"Strap It On"
You begin your back training with dumbbell rows. You start with a dumbbell that you have no problem holding on to, but as your lats and arms increase in strength, the heavier the dumbbell you use. This might cause some problems holding on to the heavier dumbbell. Your lats are capable of 6 reps, but you can only hold on for 3 good repetitions. This can take away from the intensity, concentration, movement and the set. Does this mean you interrupt the set to re-grip the weight? Hell no! Using straps would solve the problem and intensify your workout. Using straps for heavy sets would enable you to increase strength and focus on the muscle being trained.
Simple Hugh! Just add a pair of Lifting Straps to the workout. Straps, if used wisely, are the best of all training gear. Basically, lifting straps are made of strong fabric and are sown on one end in a loop that fits around your wrist. The other end extends out for several inches. Some straps also vary in the lengths of the end that is wrapped around the bar. This end is wrapped around the bar and held inside your fist. The lifting straps hold the weight. Sharing the load with the hands. Of the two styles, I have experienced better durability with sown straps.
Lifting straps main purpose is to assist in gripping a weight that would otherwise be too heavy to hold during an exercise. Thus eliminating gripping power as the weak link, but also lifting straps eliminate using secondary muscle groups and emphasize the main muscle groups your are attacking. Their most common use is for back work such as pull-downs, rows, chins, deadlifts, and shrugs. But, they can also be beneficial while doing side lateral raises, bent over laterals, dumbbell curls, and certain Olympic movements and even some ab training.
The weights used when doing shrugs are relatively massive and using straps would enable the lifter to hold on to big weights and not worry about grip. Chins benefit, as would pull-downs because complete focus can be dedicated to the muscle being used. Many individuals can deadlift more with straps than without. However, the use of straps in powerlifting competition is not allowed. When using straps for Partial Deadlifts in the power rack the weight done far surpasses your normal gripping strength. For abs you can hang from the chinning bar and do leg raises at high reps without your grip being the limiting factor.
Lifting straps are however controversial. Some so-called experts feel they hinder development of gripping strength necessary in many sports, and are used as a crutch by weak gripped lifters. The same so-called experts make the same negative comment about using lifting belts, knee wraps, and in the case of competitive powerlifting squat suites and bench press shirts. But, like the above fore mentioned equipment, lifting straps are tools of the trade to be used to accompany your training and advance technique, strength and size development. The fear that some experts say that using straps can hinder development of grip strength does have some merit though. If you overuse straps, you probably won't develop more gripping strength and you may lessen it. My suggestion is to use them sparingly.
By connecting the straps to the bar or handle, you lessen the involvement of your grip. This can result in less use of the biceps and forearms and more of the work goes to the primary muscles. When you concentrate on the movement and do not have to worry about holding on to the weight expands on the intensity of your workouts. I feel that using lifting straps when performing certain exercises or exercises with extremely heavy weights will add to the overload of the muscle. Start off the lighter weight without straps, but when you get to max weight for your work sets then you should use straps. Since bodybuilders don't really care about grip strength straps can be used more. But, I still recommend limiting their use to only heavy sets. Constant use can take away from forearm development, which is necessary for complete arm symmetry.
I hope this has helped you understand the use of lifting straps and the benefits that can be acquired from their proper use? Lifting straps are great tools that every bodybuilder should incorporate in their training. So, strap them on and get big!
