- Jun 29, 2017
- 178
- 200
Hey folks-
I'd love it if someone could check my grips knowledge... I myself was only a gymnast long enough to go through two pairs of hibar/rings grips, and until the last few years when asked about grips would usually respond "uhhh... whatever your previous coach recommended!"
First question - timing. What are your considerations when choosing to place kids in grips?
In the past, I'd say Lv4: get grips. This is when I'd start to see kids peeling on underswings, tap swings and clear hips, so seemed like grips = good.
I have this sense that if we can safely hold off on leather dowel grips, it is time well-spent developing grip and general hand strength - and additionally we are saving 5 minutes every day not needing to put grips on and take them off. The top ranked team in our area lately has been putting their Lv.4 squad in tape grips during competition which I've been copying... No peels so far -shrug-. I am tentatively trying to hold out until either Lv.5 (clear hips make me nervous) or until I see an uptick in peels or some other event that tells me grips are necessary.
Second question - types of grips?
Single buckle = easier to put on, less secure?
Double buckle = takes longer to put on, more secure?
Is that it? or are there other important differences?
Third question - brand?
Last time I had parents order grips, many of them stretched out in a month and were flapping all over the place.. had to be replaced - one pair snapped after a month. I've seen many complaints from coaches in facebook groups in the last 2-3 years about poor quality of grips, and I've seen nearly every reputable brand mentioned. Does anyone have recommendations on brands you've recently ordered from?
Fourth question - sizing confirmation?
The gymnast's parent follows the sizing chart on the website, the grips arrive and I check the sizing - my understanding is that with the finger-holes on past the first knuckle, a proper-fitting grip should have the hand form a sort of "claw", where full extension of the fingers isn't quite possible. Is that right?
Then, after some breaking in the grip stretches and the fingers are able to reach full extension - but if the grip is allowed to stretch so long that it folds on itself, or the leather isn't taught at full extension of the fingers- it is time for new grips? Worst case ever would be it stretches so long that it wraps around the entire bar and you grip lock?
Thanks in advance for any and all replies.
I'd love it if someone could check my grips knowledge... I myself was only a gymnast long enough to go through two pairs of hibar/rings grips, and until the last few years when asked about grips would usually respond "uhhh... whatever your previous coach recommended!"
First question - timing. What are your considerations when choosing to place kids in grips?
In the past, I'd say Lv4: get grips. This is when I'd start to see kids peeling on underswings, tap swings and clear hips, so seemed like grips = good.
I have this sense that if we can safely hold off on leather dowel grips, it is time well-spent developing grip and general hand strength - and additionally we are saving 5 minutes every day not needing to put grips on and take them off. The top ranked team in our area lately has been putting their Lv.4 squad in tape grips during competition which I've been copying... No peels so far -shrug-. I am tentatively trying to hold out until either Lv.5 (clear hips make me nervous) or until I see an uptick in peels or some other event that tells me grips are necessary.
Second question - types of grips?
Single buckle = easier to put on, less secure?
Double buckle = takes longer to put on, more secure?
Is that it? or are there other important differences?
Third question - brand?
Last time I had parents order grips, many of them stretched out in a month and were flapping all over the place.. had to be replaced - one pair snapped after a month. I've seen many complaints from coaches in facebook groups in the last 2-3 years about poor quality of grips, and I've seen nearly every reputable brand mentioned. Does anyone have recommendations on brands you've recently ordered from?
Fourth question - sizing confirmation?
The gymnast's parent follows the sizing chart on the website, the grips arrive and I check the sizing - my understanding is that with the finger-holes on past the first knuckle, a proper-fitting grip should have the hand form a sort of "claw", where full extension of the fingers isn't quite possible. Is that right?
Then, after some breaking in the grip stretches and the fingers are able to reach full extension - but if the grip is allowed to stretch so long that it folds on itself, or the leather isn't taught at full extension of the fingers- it is time for new grips? Worst case ever would be it stretches so long that it wraps around the entire bar and you grip lock?
Thanks in advance for any and all replies.
