COC vs Ivanko SupperGripper

[Michael Schmitt]

Just curious, I see alot of people talk about the COC's but not much about the SupperGripper.

I would think that given the ability to make incremental changes the SupperGripper would be prefered.  The only reason I could think of for prefering the COC is the ability to be Certified once the #3 is reached.

[Guest JimT]

I have the #1, #2, #3, and the Supergripper...

In my opinion, the COC's feel better in your hand and you can hold the gripper without as much shifting (if that makes sense) due to position you can get on the handles.  Strapholds make the resistance adjustable (I use a container of water as my hang weight, so i can easily add to it)

The handles of the Supergripper are a little slippery.  I found that some tape helps alot for the handles.  the big handles makes it great for heavy negatives, because you can use both hands to close it.  

I personally prefer the COC's.  Both are good though

[Guest Luke Reimer]

Jim T.

I've been using COC style grippers for  four and a half years

and just bought myself an Ivanko Supergripper this automn.

It took me some getting used to, but I really like it now and

recommend it without hesitation.

As with Michael, the slipperyness of the handles bothered me

a great deal too, at least early on. I prefer razor sharp

knurling,  but I've come to tolerate the smooth finish on the

Supergrippers enough that I haven't bothered to implement a

remedy yet.  I do find that I have to struggle a little harder

to get an effective grip and keep it throughout the squeeze.

Although I'd rather not expend my energy this way, I am

getting better at this part.

The feel of the Supergripper is quite different too.  

Attempting to hold the Supergripper as far down (from the

pivot) as possible while using a standard (not inverted grip)

was less rewarding for me than has been with COC style

grippers. The Supergripper handles move toward each other

in such a way that, while using a standar grip, to me it feels

as though the strength of my fingers is being diverted down

along the the far handle, rather than directly into it, (i.e.

creating some unproductive telesoping force rather than pure

pendulum force).   This loss of force is not only debilitating,

but also somewhat painful, since it pulls the bottom side of

the small finger down against the loop of the handle gaurd

that encircles the fingers.  I found it possible to compensate

for both of these effects by taking the same grip with the

fingers (down near the bottom of their handle), but

positioning my palm somewhat higher on its handle than it

would come to naturally. This seemed to put the lines of

force from my fingers more perpendicular to its handle and

generate stronger squeezes, but on the other hand it (1) only

aggravated the slipping problem  and (2) made it harder to

landmark on the palm side for uniform efforts.  I think with

persistence, and possibly a higher friction surface on the

handles, I might find the Supergrippers suitable for training in

the standard grip, but presently I don't use them for standard

grip.

Thankfully, I found the Supergrippers to work much better

from an inverted grip, and this is the way I've been using

them almost since I got them.  It's not quite as easy to do

negatives and holds as I expected, but I would say easier

than with COC style grippers. On the other hand, the ability

to adjust the tension for progressing incrementally is every

bit the asset I hoped it would be. I love it!  If someone could

ever get up to using four or more springs for full closes, I

suppose there would be fewer spring positions free for

adjustments, but this seems fairly remote. (I'm using three

springs myself, and this still allows for ample adjustments).

 

Cheers,

Luke

[Guest Luke Reimer]

Jim, Michael,

I see I mixed you two up with each other in my message. I

meant it to be for Michael; sorry about the confusion.