Originally Posted by
GioFerrante
I am speaking from experience. My hook started failing for sets of 5 at 375 lbs, and I am having to figure something else out. The hook doesn't really strengthen your grip much, since it relies on friction rather your grip strength. You can train it to an extent, but my experience is its difficult to get it to hold for a max set of 5 as the weight gets heavy. You can probably run over my thumbs with a car and they'll be no worse for the wear, but still, the grip doesn't hold for a max set of 5.
I was hooking my warm-ups, so my first change was to pull those double overhand. Right now I'm using straps for the workset and doing some holds with the barbell afterward to try to bring the grip up. I will occasionally get in a little practice with the hook for a max deadlift as well to make sure that still holds. I can hook anything that my body can handle for 1 rep.
My buddy avulsed a bicep tendon which was pretty gruesome, so I won't take a chance on the mixed grip. But that's my personal preference.