Grippers/Straps For Deadlift

[RustyFrog698]

If I am losing my grip on the bar during deadlifts, should I use straps to be able to lift more weight, or just stay where I'm at until my grip gets stronger? I was going to post this question on the gripper forum but everyone on there seems to have conflicting opinions. I have been doing deadlifts for a few months but only recently have I started focusing on increasing weight. I'm 5'8" and weighed 140lbs 8 months ago and am now up to 172lbs. I'm currently only deadlifting about 195 for 3x5 and I start to lose my grip on the last couple of reps in the last set. I could probably be working with 225 or more if I used straps. I haven't wanted to use straps because I just figured I would wait for my grip to get stronger so I can lift more. What's your opinion? Thanks.

[JStrong]

hook grip?

[Les Hahn]

I would try to complete as many sets w/o the straps first, but use them if you can't get the later sets. Are you using an mixed grip right now? Also, do you use chalk? I would use an alternating mixed grip with chalk first, before I tried straps.

Either way, even if you are going mixed, try to get as many as you can w/o the straps first.

[Dastardly]

You are still pretty low on your numbers to be thinking of straps. Do you have abnormally small hands/bad bars/hex plates at your gym?

Theres nothing wrong with using straps when you need, even Bill Starr thought it was a better idea than using mixed grip. But to resort to it before two plates is pretty premature. Do your warm ups/any back off sets with normal double overhand grip. Use hook grip + chalk for worksets. If this stops working used mixed grip or straps.

I personally have very small hands and wrists yet got up to 3 wheels on my run of SS at similar BW as you, and can pull my best deadlifts with hook grip.

[Carlos Daniel]

I'm pretty sure the OP is doing the deads DOH grip style.

[MazdaMatt]

I've had weak grip my whole life (I really mean that, pickle jars have haunted me) and I got to 345x5 before I had to switch to mixed grip.

Sounds like you're not using chalk to me.

But wait... why are you doing deads 3x5? SS says to do 1x5. That would make a big difference right there.

[Draft]

It's bb.com bullshit to pick arbitrary poundage and say stuff like, Oh that's when you can use straps or a belt or whatever.

BUT

I really think straps are premature until you're hitting 2x bodyweight numbers.

[Carnivroar]

What have you been doing in 8 months that you still have a sub 225 deadlift at 170 BW?

[william jackson]

man, if you have intact hands, i loathe you if you use straps for anything other than absolute all out sets. probably similar to paralyzed folks watching lazy people use mobility devices.

[hbriem]

Use an alternating (mixed) grip, one hand up, one hand down.