GeoffreyLevens
Level 6 Valued Member
Interesting and valid argument Steve. But...counter point--
What I have found over last few months in working to "get a grip" (hook grip) on my somewhat thicker handled 24 kg, moving up from 16 kg, was that all other aspects of results from my training were lagging because of the grip difficulty. I do not know if it was a neuro-reflex of some kind or just my psychology i.e. subconscious fear off dropping bell, but it was/is very obvious to me that I can't generate the power out of the other parts of my body with weaker grip in place. When I would palm grip the 24 kg I could swing to chest height, even a bit past lower ribs, consistently, every rep, with some explosiveness and gradually but steadily increasing power. Swinging w/ hook grip, even when I would psych up to drop the bell if it happened and really focus on power from posterior chain etc, it just never would happen. I did drop the bell a few times, nearly tossed it through a wall once, but overall was still putting out a lot less work, a lot less power, a lot less energy. Net result over time seemed to be an actual slight weakening of posterior chain and reduced cardiac/aerobic condition. I think in the much longer run I would have ended up at the same place, just with a stronger grip as well, but meh...I can do everything I want to now with my existing grip strength (except hooking the fatter handle) so why bother when I can just have thinner handles? And with the comp bells, I will be able to move up faster in all other aspects of my strength, conditioning, etc.
What I have found over last few months in working to "get a grip" (hook grip) on my somewhat thicker handled 24 kg, moving up from 16 kg, was that all other aspects of results from my training were lagging because of the grip difficulty. I do not know if it was a neuro-reflex of some kind or just my psychology i.e. subconscious fear off dropping bell, but it was/is very obvious to me that I can't generate the power out of the other parts of my body with weaker grip in place. When I would palm grip the 24 kg I could swing to chest height, even a bit past lower ribs, consistently, every rep, with some explosiveness and gradually but steadily increasing power. Swinging w/ hook grip, even when I would psych up to drop the bell if it happened and really focus on power from posterior chain etc, it just never would happen. I did drop the bell a few times, nearly tossed it through a wall once, but overall was still putting out a lot less work, a lot less power, a lot less energy. Net result over time seemed to be an actual slight weakening of posterior chain and reduced cardiac/aerobic condition. I think in the much longer run I would have ended up at the same place, just with a stronger grip as well, but meh...I can do everything I want to now with my existing grip strength (except hooking the fatter handle) so why bother when I can just have thinner handles? And with the comp bells, I will be able to move up faster in all other aspects of my strength, conditioning, etc.