Ironmind Tweeny Grippers

[Bill Piche]

So, I guess no one wants to owe up to the fact that if you buy a 2.5 tweener or a 3.5 tweener it may be harder or easier than your 2 or 3?

There is no such thing as accurate tweeners down to a .5 of a gripper without either test selecting or exactness of spring batch, testing grippers, yada yada, ad nauseum.

Grippers vary, period. Warren Tetting and Weightlifter's warehouse has been putting out tweeners for years now.

Hey, isn't it getting close to Christmas soon?

Grip toys -- the addiction of many.

It is indeed interesting to see, if these new grippers vary so much that they overlap. I'd hate that.

There is no data to support that they would not overlap. There is a TON of data for years that would point to overlap. Good luck to all in the crap shoot.

[Mikael Siversson]

I think it is great that IM are producing these grippers. Its a much cheaper alternative to BB for people in Europe and Australia as well for that matter. Good idea Randy!

[Scott Styles]

I think grippers overlapping over ratings will be the exceptional case. We've been able to consistently buy grippers between the 1, 2, 3, and 4 for years now. Ironmind was also able to nail the gaps between the Guide, Sport, and Trainer.

This certainly poses to hurt the sale of Beef Builder grippers though. The majority view Ironmind grippers as the standard, and they've just released a comprable gripper for the BBSA, BBSM, and BBE.

[Hubgeezer]

I think this whole thing is funny.

1. First, I will be buying all 3, so don't get me wrong on the following comments.

2. Randy always poo-pooed the idea all these years, so yeah, Praydis and Wanna, I agree in some ways with you.

3. You have to admit, what RS did was a stroke of marketing genius. He let the demand build up on other people's time and money, and then split the grippers down the middle, making it less likely there would be overlap. Plus, I really do think that chances are there will not be overlap, but there would have been several years ago. My favorite gripper is a mutant #2 that I call "my Super 2". It has the widest set of any gripper I own (I have over 20), and I rate it a 2.7. That was 1999, I think they have improved to the point where that would not happen again.

4. I have NEVER seen such a buying frenzy and the kind of comments that I have been reading on this thread. It is as if a new crack cocaine dealer moved into town and people are running to him, wads of cash in their fists, saying "me, me!".

5. Yes, ahem, I will wait a few weeks to buy mine, even though I already have a 1.5 from PDA, 2.5 from RB, and a 3.6 from RB. So, I am an addict as well, I just won't get in a car crash rushing for my fix.

The reason I defend Randy is real simple. I am a CPA, and I don't work on publicly held companies, only locally owned operations. I see people owning 5 or 6 locations who used to make good money being squeezed out by the Big Boys or Nationals, no matter what the business. I like to see small businesses succeed, because that is important for all of us. When I was a teen, I was practically a Socialist. Now, for small businesspeople who run a legit operation, I have nothing but admiration. Strossen has been good for the Iron Game, and good for Grip. That doesn't mean that I can't get a good laugh about this whole thing, including making fun of myself for being such a chump for buying something that I clearly do not need.

Yeah, and come to think of it, I will get another set for my son for Christmas as well. And then there is that young man in the office whose birthday is coming up...

Crack cocaine, I tell you...

M A Hubgeezer

[Timmy]

I think grippers overlapping over ratings will be the exceptional case. We've been able to consistently buy grippers between the 1, 2, 3, and 4 for years now. Ironmind was also able to nail the gaps between the Guide, Sport, and Trainer.

This certainly poses to hurt the sale of Beef Builder grippers though. The majority view Ironmind grippers as the standard, and they've just released a comprable gripper for the BBSA, BBSM, and BBE.

I don't think it will hurt Beefbuilder, because of the Variety that BB has to offer with different mounting positions, sharp knurling, #4+ grippers.

[Teemu I]

I think grippers overlapping over ratings will be the exceptional case. We've been able to consistently buy grippers between the 1, 2, 3, and 4 for years now. Ironmind was also able to nail the gaps between the Guide, Sport, and Trainer.

This certainly poses to hurt the sale of Beef Builder grippers though. The majority view Ironmind grippers as the standard, and they've just released a comprable gripper for the BBSA, BBSM, and BBE.

I don't think it will hurt Beefbuilder, because of the Variety that BB has to offer with different mounting positions, sharp knurling, #4+ grippers.

I also think that this will not hurt the sale of BB-grippers. BB-grippers are great and there's always market for great products. Grip junkies like us on this board will buy grippers of different brands anyway, as can be seen on the lists people wrote about the grippers they own.

Edited November 16, 2006 by Teemu I

[Klicks]

Looks like I need a 2.5...

[acorn]

Yea I love my BB grippers they have the best knurling and feel IMHO.

- Aaron

[austinslater]

Im sure in rare cases there will be some overlap but Im betting it will be few and far between. I disagree that the date proves otherwise. How many supermasters are easier then masters? Or how many elites are easier then grandmasters? Not very many and I think Randy's grippers will be the same. All in all a great idea and Im looking forward to picking some up.

Austin

[diesel]

right now my biggest question is how will the 1.5 or 2.5 compare to my current grippers, including both IM and BB? i know it is all relative to the strength of my current grippers, but do i (according to IM) have an easy/hard 2, will my 2.5 be harder than my SM, etc, etc?

yada yada, grippers vary, but imo, every little stepping stone matters.

[Number Ten Ox]

I think that one reason they waited so long is that now they are able to produce grippers with high enough quality control that they will not overlap. I don't think Randy would allow them to be put out unless they met his high standards.

[Teemu I]

I think that one reason they waited so long is that now they are able to produce grippers with high enough quality control that they will not overlap. I don't think Randy would allow them to be put out unless they met his high standards.

That crossed my mind too. I hope so, as with those new springs there should be less variation.

So if we would compare the new ones with the new ones, maybe there is a smaller chance that they overlap?

Edited November 16, 2006 by Teemu I

[PowerHouse]

right now my biggest question is how will the 1.5 or 2.5 compare to my current grippers, including both IM and BB? i know it is all relative to the strength of my current grippers, but do i (according to IM) have an easy/hard 2, will my 2.5 be harder than my SM, etc, etc?

Im very curious to see where my SM and #2 compares to the 2.5.

[gerryg]

I bought the 1.5 and 2.5! I wonder how many of these new grippers IM will sell in the first 24 hours!

[jad]

right now my biggest question is how will the 1.5 or 2.5 compare to my current grippers, including both IM and BB? i know it is all relative to the strength of my current grippers, but do i (according to IM) have an easy/hard 2, will my 2.5 be harder than my SM, etc, etc?

Im very curious to see where my SM and #2 compares to the 2.5.

I think some of these tweeners will bite some people due to IM grippers generally being a wider than the BBs. If that 3.5 has a .295 spring, flush mounting, and a 3+" s[read, look out!

[MIKE HALEY RILEY CLOE]

I am kind of curious about something. I recieved my catalog yesterday----one day AFTER ordering a 2nd BBE and BBSE! (I really like WLW-Warrens BB grippers though, actually my favorites). My question is why no poundage ratings on the "Mid-Level" grippers? My other question would be maybe these are the same spring sizes (you know 2 and 2.5 ect.), just different mounting depths, (which COULD be why there are no ratings). Please understand I really like IM , and COCs, but has anybody else been wondering this? Mike

[Teemu I]

right now my biggest question is how will the 1.5 or 2.5 compare to my current grippers, including both IM and BB? i know it is all relative to the strength of my current grippers, but do i (according to IM) have an easy/hard 2, will my 2.5 be harder than my SM, etc, etc?

Im very curious to see where my SM and #2 compares to the 2.5.

I think some of these tweeners will bite some people due to IM grippers generally being a wider than the BBs. If that 3.5 has a .295 spring, flush mounting, and a 3+" s[read, look out!

Good point. That 3.5 may turn out to be harder than I'd expect.

[Chrisx9118]

I just ordered my 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 grippers....

I know maybe some of you have gotten your new grippers already, care to share your thoughts on difficulty and such?

[PowerHouse]

I just ordered my 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 grippers....

I know maybe some of you have gotten your new grippers already, care to share your thoughts on difficulty and such?

I just ordered mine yesterday, its going to take a week in a half to get here

[patrick]

I'm getting my 3.5 gripper tommorow. Got next day air. I'll let you know what I think about it after I try it out tommorow.

[Number Ten Ox]

I'm tracking mine. UPS checked them into Sacramento, CA a few minutes ago Only Northern CA, Oregon and most of WA stands in between my new grippers and I.

[Cannon]

Here is an email exchange I had with Dr. Strossen. My original questions were 1) What are the wire diameters on the new grippers, and 2) Will a CoC3.5 cert be offered?

Dear Matt,

Many thanks - want you to know how much we appreciated your

email . . . we made these and the new IM EGG for all you grip guys

because we think they are tools that are going to help you set a pile

of new PRs.

Very sorry, but we don't quote specs like wire diameters - our

experience with this is that it ends up creating more confusion than

clarity - and while we have not planned to offer a certification on

the No. 3.5 Captains of Crush gripper, we are open to it if guys in

grip community would like it. Right now, unfortunately, there are so

many watered-down "certifications" and "closes" that I personally

think it would be better for guys who really are strong to get back

to basics and prove that they can honestly close a No. 3 Captains of

Crush gripper and then take things from there. If you have some more

thoughts about this, though, please let me know because we're here to

help in any way that we can.

Thanks again for writing.

Best wishes,

Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D.

President

IronMind Enterprises, Inc.

Thank you for the reply Dr. Strossen!

I wouldn't personally recommend offering a 3.5 certification. The CoC3 is already world-class and the impossibly short CoC4 list is motivation enough for the elite few to keep training beyond the CoC3. The only argument I could see someone making for the 3.5 cert is that some feel the credit card rule has made the CoC4 an intangible goal. However, I believe it is what it is: How often can we expect someone to perform at this level? It might not happen for a year or more, but SOMEONE will cert on the CoC4 again. Adding a 3.5 cert would only establish a dangerous settling ground between the 3 and 4 where a potential CoC4 closer might camp instead of driving for that ultimate goal. Just my thoughts.

Also, would you mind if I posted your response below on some of the grip forums? I'm sure others are interested in your letter.

Take care,

Matt

Dear Matt,

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.

We're with you on this and our thought on the CoC No. 1.5, 2.5 and

3.5 was that they could help guys get to the CoC No. 2, 3 and 4,

respectively, but just as the Hand Gripper Helper is a training tool

designed for the same purpose, we don't certify guys who close, for

example, CoC No. 3 + a Hand Gripper Helper.

I don't think everyone can run the 100 in less than 10 seconds, just

as not everyone can learn integral calculus - it's like that on the

No. 3 and the No. 4 Captains of Crush grippers, as well, but our

feeling is that this is even more reason to respect and admire the

few people with the combination of talent and drive that takes them

to this level of achievement.

Thank you for asking - you are welcome to post any of these comments.

Best wishes,

Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D.

President

IronMind Enterprises, Inc.

[Bearcat 74]

Actually the 3.5 would be the perfect gripper to make a cert list for, there is no one on it. There won't be, "well, back when I did it", or "he closed it with a 1/4" set and then they moved the rule to parallel, then it was a credit card, then no set, then you had to do it after playing dizzy bat no set with your left hand while picking your nose" and so on. They could start the list clean with the rules and then there would be a leveler playing field to judge with.

[Cannon]

Actually the 3.5 would be the perfect gripper to make a cert list for, there is no one on it. There won't be, well, back when I did it, or he closed it with a 1/4" set and then they moved the rule to parallel, then it was a credit card, then no set, then you had to do it after playing dizzy bat no set with your left hand while picking your nose, and so on. They could start the list clean with the rules and then there would be a leveler playing field to judge with.

No doubt that is a good point.

[BIKERICH]

nice post Mike. i ordered a #2.5 and changed the shipping method to USPS Priority which is 2-3 day delivery. usually 2 days to most destinations in the U.S. the cost for shipping is $6 for 1 gripper which is the same IM charges for UPS ground.just another shipping option to get the gripper quicker without paying more $ for UPS Air.just ask Tracy if this option is available to you in your area.