Straps or no straps!!??!!

[Gator_Mclusky]

I used em for yrs but saw my forearms lagging. I dropped the straps, use a lil lower weight on my chins and Bent Over Rows and my forearms ballooned.
Try it.
Straps are great on extreme weight though...

Gator

[2raptors]

No straps, no gloves....learned this through "old school" bodybuilders AND new school (old techniques) like "kettlebells".... you are not doing yourself any good.... I know that there is need for some...with weak wrists...but that can be fixed by proper training too. JMO

M- the male 1/2 of 2raptors

[access]

I mentioned in another thread I have just purchased straps for the first time. I have never used previously because I didn't want my forearms to be negated and I do not think I have great forearm strength anyway. My forearms tend to give out on me before an isolated muscle that I am working sometimes. Anyways I decided to buy some stapas and just use for those times on the last set etc where my forearms are beat up so as not to miss the training on the muscle I hitting.

[2raptors]

A tip that I leaned from Pavel (again, very old school teachings) is to grip the weight, ANY WEIGHT, with WHITE KNUCKLE FIST....just to squeeze through the rep as white knuckled as possible.....at all time.... It has worked for me...my forearms are getting ever so stronger..... and I do a couple of forearm exercises from Beyond Bodybuilding too (dragondoor.com) . Big change for me.... Now I can see needing them, especially if there is a degree of "danger" involved...like lifting ridiculous heavy weights for max reps...use what you can! Cool

[SheDevil]

If your grip fails before you tax your back, that's not helping you improve your back. While I don't think you should be relying on straps for all sets, there is a place and a time for them.

[bionic redneck]

i use them to finish heavy sets or burn out

[Smiley]

Originally Posted by SheDevil

If your grip fails before you tax your back, that's not helping you improve your back. While I don't think you should be relying on straps for all sets, there is a place and a time for them.

This is my point also.

[Juice Monkey]

I think that I have good strength in my forearms and I never have problem lifting heavy weight. Everyone says i have popeye forearms and it is pretty much true. They are almost as big as my upper arm only 1.5 in difference. I think I might start using straps as my forearms are too big. Ever heard of that. HA.

[Gator_Mclusky]

Originally Posted by Juice Monkey

I think that I have good strength in my forearms and I never have problem lifting heavy weight. Everyone says i have popeye forearms and it is pretty much true. They are almost as big as my upper arm only 1.5 in difference. I think I might start using straps as my forearms are too big. Ever heard of that. HA.

LOL....must be nice.
Seems calves and forearms have alot to do with genetics(not taking away from your training)
Forearms have been tough and for those of us that had or have prollems with them so dropping the straps might help some.
SheDevil has a good point....straps have their place.

[Juice Monkey]

I have always had big forearms even before I started weight training. They have been called popeye forearms since I was a little boy. Wish I would have started training then because i would be a monster now.