I've tried hook grip, and I just can't stand the pain. I also gave up on mixed grip since I found out it can lead to biceps tear in some rare cases. That just leaves chalk and straps.
Bicep tear risk is non-existent once you drill it into your head to lock your elbows during the setup. Hook grip is painful, and I've starting pulling mixed instead for the time being, but I may circle back to hook one day. The pain is very distracting, and that messes up my reps. My mindset is, I'd rather focus on being a better deadlifter than being a better hook gripper. Once my technique is more locked in, I'll think about switching back. Give mixed grip another go and focus on locked elbows.
If you ever decide to try hook grip again, giving your thumbs a chance to adapt as the weight gets heavier can be extremely useful, and with that in mind, here's part of a response I gave earlier in another comment: ----- "...if you ever try hook grip again, it often helps to hook grip all of your warm-up sets (and your work sets) until your thumbs get used to it. This allows the thumbs to get used to the weight as it increases instead of it being such a shock if you only use it when it gets heavy. The "only use it when it gets heavy" approach is just fine, and it's what I use, but I've been using hook grip for years, and even so, when I use it for the first time on my last warm-up, that's still the most uncomfortable set. After that, the work sets are fine - even though they're heavier - as my thumbs had that warm-up set to adapt." ----- A mixed grip is an excellent option as well, and that's what I used to utilize until moving to hook grip years ago. Bicep tears with a mixed grip are rare (but overrepresented on TH-cam and social media since they get clicks), and generally occur when people do one of three things: 1. Pull with a flexed elbow on the supinated hand (the hand that has the palm facing forward). This happens when people are trying - subconsciously or consciously - to keep that side of the barbell close to the body since that task is harder with the supinated side. You should indeed try to keep it close, but not by bending the elbow. The arms should be long and straight - both of them. 2. Try to yank the bar off the floor. The bar should always be pulled smoothly. 3. The double whammy - a lifter does both #1 and #2. In summary, keep the arms straight and start the pull smoothly. These are factors that should be true for any deadlift - simply focus more on them with an alternate grip. With all of this said, chalk and straps also allow you to continue training the deadlift - which is by far the most important part - so that combo is just fine too.
Hey, I posted this on another video, but just wanted to get this out here since it's a nore recent video: Can you make a video on the starting position for the squat? Whenever I unrack and step back, I find I'm either too upright (which makes me feel like falling backwards), or my hips are way too far back as a way of overcompensating from feeling like falling backwards (from being too upright). Also, can you address chest up vs ribs down? I usually find myself too extended or too rounded and struggle with finding the sweet spot in between. Thanks!
I'm dealing with tennis elbow, so I'm currently trying out lifting wraps. It's taking me quite a while to get used to them honestly. I used to have straps but didn't like them. Chalk and mixed grip are my preferred method. I tried hook once - never again.
Straps are a solid option if you're dealing with something like that, and you certainly don't want it to compromise your deadlift training if it doesn't have too. I'd still recommend chalk (even with straps), and here's a video that might help: Lifting Straps | What You're Doing WRONG (and other common mistakes) th-cam.com/video/tPAA0LR23sY/w-d-xo.html Also, if you ever try hook grip again, it often helps to hook grip all of your warm-up sets (and your work sets) until your thumbs get used to it. This allows the thumbs to get used to the weight as it increases instead of it being such a shock if you only use it when it gets heavy. The "only use it when it gets heavy" approach is just fine, and it's what I use, but I've been using hook grip for years, and even so, when I use it for the first time on my last warm-up, that's still the most uncomfortable set. After that, the work sets are fine - even though they're heavier - as my thumbs had that warm-up set to adapt.
That's a solid approach. I use hook grip and I'm not much of a masochist, but a mixed grip is just fine, and as you mentioned, I also use straps for a good chunk of my pulling as well.
I've tried hook grip, and I just can't stand the pain. I also gave up on mixed grip since I found out it can lead to biceps tear in some rare cases. That just leaves chalk and straps.
Bicep tear risk is non-existent once you drill it into your head to lock your elbows during the setup.
Hook grip is painful, and I've starting pulling mixed instead for the time being, but I may circle back to hook one day. The pain is very distracting, and that messes up my reps. My mindset is, I'd rather focus on being a better deadlifter than being a better hook gripper. Once my technique is more locked in, I'll think about switching back.
Give mixed grip another go and focus on locked elbows.
If you ever decide to try hook grip again, giving your thumbs a chance to adapt as the weight gets heavier can be extremely useful, and with that in mind, here's part of a response I gave earlier in another comment:
-----
"...if you ever try hook grip again, it often helps to hook grip all of your warm-up sets (and your work sets) until your thumbs get used to it. This allows the thumbs to get used to the weight as it increases instead of it being such a shock if you only use it when it gets heavy.
The "only use it when it gets heavy" approach is just fine, and it's what I use, but I've been using hook grip for years, and even so, when I use it for the first time on my last warm-up, that's still the most uncomfortable set. After that, the work sets are fine - even though they're heavier - as my thumbs had that warm-up set to adapt."
-----
A mixed grip is an excellent option as well, and that's what I used to utilize until moving to hook grip years ago. Bicep tears with a mixed grip are rare (but overrepresented on TH-cam and social media since they get clicks), and generally occur when people do one of three things:
1. Pull with a flexed elbow on the supinated hand (the hand that has the palm facing forward). This happens when people are trying - subconsciously or consciously - to keep that side of the barbell close to the body since that task is harder with the supinated side. You should indeed try to keep it close, but not by bending the elbow. The arms should be long and straight - both of them.
2. Try to yank the bar off the floor. The bar should always be pulled smoothly.
3. The double whammy - a lifter does both #1 and #2.
In summary, keep the arms straight and start the pull smoothly. These are factors that should be true for any deadlift - simply focus more on them with an alternate grip.
With all of this said, chalk and straps also allow you to continue training the deadlift - which is by far the most important part - so that combo is just fine too.
How I don't let my grip limit my deadlift????
I use to do straps when it's heavy
Straps are an excellent option. If you’re not using straps, do you use either an alternate grip or a hook grip?
@@TestifySC of course Hook grip till I can't then I use straps
Hey, I posted this on another video, but just wanted to get this out here since it's a nore recent video:
Can you make a video on the starting position for the squat? Whenever I unrack and step back, I find I'm either too upright (which makes me feel like falling backwards), or my hips are way too far back as a way of overcompensating from feeling like falling backwards (from being too upright).
Also, can you address chest up vs ribs down? I usually find myself too extended or too rounded and struggle with finding the sweet spot in between. Thanks!
I'm dealing with tennis elbow, so I'm currently trying out lifting wraps. It's taking me quite a while to get used to them honestly. I used to have straps but didn't like them. Chalk and mixed grip are my preferred method. I tried hook once - never again.
Straps are a solid option if you're dealing with something like that, and you certainly don't want it to compromise your deadlift training if it doesn't have too. I'd still recommend chalk (even with straps), and here's a video that might help:
Lifting Straps | What You're Doing WRONG (and other common mistakes)
th-cam.com/video/tPAA0LR23sY/w-d-xo.html
Also, if you ever try hook grip again, it often helps to hook grip all of your warm-up sets (and your work sets) until your thumbs get used to it. This allows the thumbs to get used to the weight as it increases instead of it being such a shock if you only use it when it gets heavy.
The "only use it when it gets heavy" approach is just fine, and it's what I use, but I've been using hook grip for years, and even so, when I use it for the first time on my last warm-up, that's still the most uncomfortable set. After that, the work sets are fine - even though they're heavier - as my thumbs had that warm-up set to adapt.
@@TestifySC Thanks for the video. I've honestly never heard of using chalk w/ straps.
Mixed grip for heavy singles and straps for reps. The hook grip should be reserved for masochists.
That's a solid approach. I use hook grip and I'm not much of a masochist, but a mixed grip is just fine, and as you mentioned, I also use straps for a good chunk of my pulling as well.