Posted: 5/22/2007 6:04:04 PM EDT
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This topic might have been discussed ad nauseum, but I haven't seen it if it has, so...aside from forearm/grip strength gains made from "normal" weight lifting, I never have found a great exercise or device to compliment forearm and grip strength. I personally don't like wrist curls. I have seen most of the squeezee type thingies and love the hard rubber eggs (eggsercizer). A professional arm wrestler let me use a squeezer with EXTREME tension made by a company called Captains of Crush. All of these things are fine and dandy, but I thought there has to be something better. A week ago we were in Dick's and my wife and I decided to get my son a gripmaster to improve his dexterity and fine motor skills, and I got myself one also. WOW!!! This thing is awesome. It promotes overall grip and forearm strength in addition to isolating each finger and the associated flexor/extensor muscles. The website shows a variety of exercises you can do with this device, and while some are hokey, most are very good. I HIGHLY recommend these things. FYI. www.gripmaster.net Blake |
I agree. But I don't think it isolates nearly as well nor does it strengthen the small muscles to the extent that the Gripmaster does. Who knows, maybe this thing is the answer to a question nobody asked, but I'm diggin it now. Blake |
| I bought something called the super gripper made by Ivanko years ago. It is an adjustable grip exerciser that costs about $30. I have gone through three of them through the years because my friends have asked if they could have mine. I worked at a specialty shop that sold them but they were the best squeezing type exerciser I ever saw. |
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For practical forearm/grip strength, nothing beats rope climbing/rope work. Just like pull/chip ups are phenomenal for your back, so are ropes for forearms and grip. ETA: I know most gyms simply don't have the height for ropes, and most guys don't have access to a military or police setup, but other options are: 1) climbing peg board - like the old ones from high school gyms. It's a board with holes in it that you move the pegs up to climb. 2) towel or rope over the chin bar and do pull ups that way. |
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Power Putty works pretty good. You can do a lot of exercises with it and it's easy to use while reading arfcom. I got mine at REI. www.gillathletics.com/GillItemView.aspx?FSID=WE312 or a homemade copy of the same works well when you're working out. A while back there was an article in a mag, I'm pretty sure it was SWAT, that reviewed a bunch different grip tools. It said most of them weren't really worth it but suggested a couple that were decent, including Power Putty. |
) as opposed to weights.
The Gripmaster is the weak little sister of the Captains of Crush. The MOST DIFFICULT Gripmaster is about as hard as the WEAKEST Cpt. of Crush. The Gripmaster is fine for women, children, rehab, and girly men. Capt of Crush will develop REAL grip strength. It is like comapring little shiny chrome plated dumbells to the big cast iron DBs. Sure the nice little chome jobbers will work for a bit but if you want REAL strength you need to go get the Captains of Crush eventually. They are rough on your hand, the knurling is painful on the heavier ones, and they are simply the BEST thing for producing bone crushing grip strength. I am such a pussy I had to give up my CoC and am considering buying a Gripmaster till I get my grip strength back up and then will use gloves with the CoC because they hurt my hands. 
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I used a COC, the second highest tension one, and did it no problem 20 reps each hand. The arm wrestler I mentioned above told me I couldn't do it, and was rather surprised when I did three sets of 20 with each hand. I agree that the tension on them is extreme, but I still like the way the Gripmaster ISOLATES better than anything else I've seen. Again, I agree that COC is the best for an overall powergrip, but I like the workout better with the GM. Just my opinion. Blake |
You closed a no. 3 for 20 reps? With each hand? I don't know whether to take off my hat, or call BS. |
Well, assuming what he told me was true...that it was the gripper with the second most tension. "I" don't know which one it was...I'm taking him at his word. I will say he is a huge dude. As I said before, he was rather surprised that I could do it. FWIW. Blake ETA  My mistake, big mistake. I called the guy whose COC gripper I used. It was a #1. I don't want to be spreading internet BS and I apologize for the mistake.
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Now I believe that. |
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Best grip exercises.... Throw two small towels over a pullup bar, little more that shoulder width apart. Grab them and do pullups then hang with your arms at 90 degreee angle for as long as you can. or If you get the paper every day read it then open all pages and stack them on top of one another. Put you right hand in the middle and ball it up. Then your left and right and....till gone. If you can do a national sunday paper. such as the Times, you can brag. |
That makes much more sense. 20 reps on the #1 is solid. |