WAG chalking up

[fav_teresa]

I just got new grips, and I have no idea where to start chalking up. When should I spray water? When should I scrape them I just want a second opinion. I also want to know what you do. Is there anything extra that you can do to help with the grips?

 

[GymnastPotterhead]

The best person to ask would be your coach. They can show you how its done!

Personally, I spray water first, then put chalk on it. Some of my teammates use just chalk.

To break them in, again ask your coach, but we just do a lot of tap swings (and giants for older levels)

 

[Geoffrey Taucer]

Gotta be honest: I've never understood the point of spraying water on grips. The point of chalk is to keep your hands and grips dry; all water is gonna do is shorten the life of the leather, and give you a nasty layer of caked-on chalk.

 

[GymnastPotterhead]

Gotta be honest: I've never understood the point of spraying water on grips. The point of chalk is to keep your hands and grips dry; all water is gonna do is shorten the life of the leather, and give you a nasty layer of caked-on chalk.

Imo water + chalk helps me grip the bar more/better. Just chalk feels like I'm about to slip off. But I do have to rechalk almost every turn which is annoying.

 

[sun]

Gotta be honest: I've never understood the point of spraying water on grips. The point of chalk is to keep your hands and grips dry; all water is gonna do is shorten the life of the leather, and give you a nasty layer of caked-on chalk.

Also curious as to why it is so popular... I know folks like the sort of paper mache texture that water+chalk makes, but even if you get a nice sticky paste, isn't that just going to fill in the grain of the bar more and create a smoother, slicker surface?

Maybe they like it because it's slicker? as long as they don't slip, maybe they like it because their hands slide easier... hurts their hands less? IDK.

Maybe you know the answer to this comparison - why cake chalk onto the parallel bars? is it just different when using sugar water/honey/syrup/sticky substance?

 

[Geoffrey Taucer]

Also curious as to why it is so popular... I know folks like the sort of paper mache texture that water+chalk makes, but even if you get a nice sticky paste, isn't that just going to fill in the grain of the bar more and create a smoother, slicker surface?

Maybe they like it because it's slicker? as long as they don't slip, maybe they like it because their hands slide easier... hurts their hands less? IDK.

Maybe you know the answer to this comparison - why cake chalk onto the parallel bars? is it just different when using sugar water/honey/syrup/sticky substance?

Let me give a disclaimer up front that I never did much past about level 7 on any events other than floor, vault, and rings, and it's been the same in coaching: pretty much any time I've coached upper-levels, it's been primarily as a strength and tumbling coach.

I never did much past level 6/7ish on p-bars, and never used honey or anything like that. I also hated p-bars with passion, and was absolutely terrified of any under-bar work, so perhaps those things are connected.

These past two years are my first time working in any significant capacity with upper-level guys on p-bars; they like to put honey or corn syrup on the bars, so I let them. *shrug*

I do think there are two crucial differences, though, between p-bars and uneven bars as far as grip goes. First, when you grip the p-bars, you never swing around the bar; the hands never have to make a full circle, they ideally just grip in one place and don't slide at all. This being the case, wanting a much rougher, stickier texture makes sense.

 

[Coach Kate]

Let me give a disclaimer up front that I never did much past about level 7 on any events other than floor, vault, and rings, and it's been the same in coaching: pretty much any time I've coached u

These past two years are my first time working in any significant capacity with upper-level guys on p-bars; they like to put honey or corn syrup on the bars, so I let them. *shrug*

For entertainment, Ian Gunther has a whole series on YouTube where he and the other Stanford guys try alternatives for honey.

 

[NYGymfamily]

I just got new grips, and I have no idea where to start chalking up. When should I spray water? When should I scrape them I just want a second opinion. I also want to know what you do. Is there anything extra that you can do to help with the grips?

When DD got new grips she was told not to use water with chalk for a few months, so I would start with just chalk. Ask your coach though.