Coc Durability

[spahn ranch]

Hi guys,

Does anyone use CoC's or other grippers for chest crushes? Apparently IronMInd recommend against repping the hell out of the grippers, so do you think I should expect them to break if I give them a good chest crushing session regularly?

P.s.

The mailman dropped me my first CoC's yesterday; #1 and #2. I already have the ISG but decided I wanted to try some of these. I can close the ISG at a calculated 168lbs, so I expected to be able to close the #1 but not the #2, and that's exactly what I found. The #1 fell on first crush right out of the pack, no warmup; and the #2 looks to be safe for a while. So, I'm pleased to report that for me, the ISG rating seems to correspond well to these CoC's. Changing springso n the ISG had me worried, since they stopped me at 130lbs. Obviously I changed them back to the original springs and went right ahead to get my first CoC, for reference mainly -- but I see now how this could become and addiction. They look good and feel good. Be sure that I'll let you know when this #2 is closed.

Later!

Thomas

[Cannon]

The gripper should be fine if you're under control and not mashing the handles every which way like nuts. It's not going to break, though.

[crobb1320]

i sometimes do chest crushes with my #3 to help with bending crushdowns,i dont think the the gripper can tell which way its being closed. besides if there your own grippers do what you want with them. good luck with your training.

[spahn ranch]

Guys, my cióncern is spring failure due to the sheer number of reps I'd put it through with chest crushing.

P.s again -- a scant 1/8" away on the #2 today. Must have found my "sweet spot". Sure, it's not closed, but I did expect a significantly more humbling experience with the #2. Maybe lube and chest crushing it helped some too? Yesterday I wasn't even tempted to measure the distance.

[mobsterone]

Maybe building hand strength rather than lubing and chest crushing will help.

[spahn ranch]

That could work too, yeah I can see that.

Later,

Thomas

[dimmers]

Are you chest crushing your grippers to become better at bending steel? If so, i'd recommend using some pre bent bars to do ISO work with instead of your grippers. Chest crushing with grippers has its uses i find, mainly for warming up before bending IMO, but there are better ways to build strength at that sort of crushing movement.

Keep the grippers for training those hands i say imo.

[spahn ranch]

No, I haven't been workng at all on bending.

Chest crushing these may just be a way too limited range of motion for a chest workout anyway? On the other hand, if the CoC's are more likely than not to withstand the significant amount of reps and use, then any double-duty they can serve would be welcome for an on the road workout kit.

[mobsterone]

Just so it is clear why was you chest crushing it?

[Cannon]

There are some freaks otu there, you know who you are, who do 1000 or more reps PER WORKOUT on their IM grippers. If you're doing more chest crushes than that, you're wasting your time. The gripper will not fail based on reps.

[spahn ranch]

The reason I did chest crushes yesterday was to give them a run of smoothing closes. Doing so, I got the idea that I might like to do chest crushes regularly for the purpose of working the target areas of this exercise.

The question stands regarding the durability of CoC's.

[Cannon]

The reason I did chest crushes yesterday was to give them a run of smoothing closes. Doing so, I got the idea that I might like to do chest crushes regularly for the purpose of working the target areas of this exercise.

The question stands regarding the durability of CoC's.

I don't know what you're looking for. I feel like I've said twice that the grippers are remarkably durable. If you manage to do enough damage, you're out $19.95. Big deal. Train away, and aim for huge numbers if you want! You'll get stronger and the gripper will serve its purpose.

[mobsterone]

There are some freaks out there, you know who you are, who do 1000 or more reps PER WORKOUT on their IM grippers. If you're doing more chest crushes than that, you're wasting your time. The gripper will not fail based on reps.

There is no need to chest crush any gripper. They aren't called chest crushers they are called grippers. Late last year we had a bout of silly idiots seasoning their grippers with foot stamping, heating and yes chest crushing. None of whom were that much cop with their grippers. The little evidence there was to support seasoning (PDA presented some figures) showed nothing beyond 50 and 100 as worth doing. We've also seen, just check their logs and posts on the subject, the top guys doing very little actual seasoning per se. Rather they end up putting in time and effort and yes the reps over time which has the combined result of getting them strong and seasoning the gripper. But only with gripper closes as they were intended to be done - with their hands.

The reason I did chest crushes yesterday was to give them a run of smoothing closes. Doing so, I got the idea that I might like to do chest crushes regularly for the purpose of working the target areas of this exercise.

The question stands regarding the durability of CoC's.

I noted your initial post said something like just missing the last 1/4 inch or so. Your logic said 'chest closes will 'smooth' that out' as opposed to 'I'll train harder, get stronger and the last 1/4 of an inch will fall. It's a spring - it doesn't get stuck - you just ran out of power.

[Cannon]

There are some freaks otu there, you know who you are, who do 1000 or more reps PER WORKOUT on their IM grippers. If you're doing more chest crushes than that, you're wasting your time. The gripper will not fail based on reps.

And to clarify, I was referring to the Amidons and Mortons of the world who have done this kind of volume in regular gripper closes. The gripper just isn't going to break. I agree with Mob that there is no reason to chest crush a gripper.

[spahn ranch]

I don't know what you're looking for. I feel like I've said twice that the grippers are remarkably durable. If you manage to do enough damage, you're out $19.95. Big deal. Train away, and aim for huge numbers if you want! You'll get stronger and the gripper will serve its purpose.

Thanks for your input re durability. If not even one report of spring failure is known to this community, then I'll take IM's durability disclaimer as little more than @ss coverage, and rep away ad lib.

Re the price of a CoC; was no question of mine, but for your info it's eqivalent of not $19.95 but $43 where I live. Either way, I would indeed still agree it's not a very big deal should one break after years of use.

The little evidence there was to support seasoning (PDA presented some figures) showed nothing beyond 50 and 100 as worth doing.

Those are the numbers I've seen in relation to seasoning a CoC. A couple of dozen more and mine is in that range.

I noted your initial post said something like just missing the last 1/4 inch or so. Your logic said 'chest closes will 'smooth' that out' as opposed to 'I'll train harder, get stronger and the last 1/4 of an inch will fall. It's a spring - it doesn't get stuck - you just ran out of power.

Re the logic: just not so. Re training and getting stronger: I hear you, loud and clear. Indeed, I didn't explicitly say I ran out of power for the last 1/8", but no way am I going to leave anyone hanging for whatever reason may be. A 'legit' close of my #2 wasn't going to happen for me today because I'm not yet strong enough.

[Cannon]

I don't know what you're looking for. I feel like I've said twice that the grippers are remarkably durable. If you manage to do enough damage, you're out $19.95. Big deal. Train away, and aim for huge numbers if you want! You'll get stronger and the gripper will serve its purpose.

Thanks for your input re durability. If not even one report of spring failure is known to this community, then I'll take IM's durability disclaimer as little more than @ss coverage, and rep away ad lib.

Richard Sorin told a good story about a gripper breaking and a shard from the spring lodged in his arm, i think. I'll see if I can find the post. They can break, but I actually haven't heard of even one GR8 spring breaking. I'm certian it's possible, and you might also get hit by lightning on the way to your car, but probably not.

I noticed in your log that you closed your #2. WAY TO GO!

[Cannon]

Here is Richard's post: http://www.gripboard.com/index.php?s=&...st&p=261500

Sounds like Brookfield was closing the gripper when it broke and Sorin was just nearby. Thankfully, these stories are few and far between.

[acorn]

I do some chest crushes as part of my bending training. But its in the 1-5rep range, not endless reps. I think that unless they serve some specialized need there is no point in doing them.

- Aaron

[The Mac]

I would say it is very, very rare but you have to accept that a spring "can" snap at any time.

[spahn ranch]

Matt,

Thanks for the link. This made me think of the squeeks from the #4 Magnus Samuelsson closed out of the pack in his Arms video; I think I squinted at the screen.

Yeah, that #2 gave in! I had to remove the double side adhesive tape I'd out on the handles, as if I was cheating on the first close; then ended the session with three more satisfying OC's. There's a #2.5 soon about to spend 2 weeks in a padded envelope.

I do some chest crushes as part of my bending training. But its in the 1-5rep range, not endless reps. I think that unless they serve some specialized need there is no point in doing them.

- Aaron

Duly noted. Thanks guys, I value your opinions on training equipments and methods; most of you will be way more experience than I am in this field.

Thomas

[Old Dax]

They do break (and doesn't it make you jump!) see my gallery for a COC#1 that broke (not via chest cruching either(.