Gloves or no gloves, that is the question…

A topic during deadlifts the other day was lifting straps. These are different than gloves. Gloves are used for callouses or sweaty hands and assisting with some grip. Those are a personal preference. Personally, I don’t use gloves.

Now for lifting straps. When you first start weight lifting, I have members build up their wrist and grip strength as it is just as important as their other muscles. However, there comes a point where your legs (especially during deadlifts) can lift more than your wrists can handle. This is where lifting straps can come in.

There are two different styles out there. First, is the traditional leather cross lock or you might see a strap that wraps around the bar multiple times. This is the most natural grip and provides assistance by wrapping around the bar in the opposite direction as your hand. The resistance of strap wanting to move in the opposite direction is what gives the support. The other style, is a more sturdy metal hook attached to the wrist. This has its advantages in that the metal hook won’t move under a certain amount of load but the biggest disadvantage is it’s uncomfortable.

How do you know you’re ready for this or need assistance with straps? 1. You’ve been lifting consistently for close to a year. 2. You feel like your barbell lifts are plateauing as your grip fails before your arms or legs do. 3. You are experiencing lateral elbow pain and have been working with a professional to improve strength already.

Attached are examples of the two different styles. Let me know if you have questions on these as I’m always happy to help.