Why Do People Not Wrap Their Fingers Around Bar?

[John Izzo]

I have a pet peeve....and I just re-realized it today at the gym. I witnessed 3 people (2 women, 1 man) performing DB shoulder presses and preacher curls (on machine). Why is it that people are taught to NOT wrap their fingers around the bar? Why do they keep the bar in an semi-open palm?

I don't like this for 2 reasons:
1.) Mentally speaking...it does not force the individual to use heavy weights...they are conditioned to use light DBs--light enough that they can execute the movement with semi-opened palms. You know if they had a heavier weight, they would have to wrap their fingers around!
2.) Can be potentially dangerous. With a loss of footing or balance, the dumbbell can fall from an overhead position and cause injury.

What do you guys think?

[Jean-Paul]

Agree... I see it every day in my own gym on the smith machine. I always feel like telling them that if they ever tried to do a clean they would probably kill an innocent bystander. Not that I need to worry about one of them actually attempting a real lift though.

[Kevin Larrabee]

People are dumb

[Jean-Paul]

That's Kevin... Succinct as always.

[Steve-O-68]

Originally Posted by Jean-Paul

Agree... I see it every day in my own gym on the smith machine. I always feel like telling them that if they ever tried to do a clean they would probably kill an innocent bystander. Not that I need to worry about one of them actually attempting a real lift though.

You actually let people use the Smith Machine in your gym?? Tsk tsk tsk...

[Misfit]

I'm glad I don't workout in a gym.

[DEMON_OF_MASS]

Not wrapping the thumb around the bar takes some of the forearm out of the movement many use it but i have never seen it while using a db press thats insane and very dangerous.

I sometimes dont wrap my thumbs around the lat pulldown and various none dangerous exercises.Mike mentzer and Stuart Mcrobert advise it for various exercises.

I myself wouldnt use it very often only really on the exercises that work my forearms alot.

So in some ways its good but not using a smith machine or db presses

[Kevin Larrabee]

Originally Posted by DEMON_OF_MASS

Not wrapping the thumb around the bar takes some of the forearm out of the movement many use it but i have never seen it while using a db press thats insane and very dangerous.

I sometimes dont wrap my thumbs around the lat pulldown and various none dangerous exercises.Mike mentzer and Stuart Mcrobert advise it for various exercises.

I myself wouldnt use it very often only really on the exercises that work my forearms alot.

So in some ways its good but not using a smith machine or db presses

Nice to see you back!

[jvernacchio]

I use a false grip when doing Bench, Incline, and Decline the bar sits better on my hand and more comfortable for me.

[Frank.S]

Originally Posted by jvernacchio

I use a false grip when doing Bench, Incline, and Decline the bar sits better on my hand and more comfortable for me.

Yeah lots of people do. Many really big benchers even do this.

[Jason B]

I do it for rows and pull-ups, thats about it. Can also be used for deadlifts when trying to improve grip.

[equilibrium]

I've broken both hands in the past. Not wrapping my hands around the bar actually let's me workout. If I didnt I'd get an excruciating pain thru the tops of my hands and quit real quick. Im uber careful with my lifting form though.

[bushDocda]

I can't speak for the examples you describe but i do use a false grip for some pressing movements and pullups. It was suggested to me by a guy i respect and his explanation involved removing the forearm which would fatigue quicker than the lats on pullups.

I have just recently started using it on close grip presses and only with weights i am using in the 10ish rep range. I am far from comfortable enough to use in the 5ish range and dont know that that will ever be a good idea for me safety wise b/c i just don't want a bar to smash my face ever.

[luniz]

I have some kind of muscle strain in my thumb which makes it a little hard to close my hand on the bar at the moment.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by Steve-O-68

You actually let people use the Smith Machine in your gym?? Tsk tsk tsk...

Keeps them out of my way.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by bushDocda

I can't speak for the examples you describe but i do use a false grip for some pressing movements and pullups. It was suggested to me by a guy i respect and his explanation involved removing the forearm which would fatigue quicker than the lats on pullups.

I have just recently started using it on close grip presses and only with weights i am using in the 10ish rep range. I am far from comfortable enough to use in the 5ish range and dont know that that will ever be a good idea for me safety wise b/c i just don't want a bar to smash my face ever.

On pullups? Okay...I have to try that. JP - Get the net ready.

[djhaycock]

Correct me if I'm way off here.

But I believe I read somewhere that by using a "false" grip on pressing movements you run the risk of damaging the tendons, ligaments and overall structure of your wrists. Has something to do with not being able to control the bar and the risk of it rolling backward.

I have used this before and I have personally noticed some pain in my shoulders from this style of grip and have terminated its use completely.

Just some food for thought from my own experience. I have and still do use it though occassionally on lat pulldowns as someone else mentioned.

[Eric Cressey]

I'm with you for the most part, although I have one client who can only bench if he uses this grip. He's had some damage to the annular ligaments in both elbows, and using a thumbs-around-the-bar grip really makes his elbows act up. He's learning the hook grip for when he pulls.