What does everyone think about using a hook grip for pull ups/chin ups? I seem to have strained something in my forearm, in a wrist flexor. I’m trying to work around it and feel a little better when using a hook grip for pullups (supinated). I find it nearly impossible pronated. I’d like to use hook grip pull ups/chin ups to break myself in to using the hook grip so I can pull with it.
It’s heresy around here, but in times of injury or strain, what’s wrong with using straps until you get healed up?
On my rack at home, a hook grip would tear my thumbs to shreds because the knurling is so deep. But then, I’m also not used to using the hook grip for anything but power cleans.
I usually do mine without using my thumb at all. Maybe this isn’t hook grip… hang grip? Anyway, I always hang from just my fingers. It’ll help strengthen your hands and forearms.
[quote]graphicsMan wrote:
I usually do mine without using my thumb at all. Maybe this isn’t hook grip… hang grip? Anyway, I always hang from just my fingers. It’ll help strengthen your hands and forearms.[/quote]
[quote]Matthew9v9 wrote:
It’s heresy around here, but in times of injury or strain, what’s wrong with using straps until you get healed up?
On my rack at home, a hook grip would tear my thumbs to shreds because the knurling is so deep. But then, I’m also not used to using the hook grip for anything but power cleans.[/quote]
I guess I wouldn’t be opposed to using straps, as long as I have the discipline to not lean on them. I do have to confess, I wouldn’t even know how to use them. I’ve only ever seen people wearing them, I’ve never seen them put on, or handled one, no less worn them.
[quote]graphicsMan wrote:
I usually do mine without using my thumb at all. Maybe this isn’t hook grip… hang grip? Anyway, I always hang from just my fingers. It’ll help strengthen your hands and forearms.[/quote]
That’s how I do it too but I figured he must have some pretty bad pain or something.
I don’t think Conorh was talking about a thumbless supinated grip. I think he was talking about using the hook grip often utilized in Olympic Weightlifting - fingers around the bar, thumb mashed between fingers and the bar for added friction and increased pain. This is a really interesting idea - I never heard of any using a hook grip for their pull-ups before. Surprising, since grip is often a limiting factor - it is for me. I’ll have to give it a try…
[quote]graphicsMan wrote:
I usually do mine without using my thumb at all. Maybe this isn’t hook grip… hang grip? Anyway, I always hang from just my fingers. It’ll help strengthen your hands and forearms.[/quote]
I’m going to look into that. Improving forearm and grip strength is always good.
To clarify, my overuse injury is not the primary reason for attempting these. It’s just a coincedence. I want to use the hook grip, but really can’t lift anything with it in the gym, but I can get a pull up or two with it using a pronated grip and a few more supinated.
I can do lots of pull ups with a mostly fingers grip, as I also find I tend to use all fingers when double overhand gripping a deadlift or rack pull. My thumb is actually the weak point in my grip, as various feats of strength versus my dad show. Finger flexion I can beat him any day of the week, but I can’t squeeze very hard with my thumb. This shows on plate pinches and such.