, but if my grip isn't strong enough to lift a weight that my back is strong enough to lift, should i sacrifice the weight to work on my grip or use straps?

I am currently at 340x5.

thanks

[s024201]

Originally Posted by thecasioguy

I started deadlifting this past summer. I have never used a belt or straps. at what point should i consider using a belt?

should i ever consider using straps? i know it is beneficial to not use straps because it improves grip, but if my grip isn't strong enough to lift a weight that my back is strong enough to lift, should i sacrifice the weight to work on my grip or use straps?

I am currently at 340x5.

thanks

same issue i got. didn't see that you had made a thread about it before i posted pretty much the same thing. See for me I think that i'd rather sack grip strength off in favour of working my back more. It makes more sense if you ask me. However I'm not too sure whether there are any other downfalls to using straps!

[jdelarod]

get a belt.

Use straps.

Work on your grip until you dont need straps.

[thecasioguy]

bump

[Jack_Lupino]

personal pref?

I like the idea of going raw with everything... seems more "functional" ya know like if there were a real life situation where you had to move something heavy would you be like, hang on I better get my straps/belt/suit... pffft!

unless Mr. T is your idol and you want to wear this stuff around all day...

if it were allowed I'd go barefoot in the gym, been wearing wrestling/boxing boots for years and probably going Vibram 5's next.

[DJAuto]

I use straps occasionally.

I use a belt on my heaviest DL sets.

[Aussie Joel]

I was in the exact same situation as you until i decided to buy straps this week...it was the best decision i have made. I never realised just how much i was sacraficing my back workouts to try and build grip strength.

As mentioned, use straps to lift the heavy weight and work your grip seperately until you don't need straps

[Nodeal]

Originally Posted by Aussie Joel

I was in the exact same situation as you until i decided to buy straps this week...it was the best decision i have made. I never realised just how much i was sacraficing my back workouts to try and build grip strength.

As mentioned, use straps to lift the heavy weight and work your grip seperately until you don't need straps

Same here.

[_Dominik_]

Originally Posted by thecasioguy

I started deadlifting this past summer. I have never used a belt or straps. at what point should i consider using a belt?

should i ever consider using straps? i know it is beneficial to not use straps because it improves grip, but if my grip isn't strong enough to lift a weight that my back is strong enough to lift, should i sacrifice the weight to work on my grip or use straps?

I am currently at 340x5.

thanks

re: straps, do you plan to compete in powerlifting? That's where you'll want to train (at least your singles) with a mixed grip and chalk, unless you've got the patience and pain tolerance to develop a hook grip, because straps are not allowed in competition.

re: belt, there is no magical number that determines when you'll need to wear a belt. Konstantinovs pulled 940 without a belt (or suit) and frequently trains without one. I bought one a few years ago and it never felt comfortable so I wore it a couple of times and dumped it.

[Starboardrwr223]

This past summer I started deadlifting as well and the numbers quickly went up and right now I do 260x5, I simply can't grip that barbell with 260 it just slips out of my hands. I'm a rower so I always have calises all over my hand so it makes it even more painful. I use straps pretty much with anything 250+ especially with lots of reps. As for a belt when your 1RM'ing it a belt should be nessecary...no one likes hernia's....

[CaliforniaKing]

Originally Posted by _Dominik_

re: straps, do you plan to compete in powerlifting? That's where you'll want to train (at least your singles) with a mixed grip and chalk, unless you've got the patience and pain tolerance to develop a hook grip, because straps are not allowed in competition.

re: belt, there is no magical number that determines when you'll need to wear a belt. Konstantinovs pulled 940 without a belt (or suit) and frequently trains without one. I bought one a few years ago and it never felt comfortable so I wore it a couple of times and dumped it.

Konstantinovs is a beast! One question on form though. How come his upper back is so rounded (especially his first vid)? He obviously knows what he's doing, but I always thought it's bad to have rounded back? Maybe it's "expected" with that kind of massive weight?

[thedestro]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaKing

Konstantinovs is a beast! One question on form though. How come his upper back is so rounded (especially his first vid)? He obviously knows what he's doing, but I always thought it's bad to have rounded back? Maybe it's "expected" with that kind of massive weight?

Rounding of the upper back is not a concern.

[-Lucifer]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaKing

How come his upper back is so rounded

That's alright. Lumbar rounding is not alright.

[rich7171]

Forget the straps and add some focus on building grip strength. Balance your muscle gains, everything should get stronger each muscle that grows should grow in proportion to your whole muscle structure "balance". This will prevent injury and weaknesses that must be over come later as you grow. You can use staps and many folks use them. Or you could focus on your weakness and overcome them. With straps you will be stronger with deadlifts ect but your wrists will still not be as strong as they could be. From what I have read wrists are hard to develop because they are always in use, why surrender to weak wrists and have to play catchup later. There is at least one story I read where weak grip strength caused a slip when benching heavy weights and the guy was hurt by the weight he dropped on himself.

[flangmasterj]

It's bodybuilding. Use straps.

[_Dominik_]

Originally Posted by rich7171

Forget the straps and add some focus on building grip strength. Balance your muscle gains, everything should get stronger each muscle that grows should grow in proportion to your whole muscle structure "balance". This will prevent injury and weaknesses that must be over come later as you grow. You can use staps and many folks use them. Or you could focus on your weakness and overcome them. With straps you will be stronger with deadlifts ect but your wrists will still not be as strong as they could be. From what I have read wrists are hard to develop because they are always in use, why surrender to weak wrists and have to play catchup later. There is at least one story I read where weak grip strength caused a slip when benching heavy weights and the guy was hurt by the weight he dropped on himself.

There are only two ways to grip a heavy barbell on the deadlift without straps.

Mixed grip or hook grip.

The problem with a mixed grip is it places the biceps under greater stress on the grip that is supinated (palm facing up).

Whenever you see a powerlifter tear their biceps, you'll notice it occurs on the side where they used an underhand grip. With a heavy barbell, all it could take is a slight (unintentional) bend in the elbow to put it under enough stress to tear.

Not everyone here has ambitions to compete in powerlifting and therefore might not be interested in taking a risk with a mixed grip. That's where straps come in. It's a simple no-fuss way to get the job done, especially for a bodybuilder. Some gyms don't like chalk because of the mess some people make with it, and straps get around that problem.