youngun Posted July 5, 2002 Share Posted July 5, 2002 Heath How do you compare other #4s with the Phantom 4? I thought the Phantom was the beast considering it's high IP rating. ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted July 5, 2002 Author Share Posted July 5, 2002 I got my 4 from Strossen, who, as I recall, sent me one of the first available production batches, so that would be several years ago, though offhand I don't recall the year. Oddly, each handle is stamped with a 4. I would tell friends, 'This is what Joe Kinney can close'- meaning of course, one like it. But now that Health has told me in a pm that my gripper is "two tons harder" than his, I am beginning to wonder what strength Kinney closed. Because Kinney's original was lost we may never know. But knowing that Heath has on a few occasions been EXTREMELY close to closing his 4, and now that he tells us mine is a monster compared to his, the number 4 designation seems less meaningful than before. Heath, many folks would say that the 3 is 'two tons harder' than the trainer. Can you give us a feel for how hard my 4 is- would you say it's like a 5 (if they existed)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGuy Posted July 5, 2002 Share Posted July 5, 2002 Would you say that your #4 is of the same vintage that Kinney would have owned when he was first able to close one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted July 5, 2002 Author Share Posted July 5, 2002 Kinney closed a 4 in 1998. He told me at the time he stood 5'9" tall and weighed 180 pounds. His video shows the second 4 (first one was stolen). If you have an Ironmind catalog handy (I don't), if you discover when the 4's debuted, that would be when I got one. It seems it was earlier than 1998- but I did not make a note of it and have seldom 'used' the 4, because the end on an olympic barbell is handier and provides the same feel of resistance for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcat 74 Posted July 5, 2002 Share Posted July 5, 2002 Yup, it would be a 5. It is hard to say the difference. It's almost like comparing a 3 to a 4 I think. I'm thinking it is set up like a BBSE. It is about 3.25" or so wide, and the handles are actually mounted so tops are above the coil, super deep. I didn't think it would close, but with both hands and legs I closed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sybersnott Posted July 5, 2002 Share Posted July 5, 2002 I purchased my #4 in December 1997, if it means anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Gillingham Posted July 5, 2002 Share Posted July 5, 2002 Heath, Out of curiosity, how does your #4 and Roarks #4 compare to Richards 621? After reading all the results of the gripper testing and feeling first hand some major differences in #3's, I'm wondering if I should buy another #4. Wade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted July 5, 2002 Author Share Posted July 5, 2002 Wade, How many 4's have you grasped? I have felt only mine, so was totally surprised when Heath indicated that mine was a major step above his, because I assumed that the 4's were close in resistance. Shouldn't assume things, I guess. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Gillingham Posted July 5, 2002 Share Posted July 5, 2002 I've only tried mine and my dad's. Both are hard as #### (obviously). I've always told my dad that his #4 feels easier than mine when I close it against my leg and that might be because his has been used more than mine. The difference between the two is negligible - nothing like I have felt on some of the #3's that I have tried. The "easy" #3's that I have squeeze are newer and the handles have better knurling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Piche Posted July 5, 2002 Share Posted July 5, 2002 Heath equated your #4 Joe to the World Class. We are talking the difference between a 3 and a 4. That is, your 4 is in a class by itself along with the World Class. Heath can verify if I am on the mark since he gave it a go not me. Just going from his description. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted July 5, 2002 Author Share Posted July 5, 2002 I found mine very difficult to close... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcat 74 Posted July 5, 2002 Share Posted July 5, 2002 It's a huge difference. Most the new 4's I've tried have been fairly close. Not as bad as the 3's, but nothing like this difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted August 1, 2002 Author Share Posted August 1, 2002 Heath, It has been nearly a month since last you posted on this thread. How are you doing with my #4 compared to when you first received it? The Aug 10 deadline looms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratavarious_connection Posted August 1, 2002 Share Posted August 1, 2002 Bottom Line( ! ) Joe Kinney first closed, yes closed , the #4 gripper in the middle of Nov of 1997 ( the same year he got Certified for closing the #3! )..It took him about 22 months from not being able to close his #2 ( took him about 1 week to do this--furthermore, it took him about 10 months to go from closing his #3 to his #4 ) to being able to grind the handles on his #4 @ a bodyweight between 170-175lbs. BTW, I am a whimp who just recently first closed my #3 gripper with my left hand ( I am right-handed ) this week. certification abound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted August 1, 2002 Author Share Posted August 1, 2002 We are well aware of Kinney's closing the #4. The #4 that is now missing, and therefore cannot be compared to anything. Heath has come within 1/16" of closing his #4, so I sent him mine, thinking it might be easier enough so that the final 1/16" could be conquered. Instead, mine was, as he put it 'two tons harder' than his. Was Kinney's even harder than mine? Or was Kinney's even easier than Heath's. We probably will never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Piche Posted August 1, 2002 Share Posted August 1, 2002 Well, no one has even come close to Joe's level which in my mind is about a triple or more with a #4 to grind it like that. It's becoming myth like... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tou Posted August 2, 2002 Share Posted August 2, 2002 Your new avatar is the best so far Wannagrip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcat 74 Posted August 2, 2002 Share Posted August 2, 2002 Roark, I haven't really progressed for two reasons. 1: That thing is just a monster. 2: I pretty much stopped gripper work for a few weeks. I did next to nothing on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sybersnott Posted August 2, 2002 Share Posted August 2, 2002 Heath, You're lying to us!! Next thing you know, we'll pick up a copy of MILO and see you on the cover with the caption reading, "Heath Sexton becomes the 2nd man to close the #4 gripper!". Oh.... you don't have ME fooled!! :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcat 74 Posted August 2, 2002 Share Posted August 2, 2002 No, I basically quit. A downhill slide plus real bad pain pretty much stopped me in my tracks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Piche Posted August 2, 2002 Share Posted August 2, 2002 Your new avatar is the best so far Wannagrip. My 11 yr old son actually found it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Piche Posted August 2, 2002 Share Posted August 2, 2002 Plus, I think you are a little distracted Heath with the new job and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted August 14, 2002 Author Share Posted August 14, 2002 Heath, What's happening with my #4? I am guessing from your recent post that you have not closed it. Is it en route to the next victim? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrik_F Posted August 14, 2002 Share Posted August 14, 2002 Hehe, I am quite new to serious grip-work but I thought all #3s and #4s were pretty equal cause Ironmind was suppose to check those grippers extra much. My #3 is very tough compared to my #2. The #3 is about 3 1/8" between the handles which I think is pretty much since I dont have large hands. The #2 is smaller and I get much better grip on it and can close it a few times pretty easy without much positioning. The thing is that I can barely get my #3 started. It just feels so heavy. Maybe I have a pretty tough #3 or I am just a sissy :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted August 15, 2002 Author Share Posted August 15, 2002 The grippers vary considerably. Heath's #4 was within a sixteenth of an inch from being shut. He described my 4 as 'two tons harder'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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