Captains Of Crush Gripper

[jchawk]

Hello,

I purchased one of those captains of crush grippers. It's a number 1.5. I can almost close it but I just can't seem to get it to click. There is about 1/4 of an inch in between the two handles. Besides the fact that I guess I have poor crushing strength ... is this an indication that a certain part of my hand is weaker then the rest. I am assuming the pinky and ring finger play the biggest role in that last part of the close.

If my assumption is correct and my pinky and ring fingers are weaker is there some other exercise that I could do to help with that last part of the squeeze?

Thanks for your help.

[Magnus]

1 - Try forcing the last 1/4" shut with the other hand, and then let it pry your hand open back to the 1/4", and force it again, etc. In this way you're training the sticking point directly (you can choke the gripper to get right into the range you're trying to train).

2 - Try adding more to my grip routine. Don't just get stuck on training with grippers. Adding other grip training will greatly improve your functional grip strength, and will really help your grippers strength as well. Pinching and Rolling Thunder are excellent. I had a gripper I was fighting with for months (missing it by ~1-2mm each time), and after a week of hard work -really hitting my pinch in particular- I was able to close it.

3 - You can try pinky and ring holds, like Teemu is doing here.

Don't try too much at once with these, though.

Personally, I find what works best for me with grippers is over-crushes, parallel reps, and heavy negatives. You might want to get some more grippers to supplement your goal gripper with. An easier one for repping, and a harder one for heavy negs. Of coarse, everyone is different, so what works for me may not work for someone else, but this is what I've found to work best. Oh, and make sure you don't over-train. Don't attempt too much at once, and if your still not feeling 100% from your last workout, don't train. Hope this helps

Edited September 30, 2008 by Magnus

[twig]

1 - Try forcing the last 1/4" shut with the other hand, and then let it pry your hand open back to the 1/4", and force it again, etc. In this way you're training the sticking point directly (you can choke the gripper to get right into the range you're trying to train).

2 - Try adding more to my grip routine. Don't just get stuck on training with grippers. Adding other grip training will greatly improve your functional grip strength, and will really help your grippers strength as well. Pinching and Rolling Thunder are excellent. I had a gripper I was fighting with for months (missing it by ~1-2mm each time), and after a week of hard work -really hitting my pinch in particular- I was able to close it.

3 - You can try pinky and ring holds, like Teemu is doing here.

Don't try too much at once with these, though.

Personally, I find what works best for me with grippers is over-crushes, parallel reps, and heavy negatives. You might want to get some more grippers to supplement your goal gripper with. An easier one for repping, and a harder one for heavy negs. Of coarse, everyone is different, so what works for me may not work for someone else, but this is what I've found to work best. Oh, and make sure you don't over-train. Don't attempt too much at once, and if your still not feeling 100% from your last workout, don't train. Hope this helps

Do what he said.

[matthcarl]

I wouldn't necessarily assume one part of your hand is weaker...remember, the gripper is a spring, and gets harder to move as you compress it, so that last 1/4" is just the toughest bit.

[cptnamazin]

i agree with matt, but it would still be a good idea to get an imtug or 2 to train your ring and pinky. those things can work wonders. i'd suggest getting the imtug #2.