Along4theRide
Proud Parent
My DD is one of those small, sturdy gymnasts...you know, the ones that are stout and feel like they are made of lead. But her hands are very small compared to the rest of her body....noticably smaller. As a level 6 she is up training some bigger bar skills. This week she had her first major peel off the pit bar and strained her upper back. I'm worried that the additional forces might be too much for her short fingers.
I wonder, are proportionally small hands something that other gymnasts/coaches have dealt with? Are there strategies for accomadating/strengthening small hands? (Wouldn't it be great if there were smaller bars for smaller hands! Pipe dream, right?!)
She has been wearing grips for over a year. I've casually asked her coach if current grips are good for dds small hands, and coach seems fine with current grips. ...but I wonder if a different brand would allow her fingers to have more contact with the bar? And if so, how would I suggest that to coach?
I'm mostly wondering if proportionally small hands simply means that bars will never be her thing. Or if there are other ways we can help her strengthen her hands or use different equipment to help her in the future. (Again, I really wish smaller bars were a real thing!!;-) ) Thanks for your advice!
I wonder, are proportionally small hands something that other gymnasts/coaches have dealt with? Are there strategies for accomadating/strengthening small hands? (Wouldn't it be great if there were smaller bars for smaller hands! Pipe dream, right?!)
She has been wearing grips for over a year. I've casually asked her coach if current grips are good for dds small hands, and coach seems fine with current grips. ...but I wonder if a different brand would allow her fingers to have more contact with the bar? And if so, how would I suggest that to coach?
I'm mostly wondering if proportionally small hands simply means that bars will never be her thing. Or if there are other ways we can help her strengthen her hands or use different equipment to help her in the future. (Again, I really wish smaller bars were a real thing!!;-) ) Thanks for your advice!