Im Pinch Block

[burkhardmacht]

The IM pinch block is very slippery - I think the owners of this training tool will agree! I mean it's so slippery that I really felt not only unconfortable - I can't recognize any training effect because the finish is so smooth!

At first I decided to chalk my hands - that made the block more slippery!! Perhaps not everybody has this problem - if so: stop reading !

OK, no advantage with chalked hands - what else could you do? I tried lifting it without chalk - no sucess if sweat is on the hands!

I recognized that the best thing I can do to prepare my hands and to get a good workout was to chalk my hands and then to wash them ! But be careful: do not wash the hands that much until all the chalk is away - a little bit has to be left on the hands! If you rub your fingers after drying the hands you will feel the difference: the mixture of chalk and sweat makes the hands adhesive - really geckofeeling !

Now you take the unchalked (!) pinch block and lift it - and recognize that you will lift more than ever !

Conclusion: The easiest way to get a good pinch workout is to make wooden pinchblocks on your own!

Burkhard

[tmmicklabs]

Interesting.

Thanks for the info.

[GordonV]

I do not own the IM block but I have handled one in the past, and I would like to pass along the following thoughts as it relates to pinch.

When pinching, the goal is to squeeze hard and generate enough friction so as to prevent the implement from slipping from your grasp as you lift. With this in mind you should consider slipperiness a positive and not a negative. Before anyone gets excited let me explain.

If you are pinch lifting 60# on a wooden block it takes X pounds of pressure exerted by your hand to keep the implement from slipping. On the other hand, if you are using the IM block you may still be exerting X pounds of pressure but you may only be able to lift 35#. I would submit that as long as you are lifting with the same level of hand effort your grip is being worked the same no matter what the slickness of the implement. You also have the added advantage of being able to work your pinch really hard without needing access to a lot of weight.

With this in mind I covered my wood pinch blocks with duct tape to make them slicker. I can't lift as much weight as I can without the duct tape (the drop was substantial), but I am not looking for an ego stroke, I just want stronger hands.

My advice, ignore the desire to fixate on pounds but rather focus on continual progress.

[python]

I agree I thought also the implement was to slippery for training. I don't use it much because I think like yourself that it is really to "slippery" for actual training. I am sure some will think otherwise. For me I think something else would get the same results with less hassle when training. Hope others address this an maybe IM will reconsider the design.

[odin]

I would like to know the physics behind slipperiness & lifting. Anecdotally, I've heard people say that using a slippery surface requires more pinching strength, but it would seem that there would be a point of diminishing returns for increased slipperiness. Squeezing a watermelon seed harder makes it more difficult to hang on to than grasping it gently.

Edited March 24, 2004 by odin

[GordonV]

Squeezing a watermelon seed harder makes it more difficult to hang on to than grasping it gently.

I think that the watermelon seed is a flawed analogy. True it is slippery and very hard to pinch between your fingers, but it becomes more difficult to hold primarily because of the shape. If you don't believe me, try to "key" grip a tennis ball off center. As the pressure increases the ball will shoot out of your hand. It will shoot out because of shape not slickness. With a pinch block we are applying perpendicular force to an implement with parallel sides

One of the engineering types can chime in here (the last thing I am an authority on is math/physics), but I do not believe that on the scale that we are dealing with here (larger objects), there is any point where the laws of physics as related to friction break down. Unless someone has actual data, not just "it feels like", it does not matter if the block were covered in teflon, the most imortant thing is that you are working your hands and not how much you can lift.

The net effect is the same no matter how slick the block.

Edited March 24, 2004 by GordonV

[austinslater]

Tettings pinch block is the same dimensions and isnt quite as slippery. I would recomend it.

[burkhardmacht]

I do not own the IM block but I have handled one in the past, and I would like to pass along the following thoughts as it relates to pinch.

When pinching, the goal is to squeeze hard and generate enough friction so as to prevent the implement from slipping from your grasp as you lift.  With this in mind you should consider slipperiness a positive and not a negative.  Before anyone gets excited let me explain. 

If you are pinch lifting 60# on a wooden block it takes X pounds of pressure exerted by your hand to keep the implement from slipping.  On the other hand, if you are using the IM block you may still be exerting X pounds of pressure but you may only be able to lift 35#.  I would submit that as long as you are lifting with the same level of hand effort your grip is being worked the same no matter what the slickness of the implement.  You also have the added advantage of being able to work your pinch really hard without needing access to a lot of weight. 

With this in mind I covered my wood pinch blocks with duct tape to make them slicker.  I can't lift as much weight as I can without the duct tape (the drop was substantial), but I am not looking for an ego stroke, I just want stronger hands.

My advice, ignore the desire to fixate on pounds but rather focus on continual progress.

If you are pinch lifting 60# on a wooden block it takes X pounds of pressure exerted by your hand to keep the implement from slipping.  On the other hand, if you are using the IM block you may still be exerting X pounds of pressure but you may only be able to lift 35#.  I would submit that as long as you are lifting with the same level of hand effort your grip is being worked the same no matter what the slickness of the implement.  You also have the added advantage of being able to work your pinch really hard without needing access to a lot of weight. 

You are right - it's not important how much weight you are lifting. The only important thing is the load of the weight and the feeling in the working muscles. There are two reasons why I posted the idea:

1.: I did not feel the load of the weight - it's better for me to lift heavier weight with a better grip.

2.: Perhaps this info could help somebody in a contest - I think it's not forbidden to wash the hands while competing?!?!

To make clear: I don't think a slippery surface is bad in principle - but I think the one of the IM pinch block is too slippery to get a good workout because of the reasons I mentioned.

B.

[odin]

Squeezing a watermelon seed harder makes it more difficult to hang on to than grasping it gently.

I think that the watermelon seed is a flawed analogy. True it is slippery and very hard to pinch between your fingers, but it becomes more difficult to hold primarily because of the shape.

How about a smooth-surfaced, non ridged bar of soap that is the same size & shape as the new, smoother IM pinch block? Squeezing it harder wouldn't help, unless perhaps your hand condition/texture was ideal? I am not trying to argue; I am just expressing my opinion in hope that someone has an empirically-based answer.

I agree with Burki about his workout experiences with it.

[The Mac]

I think a lot of people would like a more "abrasive" block, as not only could higher poundages be lifted but it would make the training effect that much easier to recognise (1lb improvements instead of half pound, say). On the other hand you could argue that a slippery tool (try typing that without looking behind you ) provides less "damaging" stress on your hands/wrists.

As normal, the "swings and roundabouts" principle in effect.

[nagual]

I guess it also depends on what kind of pinch strength you are after.

The more slippery a surface the more you have to "pinch crush" it. On the other hand if the surface is abrasive, it becomes more of a supporting pinch lift. Ofcourse you can't really have one without the other, but you get the jist of it.

Also, I agree with the notion of diminising returns the more slippery it is. After all, if there would be no friction at all, it wouldn't matter how hard you pinch the block/implement.

Personally I favor the supporting lift over the pinch crush, since pinch crushing tends to overtrain my thumb :stuart

[OldGuy]

The slippery surface is a big part of the challenge of the IM pinchblock just as the revolving handle is the challenge with the IM RT handle. I use no chalk and clean the block and dry my hand with a rag. With both implements.

[gotenmyoou]

If I were you I would sand the surface.

[Matt Van Weele]

I tried a Tettng block and it seems more functional to me. It's easier no doubt but I think your better off using more weight rather than half of what your capable of on say plates for example with a real slick block.

[John Beatty]

Brian Schoonveld told me if you are going up against a slick handle to clean your hands with rubbing alcohol. Gets all the oils off your skin.

I don't use a slick finish on the FBBC adjustable pinch block. It's satin finish, a slightly more grippable finish. Not sandpapery any means, but not greasy slick.

Tooting my own product's horn, I like being able to adjust the width. the very narrow setting is tough, feels like the end of a gripper close when you feel like there's no leverage left

[youngun]

The problem with slick implements, for me, isn't overcoming the slickness, but trying to emulate the same feel every time. I've found that it's hard to make progress on the IronMind block because the weight I can lift with it varies from day to day based on skin texture, moisture in the air, temperature, etc., regardless of washing or chalk.

[bseedot]

The problem with slick implements, for me, isn't overcoming the slickness, but trying to emulate the same feel every time. I've found that it's hard to make progress on the IronMind block because the weight I can lift with it varies from day to day based on skin texture, moisture in the air, temperature, etc., regardless of washing or chalk.

Precisely. Randy Strossen and I have had correspondence about this exact thing.

BC.