While lifters will spend hours writing programs that target every possible angle of their pecs, grip work is commonly overlooked... and that's probably what's holding them back from getting bigger and stronger.
If you've used straps pulling 225 pounds from the floor, your grip sucks. Sorry, it's true. Here's what to do about it.
Just the act of holding a dumbbell engages the forearms to some degree. But how do you train your grip strength directly? There are some foolproof training methods that you probably already know about, like farmer's carries and barbell holds.
But what's the missing ingredient in most strength programs? Dead hangs. Unless you have shoulder issues, these are a must.
Too easy? Add bands:
Do this at the end of your squat and deadlift workouts for spinal decompression. To avoid grip fatigue, don't do it the day before heavy deadlifts.
"Wait, can't I just build grip strength with big, compound lifts?"
You're thinking about it backwards. Don't let your grip be the limiting factor in the lifts you COULD be doing with more weight. Here are a few things that'll motivate you to do direct grip work:
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