Gripper level?

[JimRiley]

I'm thinking of getting a CoC gripper, but am not sure which one to order.

I've done deadlifts DOH up to 275, which is maybe a tad better than beginner level. My right-hand grip lacks endurance, though; for example, I can rarely squeeze the trigger on a Sawzall long enough to cut anything substantial without resting.

Maybe I'll order an 80 lb. gripper (per Rogue: "for teenage athletes, weekend warriors, strong guys who like light warm-ups"), and if it's too hard I'll order a 60 lb. ("for beginners, seniors [ugh], rehab, and easy warm-ups") and use it until I'm ready for an 80. Any other input?

[cgeorg]

If you're not married to CoC, I'd suggest getting something like this (copied link from my amazon history, there is surely something similar still out there)

Code: Select all

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015616UD8

A benefit is that CoC is right-hand biased, whereas these are neutral.

[JimRiley]

If you're not married to CoC, I'd suggest getting something like this (copied link from my amazon history, there is surely something similar still out there)

Code: Select all

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015616UD8

A benefit is that CoC is right-hand biased, whereas these are neutral.

No, haven't even been to second base with CoC. Thanks for the tip!

[Hardartery]

I haven't used the alternatives, so I can't comment, but I don't personally feel any difference in CoC between hands. But, my left hand is my stronger hand, so maybe that's why they are roughly the same on CoC. I don't know the lbs, I just know the CoC numbers, but I'm guessing you are between Trainer and #1 with those choices. Get one that is too difficult and strain against it until it opens your hand back up. I have the 3.5 on my desk - which I am not very close to closing yet. Side note, hand anatomy makes a big difference in the utility of grippers. Phil Pfister was less than great at them but had a monster grip, and other guys were crushing the #3 and were not a serious threat in grip events. You'd probably get more out of a fat bar or Rolling Thunder style device.

[hector]

If you want a gripper, the GD Iron Grip is superior to any CoC. The range of motion is the tiniest bit smaller, but being able to choose resistance levels more than makes up for it. I say this as someone with the GD Iron Grip and the Captains of Crush grippers. Available on Amazon.

I would add that gripper strength doesn’t transfer that well to other grip stuff.

If you want a stronger grip:
-hang from a bar. Body weight. Build up your time. Or, add weight. This is not as easy as it sounds.
-take a walk with a kettlebell. Switch hands when you get tired. Super cheap, and it works. (Will give you a crazy oblique workout at same time, so, two for one deal.)
-Get some Fat Grips, close your sessions with fat grip deadlifts. They’ll be so light they won’t tax your general recovery, but your grip will get wrecked.

Rolling Thunder is made by the same company that makes CoC grippers. IMO, way more fun than grippers. It’s a little pricey, but Titan makes a reasonably priced clone that is slightly more difficult and a third the price. (The middle sized one is the closest to the Rolling Thunder in diameter.) there’s an even cheaper Chinese clone on Amazon also. Which I just ordered. Bc I have a problem and way too much time and interest in improving my shitty grip.

Another HUGE thing to think about if you want a strong grip is thumb strength. Gripper training not optimal here either. But this is the point where we’ve gone deep, deep down the rabbit hole. It will be a minute before you have to worry about thumb strength. In the beginning, everything is weak.

Anecdote: I used to keep a CoC 2 on my desk and close it whenever I got bored. No other office worker who came to my desk ever proved capable of closing it.
Showed it to a brick mason construction guy once. He closed it first time. This sort of story is not unusual. If you meet an older person who grew up working on a non-mechanized farm, you might find their grip is brutal.

[OverheadDeadlifts]

I'm thinking of getting a CoC gripper, but am not sure which one to order.

I've done deadlifts DOH up to 275, which is maybe a tad better than beginner level. My right-hand grip lacks endurance, though; for example, I can rarely squeeze the trigger on a Sawzall long enough to cut anything substantial without resting.

Maybe I'll order an 80 lb. gripper (per Rogue: "for teenage athletes, weekend warriors, strong guys who like light warm-ups"), and if it's too hard I'll order a 60 lb. ("for beginners, seniors [ugh], rehab, and easy warm-ups") and use it until I'm ready for an 80. Any other input?

If you can DOH 275 I think you’d be very safe with the 100lbs trainer. Even if you couldn’t close it you would adapt so quickly at that grip level with partial closes, negatives or barbell finger curls that it wouldn’t take long anyway.

If you’re frugal I’d even suggest buying the CoC#1 and also getting a cheap 100lbs gripper from AliExpress or something similar. As long it’s a torsion spring and it’s made of metal it’ll get the job done. You’ll outgrow it pretty fast so $5 is easier to swallow.

I’m like 1cm away from closing the #3 and the #1 is still useful for warming up and left hand volume so it was worth not cheaping out on that one.

[Hardartery]

If you want a gripper, the GD Iron Grip is superior to any CoC. The range of motion is the tiniest bit smaller, but being able to choose resistance levels more than makes up for it. I say this as someone with the GD Iron Grip and the Captains of Crush grippers. Available on Amazon.

I would add that gripper strength doesn’t transfer that well to other grip stuff.

If you want a stronger grip:
-hang from a bar. Body weight. Build up your time. Or, add weight. This is not as easy as it sounds.
-take a walk with a kettlebell. Switch hands when you get tired. Super cheap, and it works. (Will give you a crazy oblique workout at same time, so, two for one deal.)
-Get some Fat Grips, close your sessions with fat grip deadlifts. They’ll be so light they won’t tax your general recovery, but your grip will get wrecked.

Rolling Thunder is made by the same company that makes CoC grippers. IMO, way more fun than grippers. It’s a little pricey, but Titan makes a reasonably priced clone that is slightly more difficult and a third the price. (The middle sized one is the closest to the Rolling Thunder in diameter.) there’s an even cheaper Chinese clone on Amazon also. Which I just ordered. Bc I have a problem and way too much time and interest in improving my shitty grip.

Another HUGE thing to think about if you want a strong grip is thumb strength. Gripper training not optimal here either. But this is the point where we’ve gone deep, deep down the rabbit hole. It will be a minute before you have to worry about thumb strength. In the beginning, everything is weak.

Anecdote: I used to keep a CoC 2 on my desk and close it whenever I got bored. No other office worker who came to my desk ever proved capable of closing it.
Showed it to a brick mason construction guy once. He closed it first time. This sort of story is not unusual. If you meet an older person who grew up working on a non-mechanized farm, you might find their grip is brutal.

I was a mason. I also closed the #2 he first time someone handed it to me. IMO it just goes to the argument that a LOT of reps or holding fat stuff for time will do more to advance your grip than adding weight. Small muscles, almost entirely type 1 fibres, and building tendon strength are the path.

[hector]

If you want a gripper, the GD Iron Grip is superior to any CoC. The range of motion is the tiniest bit smaller, but being able to choose resistance levels more than makes up for it. I say this as someone with the GD Iron Grip and the Captains of Crush grippers. Available on Amazon.

I would add that gripper strength doesn’t transfer that well to other grip stuff.

If you want a stronger grip:
-hang from a bar. Body weight. Build up your time. Or, add weight. This is not as easy as it sounds.
-take a walk with a kettlebell. Switch hands when you get tired. Super cheap, and it works. (Will give you a crazy oblique workout at same time, so, two for one deal.)
-Get some Fat Grips, close your sessions with fat grip deadlifts. They’ll be so light they won’t tax your general recovery, but your grip will get wrecked.

Rolling Thunder is made by the same company that makes CoC grippers. IMO, way more fun than grippers. It’s a little pricey, but Titan makes a reasonably priced clone that is slightly more difficult and a third the price. (The middle sized one is the closest to the Rolling Thunder in diameter.) there’s an even cheaper Chinese clone on Amazon also. Which I just ordered. Bc I have a problem and way too much time and interest in improving my shitty grip.

Another HUGE thing to think about if you want a strong grip is thumb strength. Gripper training not optimal here either. But this is the point where we’ve gone deep, deep down the rabbit hole. It will be a minute before you have to worry about thumb strength. In the beginning, everything is weak.

Anecdote: I used to keep a CoC 2 on my desk and close it whenever I got bored. No other office worker who came to my desk ever proved capable of closing it.
Showed it to a brick mason construction guy once. He closed it first time. This sort of story is not unusual. If you meet an older person who grew up working on a non-mechanized farm, you might find their grip is brutal.

I was a mason. I also closed the #2 he first time someone handed it to me. IMO it just goes to the argument that a LOT of reps or holding fat stuff for time will do more to advance your grip than adding weight. Small muscles, almost entirely type 1 fibres, and building tendon strength are the path.

@Hardartery , you have such a cool background and so many great posts!!!!!

If I were younger and could do it all over I’d be tempted to learn a trade and go mason

[Hardartery]

If you want a gripper, the GD Iron Grip is superior to any CoC. The range of motion is the tiniest bit smaller, but being able to choose resistance levels more than makes up for it. I say this as someone with the GD Iron Grip and the Captains of Crush grippers. Available on Amazon.

I would add that gripper strength doesn’t transfer that well to other grip stuff.

If you want a stronger grip:
-hang from a bar. Body weight. Build up your time. Or, add weight. This is not as easy as it sounds.
-take a walk with a kettlebell. Switch hands when you get tired. Super cheap, and it works. (Will give you a crazy oblique workout at same time, so, two for one deal.)
-Get some Fat Grips, close your sessions with fat grip deadlifts. They’ll be so light they won’t tax your general recovery, but your grip will get wrecked.

Rolling Thunder is made by the same company that makes CoC grippers. IMO, way more fun than grippers. It’s a little pricey, but Titan makes a reasonably priced clone that is slightly more difficult and a third the price. (The middle sized one is the closest to the Rolling Thunder in diameter.) there’s an even cheaper Chinese clone on Amazon also. Which I just ordered. Bc I have a problem and way too much time and interest in improving my shitty grip.

Another HUGE thing to think about if you want a strong grip is thumb strength. Gripper training not optimal here either. But this is the point where we’ve gone deep, deep down the rabbit hole. It will be a minute before you have to worry about thumb strength. In the beginning, everything is weak.

Anecdote: I used to keep a CoC 2 on my desk and close it whenever I got bored. No other office worker who came to my desk ever proved capable of closing it.
Showed it to a brick mason construction guy once. He closed it first time. This sort of story is not unusual. If you meet an older person who grew up working on a non-mechanized farm, you might find their grip is brutal.

I was a mason. I also closed the #2 he first time someone handed it to me. IMO it just goes to the argument that a LOT of reps or holding fat stuff for time will do more to advance your grip than adding weight. Small muscles, almost entirely type 1 fibres, and building tendon strength are the path.

@Hardartery , you have such a cool background and so many great posts!!!!!

If I were younger and could do it all over I’d be tempted to learn a trade and go mason

You're gonna make me blush.

[JimRiley]

I haven't used the alternatives, so I can't comment, but I don't personally feel any difference in CoC between hands. But, my left hand is my stronger hand, so maybe that's why they are roughly the same on CoC. I don't know the lbs, I just know the CoC numbers, but I'm guessing you are between Trainer and #1 with those choices. Get one that is too difficult and strain against it until it opens your hand back up. I have the 3.5 on my desk - which I am not very close to closing yet. Side note, hand anatomy makes a big difference in the utility of grippers. Phil Pfister was less than great at them but had a monster grip, and other guys were crushing the #3 and were not a serious threat in grip events. You'd probably get more out of a fat bar or Rolling Thunder style device.

Thank you for the advice, @cgeorg, @Hardartery, @hector, and @OverheadDeadlifts!

[hector]

@JimRiley , glad to assist!

One thing you might be interested in learning about is the Crushed to Dust cert. The real challenge is the Rolling Thunder potion. If you can pull 200, you can almost certainly do the pinch and gripper portions. Still, a great overall challenge!!!!

(I am hoping to accomplish it myself eventually.)

https://ironmind.com/certification/crus ... ification/

[JimRiley]

@JimRiley , glad to assist!

One thing you might be interested in learning about is the Crushed to Dust cert. The real challenge is the Rolling Thunder potion. If you can pull 200, you can almost certainly do the pinch and gripper portions. Still, a great overall challenge!!!!

(I am hoping to accomplish it myself eventually.)

https://ironmind.com/certification/crus ... ification/

That's interesting - though it sounds pretty remote for me if it's something you're hoping to eventually do!

The link talks about having an official present; is that just a buddy who's read the rules?

[hector]

@JimRiley , glad to assist!

One thing you might be interested in learning about is the Crushed to Dust cert. The real challenge is the Rolling Thunder potion. If you can pull 200, you can almost certainly do the pinch and gripper portions. Still, a great overall challenge!!!!

(I am hoping to accomplish it myself eventually.)

https://ironmind.com/certification/crus ... ification/

That's interesting - though it sounds pretty remote for me if it's something you're hoping to eventually do!

The link talks about having an official present; is that just a buddy who's read the rules?

CTD is remote for me! Only requirement I could satisfy now is the gripper.
The official is selected by Ironmind. Your buddy likely won’t do.

[OverheadDeadlifts]

@JimRiley , glad to assist!

One thing you might be interested in learning about is the Crushed to Dust cert. The real challenge is the Rolling Thunder potion. If you can pull 200, you can almost certainly do the pinch and gripper portions. Still, a great overall challenge!!!!

(I am hoping to accomplish it myself eventually.)

https://ironmind.com/certification/crus ... ification/

I always found the ratios kinda strange. If you can do a CoC2 and hub lift 20kg you’ve got decent grip strength but a 90kg rolling thunder is leagues harder than either of them.

I got my hub and rolling handle at the same time. Got the 20kg hub in a few weeks and I’m still nowhere near a 90kg rolling thunder. 70kg is my current PR and 20kg seems like a huge amount of ground to cover.

[hector]

@JimRiley , glad to assist!

One thing you might be interested in learning about is the Crushed to Dust cert. The real challenge is the Rolling Thunder potion. If you can pull 200, you can almost certainly do the pinch and gripper portions. Still, a great overall challenge!!!!

(I am hoping to accomplish it myself eventually.)

https://ironmind.com/certification/crus ... ification/

I always found the ratios kinda strange. If you can do a CoC2 and hub lift 20kg you’ve got decent grip strength but a 90kg rolling thunder is leagues harder than either of them.

I got my hub and rolling handle at the same time. Got the 20kg hub in a few weeks and I’m still nowhere near a 90kg rolling thunder. 70kg is my current PR and 20kg seems like a huge amount of ground to cover.

I think everyone agrees with you.
Sometimes they call the CTD the Rolling Thunder cert.
A rough equivalent would be saying someone has to squat 100, bench, 135, and deadlift 500.