Jones1874 Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 whats the difference? straight up question as to why people spend money on block weight when they can use different widths of wood? i dont use either right now. i never felt like i made any progress with the 2x4s, and i never had spare money to buy block weights. i would like to get some block weights to try out since apparently they build overall hand strength according to John Brookfield. if someone could explain to me the difference that would be great, as well as recommend a block weight to start out, that would be great to. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMardegan Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 I don't know the difference but I would imagine it would have something to do with block weights having more of a round surface, hence making them harder to grip. If you don't have money to buy an assortment of block weights you should look into getting a loadable blob from strongergrip.com I have one and find it great. Really humbles you the first time if you're not used to block weights. I'm running rrbt at the moment but when I'm finished I'm thinking of looking into kta blob. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jones1874 Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 that seems like a good point. id have to way up the cost of shipping and maybe customs charges since i live in the UK. it maybe cheaper if i can get one block weight and then add weight to it progressively. also, i have standard plates if that makes any difference to which loadable blob i get.. if id have to get one from a different company or whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMardegan Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 that seems like a good point. id have to way up the cost of shipping and maybe customs charges since i live in the UK. it maybe cheaper if i can get one block weight and then add weight to it progressively. also, i have standard plates if that makes any difference to which loadable blob i get.. if id have to get one from a different company or whatever. I live in Dublin myself. I picked up a loadable blob while I was in the US last year. Had it delivered to a mates house and brought it back in my luggage. Shipping would indeed be expensive alright. The loadable takes olympic and standard plates. Very cool piece of kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jones1874 Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 i wonder if i can get a block weight shipped to me by a board member instead. if its shipped as a gift hopefully i wont have to pay the tax on top. it just seems like the cheaper option. the reason i want to get into block weights is because of this article: http://www.reocities.com/ltgodfrey/three.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jones1874 Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 decided i am going to invest in a block weight. im a complete novice when it comes to block weights. something for a beginner would be ideal. looking for recommendations on what weight i should start with? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1stCoC Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 It always stuck in my head when I read somewhere Saxon pinched and snatched a rough cut oak plank.....just sounds cool! Not sure if it was one or two handed. 90 lbs. sticks in my mind as possibly being the weight of the plank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shartak Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 I started with a 12kg blockweight from gladiatorpower. Not that much shipping .. if it gets to light you can always start lifting it with two or three fingers. There are also blockweights in ebay from time to time. There is nothing wrong in making yourself a wooden blockweight and attaching a hook with weights to it but it just doesn't feel the same (you cannot toss it from hand to hand). Simple flar weightplares are also very good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jones1874 Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 I started with a 12kg blockweight from gladiatorpower. Not that much shipping .. if it gets to light you can always start lifting it with two or three fingers. There are also blockweights in ebay from time to time. There is nothing wrong in making yourself a wooden blockweight and attaching a hook with weights to it but it just doesn't feel the same (you cannot toss it from hand to hand). Simple flar weightplares are also very good For a 12 kg block weight on that website it costs around £46 and that's without p&p. That seems pretty expensive to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shartak Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 Still cheaper than buying one in the us and paying extra taxes. You dont get them cheap in europe unfortunately.. if you find a cheap source please let us know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jones1874 Posted March 12, 2014 Author Share Posted March 12, 2014 Still cheaper than buying one in the us and paying extra taxes. You dont get them cheap in europe unfortunately.. if you find a cheap source please let us know It is unfortunate. I priced one up on eBay earlier. I could get one dumbbell (2 hex blocks) for £1 cheaper. But what do I need two of the same for? It would be easier for me to go on that site you gave me and buy one already cut to size. It could be an investment I suppose. I wouldn't buy more than one because of the price, then I could just add weight to it. Either that or go with a loadable blob if I can find one for a pair price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beef_supreme Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 I don't know the difference but I would imagine it would have something to do with block weights having more of a round surface, hence making them harder to grip. If you don't have money to buy an assortment of block weights you should look into getting a loadable blob from strongergrip.com I have one and find it great. Really humbles you the first time if you're not used to block weights. I'm running rrbt at the moment but when I'm finished I'm thinking of looking into kta blob. +1 on strongergrip's loadable blob. Very challenging shape. I have York pre-USA 35lbs blob (34.5 to be exact) - can "deadlift" and hold it for a few seconds. Can barely get the loadable blob with 22 lbs of weight attached (so that's 28lbs total weight). It's also very rounded which makes it easier on the hands than some other blobs. I'm new to gripping/block weights, just my 2c. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMardegan Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 I don't know the difference but I would imagine it would have something to do with block weights having more of a round surface, hence making them harder to grip. If you don't have money to buy an assortment of block weights you should look into getting a loadable blob from strongergrip.com I have one and find it great. Really humbles you the first time if you're not used to block weights. I'm running rrbt at the moment but when I'm finished I'm thinking of looking into kta blob. +1 on strongergrip's loadable blob. Very challenging shape. I have York pre-USA 35lbs blob (34.5 to be exact) - can "deadlift" and hold it for a few seconds. Can barely get the loadable blob with 22 lbs of weight attached (so that's 28lbs total weight). It's also very rounded which makes it easier on the hands than some other blobs. I'm new to gripping/block weights, just my 2c. I've never had the chance to try a regular blob but I definitely agree that it's pretty round and smooth. I would imagine that fact would stand to someone who's trying to lift a 50lber block though. One other thing to keep in mind also: cleans aren't really possible because of the way it's loaded creating a lot of leverage. Just something to keep in mind. Not something that bothers me but it might for others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jones1874 Posted March 13, 2014 Author Share Posted March 13, 2014 (edited) just want to thank everyone for their input, but i think im leaning towards the website that shartak suggested. im going to buy a 12kg / 26.5lb blockweight then add weight to it as i get stronger. it will probably be a challenge in itself to start with. The main reason im leaning towards this blockweight rather than the strongergrip loadable blob, is that the site is european so il only have to pay P+P instead of tax and customs charges. and after watching the video of Ryan putting his hands around the blob, it just looks too wide for what i want to work with right now. Before i make the purchase (because its not cheap) is there any reason why i should go with the blockweight over using 2x4s or a softball with an eye hook? Thanks. Edited March 13, 2014 by alexjones234 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shartak Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Hi, One thing I forget to mention, the surface of the blockweights from the site I suggested is not the same like from a york blockweight, it is slightly flatter. There is no real reason in my opinion, it depends on your taste. You can clean a bockweight to your shoulder and you can toss them from hand to hand (a real bosste imo). For static excercises, weight plates or a softball will do, too. If money is the isse, why don't you try using plates or a baseball with a hook first? If you stop making gains or it doesn't fell good to you, you can still look for blockweights. BTW, in uk, aren't the legacy york dumbbellls around for reasonable prices? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jones1874 Posted March 13, 2014 Author Share Posted March 13, 2014 Hi, One thing I forget to mention, the surface of the blockweights from the site I suggested is not the same like from a york blockweight, it is slightly flatter. There is no real reason in my opinion, it depends on your taste. You can clean a bockweight to your shoulder and you can toss them from hand to hand (a real bosste imo). For static excercises, weight plates or a softball will do, too. If money is the isse, why don't you try using plates or a baseball with a hook first? If you stop making gains or it doesn't fell good to you, you can still look for blockweights. BTW, in uk, aren't the legacy york dumbbellls around for reasonable prices? the shape of the blockweight is ok. i have to start somewhere anyway and it seems like the only place ill get one. ive read in brookfields book that block weights = hand strength, but i definately dont feel that way when im training with 2x4s, 4x4s or statically pinching something. thats why i prefer using a TTK or David Hornes Thumb Screws which arrived yesterday to train dynamically. i just dont feel like i can lock my hand onto the wood. feels as though its only my thumb and first 2 fingers doing the work. thats why im still a bit touch and go about the blockweights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony C. Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Have you tried sanding down the edges? That may help you get more of a grip on the blocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beef_supreme Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 ... is there any reason why i should go with the blockweight over using 2x4s or a softball with an eye hook? I made myself one of those a little while ago - very different feel vs. an actual blob (comparing to the loadable blob and the 35lbs york blob). I'm not saying I'd take one over the other, just has a different feel to it grabbing it "from the top" vs. "from the side" kinda thing you get with a blob... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Browne Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Still cheaper than buying one in the us and paying extra taxes. You dont get them cheap in europe unfortunately.. if you find a cheap source please let us know It is unfortunate. I priced one up on eBay earlier. I could get one dumbbell (2 hex blocks) for £1 cheaper. But what do I need two of the same for? It would be easier for me to go on that site you gave me and buy one already cut to size. It could be an investment I suppose. I wouldn't buy more than one because of the price, then I could just add weight to it. Either that or go with a loadable blob if I can find one for a pair price. You could train both hands at the same time. Quite a bit more challenge doing that and a it is good training method. Or you can keep one blob the same weight and add weight plates to the bottom of the second one with magnets. Or you can drill and tap the second one and progressively screw heavier weight plates to the bottom. A tip on starting out lifting a blob a bit too heavy. Place the index finger of the free hand very lightly onto the blob as you begin to lift it with the working hand. It will come up. Do that until you are strong enough to master the thing. I like to put my finger on the open space between my thumb and index finger. Once you get the blob moving up, remove the finger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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