Gripper Strength Levels & Comparison Explanation

[Jedd Johnson]

I am asked quite a bit on my YouTube channel and at my websites about gripper strength levels and comparing different types of grippers against one another and against the Vulcan. I did my best to tackle this subject so that people can understand.

I know many of the meembers here understand this already, but perhaps not all, and I know that not everybody that comes to my site comes to the board. Anyway, if you are unsure, I hope this helps you out.

Here is the video and related article on the subject:

Here is the related article:

http://www.dieselcrew.com/vulcan-gripper-compared-to-torsion-spring-grippers

Feel free to post comments, subscribe, and share.

Jedd

[iamsean11]

Great video, Jedd! One question: I don't know if I am misunderstanding this, but I feel like my V2 I received from you is much harder than TSGs in comparison, as well as others I have seen from training logs. For example, I can easily close a 2.5, wide-rep a BBSM, and about 6-8mm from a 3ccs, however, I have failed to close the black spring on level 10 during many attempts. I feel competent in my setting, but I cannot produce results.

I can only assume that either I am not setting it properly, or that my spring is moderately harder. Have you seen black springs that tend to be on the high end?

Thanks again for the video, it will definitely help out a lot of people.

Sean

[mfin77]

Great video...one question

How come the rgc for A #3 is 138-149.. And the rgc for the v2 before the spring is stretched out on level 13-15 which equals a #3 is rated at 119 to 131. How could these be equal if they have different rgc numbers.

Thanks

Mike

[macaz]

Great video...one question

How come the rgc for A #3 is 138-149.. And the rgc for the v2 before the spring is stretched out on level 13-15 which equals a #3 is rated at 119 to 131. How could these be equal if they have different rgc numbers.

Thanks

Mike

The TSG (torsion spring gripper) is a different type of spring and a different type of work to close. Basically a TSG starts easy and ramps up in difficulty at the end. The Vulcan has a rather steady force that does ramp up a tad at the end but is hard the whole close, beginning to end.

I took some classes in physics and I don’t remember much. I do remember that Work=force times distance. What this means is that the force/resistance on the Vulcan is higher throughout the beginning and middle and 3/4 of the way through the close. So you have a greater overall amount of work involved with a slightly smaller RGC #.

The TSG is easier until the last quarter or eighth of and inch then it just ramps up in resistance and has a harder RGC at the end but is less work overall. I hope this makes sense.

Bottom line I could not close my #3 when I was closing level12 on the Vulcan on leg 1 and 2 at the WSH contest. At leg three of WSH I finally got level 14 on the Vulcan and was able to make my MM0 video on the same day so I think the comparisons are very good.

[macaz]

By the way the forst set of V2 RGC#s (119 to 131) are more like the #3. After I streched that spring at the higer levels the spring relaxed some. On my ravaged spring Level 15-16 is more like the #3. It is no big deal I just work out with the spring higer up. If you only use your hands to close the spring then there is not going to be a noticable change in spring strength. Just dont let Paul Knight or Tim Struse use you Vulcan.

[mfin77]

Thanks Rich, really good explanation.

I could close the Vulcan 12 level, but cant close my ghp 7, I am like 1/4 inch away from closing it. I don't have a #3 but the ghp is almost the same.

I dont like doing the tsg as much as the Vulcan. I usually just test my strength on the tsg,which I know is wrong because I would probably be stronger on them.

Thanks

Mike

[macaz]

Thanks Rich, really good explanation.

I could close the Vulcan 12 level, but cant close my ghp 7, I am like 1/4 inch away from closing it. I don't have a #3 but the ghp is almost the same.

I dont like doing the tsg as much as the Vulcan. I usually just test my strength on the tsg,which I know is wrong because I would probably be stronger on them.

Thanks

Mike

I dont think what you are doing is wrong. I really like to work out with my Vulcan and I honestly have my best progress on TSGs when I work out with the Vulcan.

[Geralt]

That's right...the Vulcan is a very versatile tool...I try to keep in focus that when I can CCS it around level 14-15 I should be pretty save with

any IM#3. I did CCS level 14 once and I closed it once level 16 MMS. But the progress from level 15 to 16 and higher consistenly is a big sticking point

for me. But the Vulcan saved me a lot of money in TSG's.

[macaz]

The jumps just keep getting biger and biger 14 to 15 is tough. Try microloading with rubber bands.

[Jedd Johnson]

Great video, Jedd! One question: I don't know if I am misunderstanding this, but I feel like my V2 I received from you is much harder than TSGs in comparison, as well as others I have seen from training logs. For example, I can easily close a 2.5, wide-rep a BBSM, and about 6-8mm from a 3ccs, however, I have failed to close the black spring on level 10 during many attempts. I feel competent in my setting, but I cannot produce results.

I can only assume that either I am not setting it properly, or that my spring is moderately harder. Have you seen black springs that tend to be on the high end?

Thanks again for the video, it will definitely help out a lot of people.

Sean

Sean,

Hey bud, I wasn't dodging you - sorry for not answering your question - I just didn't see the post.

It's entirely possible that you have a tougher spring, but what I am leaning toward is that you might be hand-setting too much which is zapping all of your crushing strength. My suggestion would be to try to get more upper body into the set so you have more power left in the tank fo the close. Once I figured this out, it made a huge difference.

Also, keep in mind the strength curves are reversed between the V2 and the TSG's. V2's are tougher at the beginning and the TSG's are tougher at the end. So IF your set is the "weakness" it is going to show even more with the V2.

You'll get it brother.

Jedd