30 Seconds SummaryThe guide to straps
- Strap usage in strength training is often debated, with some viewing it negatively, though they can be beneficial in specific scenarios.
- For deadlifts, straps are recommended for handling supermaximal weights, high volume or frequency sessions, and when grip might impede training effectiveness, like in intense programs such as Sheiko.
- In Olympic lifting, never use straps for cleans due to safety concerns, but they can be used for snatches after initial sets without straps, to maintain the feel of the lift without support.
- For accessory work like rows, RDLs, or high rep pull-ups, straps can be used when high volume sets lead to grip fatigue, although they should not replace grip strength training.
- In terms of conditioning, avoid frivolous use of straps, such as strapping onto a treadmill, but they can be useful for heavy and long farmers walks as a finisher.
- Overall, straps should not be seen as a substitute for effort but as a tool to enhance training capability, allowing more work and better progression in strength training.
Stronger By Science
Greg Nuckols
