I can close the CoC #1 2x 6-7 times with my right hand. And with closing, I really mean closing it *clinggggg sound*.
However... I HAVE 0 REPS WITH MY LEFT. I don't get it. Sure, right is always a bit stronger if your main hand is your right one, but 2x7 vs 0x0 is.. well.. weak.
Any tips?
PS: I do have a jammed ulnar nerve at my left elbow, maybe that's causing the trouble?
Join date: Nov 2011
Location: New York, USA
Posts: 502
This is extremely common with grip strength. Either do negatives with your left hand until you can do some reps, or buy one of the lesser grippers and work up equally with both of them.
Join date: Dec 2002
Location: Michigan, USA
Posts: 420
some discrepancy is normal. you should be pretty close to closing the gripper with your left if you can rep it with your right though if you train both hands.
now if you can't get it beyond parallel for example then there is an issue somewhere. if you train other types of grip - pinch, hold etc - is there a huge difference between left and right there ?
Join date: Mar 2011
Location: California, USA
Posts: 96
Chances are your set in your off hand is crap. This is why off hand strength starts out so far below dominant hand.
Watch the video below about 5000 times and focus on hammering your set skills over getting tons of closes. Once your set is squared away your strength will start to increase steadily.
Note that your off hand will be below your dominant hand your whole life unless you specifically train it, so this issue isn't one to get really upset about.
Join date: Mar 2011
Location: California, USA
Posts: 96
Also if you want to really commit to getting good gripper closes, you will need more than 3 grippers. It's possible to close big gripers (#3+) with only a few, but it will take exponentially longer than if you have a good spread of progressions among grippers.
If I were to start over again (and if I were only to buy IronMind grippers--which I wouldn't), I'd buy the Trainer, #.5, #1, #1.5 and #2 to start. A BeefBuilder Master is usually a good transition between #1.5 and #2, also.
ReignIB wrote:
some discrepancy is normal. you should be pretty close to closing the gripper with your left if you can rep it with your right though if you train both hands.
now if you can't get it beyond parallel for example then there is an issue somewhere. if you train other types of grip - pinch, hold etc - is there a huge difference between left and right there ?
I might be cursing - but CoC's (and support grip by dead's and pull's) are the only type of grip training I'm using. Also, because I keep being able to rep out the #1 with R but cant get the final close on my left, my committment is dropping.
I can get it beyond parallel with the left, it's just the damn final squeeze I can give 6-7 times with my right, I can't do once with the left.
KRC wrote:
Also if you want to really commit to getting good gripper closes, you will need more than 3 grippers. It's possible to close big gripers (#3+) with only a few, but it will take exponentially longer than if you have a good spread of progressions among grippers.
If I were to start over again (and if I were only to buy IronMind grippers--which I wouldn't), I'd buy the Trainer, #.5, #1, #1.5 and #2 to start. A BeefBuilder Master is usually a good transition between #1.5 and #2, also.
This sounds good. Starting with negs on the #1 worked out for my right hand, but I guess I have to invest in some easier gripper for my left.. though it's just that damn final squeeze of a few mm's I can't get on the #1 with my left!
Negatives and timed holds, be consistent with it and you'll be closing it soon. Working with grippers helped my deadlift grip strength A LOT, so keep doing it.
There will always be some inbalance between hands.
Join date: Jul 2004
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 57
Kardash wrote:
I might be cursing - but CoC's (and support grip by dead's and pull's) are the only type of grip training I'm using. Also, because I keep being able to rep out the #1 with R but cant get the final close on my left, my committment is dropping.
I can get it beyond parallel with the left, it's just the damn final squeeze I can give 6-7 times with my right, I can't do once with the left.
I would say you need to really work on your left a lot more than on your right just to bring it up to the same level as your right. Do you have access to a grip machine? If not, you can do timed holds and negatives with the #2. BTW, stop with all the damn reps on the grippers. Reps are for show - do overcrushes and severe negatives on your #2.
Any questions? BTW, I certified COC in 2002 in case you were wondering about my advice.
Now go do what I say! THE GREAT AND MIGHTY SYBERSNOTT HAS SPOKEN!!
One mistake guys make, especially with the left hand, is to be passive with the thumb. In my experience, the thumb needs to clamp down and flex like the other fingers as one snaps-in. The thumb should be active and flexing, not merely function as the base of the close.
Kardash wrote:
I might be cursing - but CoC's (and support grip by dead's and pull's) are the only type of grip training I'm using. Also, because I keep being able to rep out the #1 with R but cant get the final close on my left, my committment is dropping.
I can get it beyond parallel with the left, it's just the damn final squeeze I can give 6-7 times with my right, I can't do once with the left.
I would say you need to really work on your left a lot more than on your right just to bring it up to the same level as your right. Do you have access to a grip machine? If not, you can do timed holds and negatives with the #2. BTW, stop with all the damn reps on the grippers. Reps are for show - do overcrushes and severe negatives on your #2.
Any questions? BTW, I certified COC in 2002 in case you were wondering about my advice.
Now go do what I say! THE GREAT AND MIGHTY SYBERSNOTT HAS SPOKEN!!
I agree with the too many reps part, it does shit for actual grip strength. I used to do them all the time with the 1 because an internet guru said it was a great idea and it was a huge waste of time. I can close the #1 all day long with my left hand, then I tried the #2 after awhile and I could barely close it, which is where I started from. After working with the #2 for a few days I could close it for reps.
Join date: Jul 2004
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 57
i_am_ketosis wrote:
I agree with the too many reps part, it does shit for actual grip strength. I used to do them all the time with the 1 because an internet guru said it was a great idea and it was a huge waste of time. I can close the #1 all day long with my left hand, then I tried the #2 after awhile and I could barely close it, which is where I started from. After working with the #2 for a few days I could close it for reps.
With some guys, they take all their effort and energy repping out an easy gripper, and then when it comes time to try to close their goal gripper, here's nothing left in the tank.
They blew all their strength with repping a lesser gripper. I see it all the time.
I made the mistake myself when I started grip training years ago. I would waste my time with the Trainer or #1, then when it's time to close the #2 - forget it.
It's only when I started with my #2 during a grip workout did I close it. I went completely cold and all my strength was there, which is what I wanted.
i_am_ketosis wrote:
I agree with the too many reps part, it does shit for actual grip strength. I used to do them all the time with the 1 because an internet guru said it was a great idea and it was a huge waste of time. I can close the #1 all day long with my left hand, then I tried the #2 after awhile and I could barely close it, which is where I started from. After working with the #2 for a few days I could close it for reps.
With some guys, they take all their effort and energy repping out an easy gripper, and then when it comes time to try to close their goal gripper, here's nothing left in the tank.
They blew all their strength with repping a lesser gripper. I see it all the time.
I made the mistake myself when I started grip training years ago. I would waste my time with the Trainer or #1, then when it's time to close the #2 - forget it.
It's only when I started with my #2 during a grip workout did I close it. I went completely cold and all my strength was there, which is what I wanted.
Yep, though I would start cold with the #2 and still not get anywhere when I was trying to "train" my grip with the #1. Your grip strength is pretty finite, if you "warm up" with reps on a #1, I doubt you could easily close a #2, even if you can close the #2 for reps. Reps with grip trainers for whatever reason just doesn't seem help with grip strength(but maybe endurance?). It seems like once you can close whichever gripper you are on, time to start trying the next one and so on.
Kardash wrote:
I might be cursing - but CoC's (and support grip by dead's and pull's) are the only type of grip training I'm using. Also, because I keep being able to rep out the #1 with R but cant get the final close on my left, my committment is dropping.
I can get it beyond parallel with the left, it's just the damn final squeeze I can give 6-7 times with my right, I can't do once with the left.
I would say you need to really work on your left a lot more than on your right just to bring it up to the same level as your right. Do you have access to a grip machine? If not, you can do timed holds and negatives with the #2. BTW, stop with all the damn reps on the grippers. Reps are for show - do overcrushes and severe negatives on your #2.
Any questions? BTW, I certified COC in 2002 in case you were wondering about my advice.
Now go do what I say! THE GREAT AND MIGHTY SYBERSNOTT HAS SPOKEN!!
A grip machine? Well we have a pulley in the gym to which you can add weight, and then you have to 'twist' your wrists to move the weight up.. but I don't think that's what you meant?
Just to be clear, to close the #1 you advice me to train with the #2 - or was that a typo?
CoC #1
Left hand: 2 closes! Out of the blue, I think it's because I added regular chinups to my routine (didn't really do grip work for a while)
Right hand: 8-12 closes
Next stop: #2 .. since I don't have the 1.5 - wish me luck!
