Should You Use Straps When Deadlifting?
Copyright: maridav
Lifting Straps. Yes, No, Maybe So?
Starring at the barbell on the floor I couldn’t help but think to myself, “holy shit that’s a lot of weight.” Also, “I hope I don’t shit my spleen.”
The year: 2004. The place: Albany, NY, at some random Golds Gym.
I was visiting my sister and her family after a recent breakup with my then girlfriend and I decided to do what most guys would do when stuck in a vortex of rage, anger, sadness, and endless Julia Roberts movie marathons…
…I went to the gym to take my mind off of things.
This trip to the gym, however, would be different. I decided it was going to be the day.
No, not actually do some cardio.
I was going to deadlift 500 lbs for the first time.
I know this will surprise a lot of people when I say this, but I didn’t perform my first (real) deadlift until 2002 when I was 25 and still wet behind the ears with regards to my fitness career.
Mind you I had been lifting weights since I was 13, so it’s not like up until that point I had never seen a barbell.
It didn’t take long for me to become enamored with the deadlift. I loved that I was actually good at it, and I really loved how it made my body look and feel. It wasn’t long before I made it my mission to pull 500 lbs. It took me a little over a year to get there.1
Funnily enough, how I went about doing it was all sorts of contrarian compared to how I would approach the same task today.
Well, not 100% contrarian….but, you know, different.
1. I didn’t perform any traditional 90% work (working up to heavy singles). Instead I stayed in the 3-5 rep range, sometimes adding in some high(er) rep work for the hell of it. Whoever says you can’t improve your 1RM by working with sub-maximal weights is wrong.
As I like to remind my own clients today:
“you need to build a wider base with sub-maximal loads in order to reach higher peaks (in maximal strength).”
2. I didn’t use any special periodization scheme named after a Russian. I used good ol’ fashioned linear progression.
3. I didn’t rotate my movements every 2-3 weeks or follow some magical formula that had me incorporate the Mayan calendar. Nor did I perform some sort of dance to the deadlift gods every time there was a Lunar eclipse.
I performed the conventional deadlift almost exclusively.
Year round.
4. And maybe most blasphemous of all, I sometimes used wrist straps!!!
I know, I know…I didn’t want to be the one to break the news to you, but it’s true.
I believe straps should be used (sparingly) by pretty much everyone. For stark beginners it allows for more volume to be completed because grip becomes a limiting factor. For deadlifting terminators (I.e., really strong lifters) it also allows for more volume because grip becomes a limiting factor.
But this serves as a nice segue to a few question I receive almost without fail whenever I present:
Will using a mixed (under/over) grip when deadlifting cause any imbalances or is it dangerous?
Do you think straps should not be used during deadlifts?
First things first: Lets address the pink elephant in the room. I don’t feel utilizing a mixed grip is bad, and I do not think it’s dangerous.
This isn’t to say there aren’t some inherent risks involved.
But then again, every exercise has some degree of risk. I know a handful of people who have torn their biceps tendon – while deadlifting using a mixed grip. The supinated (underhand) side is almost always the culprit.
A LOT of people deadlift with a mixed grip, and A LOT of people never tear their bicep tendon. Much the same that a lot of people drive their cars and never get into an accident.
Watch any deadlift competition or powerlifitng meet and 99% of the lifters are pulling with a mixed grip. And the ones who aren’t are freaks of nature. They can probably also smell colors.
Pulling with a mixed grip allow someone to lift more weight as it prevents the bar from rolling in the hands. Sure we can also have a discussion on the efficacy of utilizing a hook grip, which is also an option.
I’m too wimpy and have never used the hook grip. If you use it I concede you’re tougher and much better than me.
Here’s My General Approach:
1. ALL warm-up/build-up sets are performed with a pronated (overhand grip).
2. ALL working sets are performed with a pronated grip until it becomes the limiting factor.
3. Once that occurs, I’ll then revert to a mixed grip….alternating back and forth with every subsequent set.
4. When performing max effort work, I’ll always choose my dominant grip, but I feel alternating grips with all other sets helps to “offset” any potential imbalances or injuries from happening.
Now, As Far As Straps
Despite what many may think, I don’t think it’s wrong or that you’re an awful human being or you’re breaking some kind of un-spoken Broscience rule if you use straps when you deadlift.
As I noted above, both ends of the deadlifting spectrum – beginners to Thanos – use straps. I think everyone can benefit from using them when it’s appropriate.
When I started deadlifting I occasionally used them because it allowed me to use heavier loads which 1) was awesome and 2) that’s pretty much it.
Straps allowed me to incorporate more progressive overload. My deadlift numbers increased. And I got yolked. Come at me Bro!
But I also understood that using straps was a crutch, and that if I really wanted to earn respect as a trainer and coach I had to, at some point, work my way up to a strapless pull. No one brags about their 1RM deadlift with straps in strength and conditioning circles. That’s amateur hour stuff for internet warriors to bicker over.
If you’re a competitive lifter, you can’t use straps in competition (outside of CrossFit, and maybe certain StrongMan events?)…so it makes sense to limit your use of straps in training.
If you’re not a competitive lifter, well then, who cares!?!
It’s just a matter of personal choice.
Note: If I am working with someone who’s had a previous bicep tendon or forearm injury, has elbow pain, or for some reason has a hard time supinating one or both arms, I’ll advocate that they use straps 100% of the time.
Offhandedly, straps do tend to slow people down which could be argued as a hinderance to performance. One mistake I see some trainees make with their setup is that they’ll bend over, grab the bar, and take way too long before they start their actual pull.
The logic is this: If you spend too much time at the bottom you’ll miss out on the stretch shortening cycle. As I like to coach it: Grip, dip, rip!
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Comments for This Entry
Seth
Tony- if you're using straps, is it possible to strap up to the bar while your hips are high, dip into position, and still get the benefits of the stretch-shortening cycle?December 2, 2014 at 12:16 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Yeah, I guess....but you're still bending over wasting energy by fatiguing the lower back while you do so. It's nitpicky, I know....but just personal preference.December 2, 2014 at 2:54 pm |
Dave Scott-McDowell
i tend to not allow mixed grips / or straps. my thought process being that if i limit these grips my athlete will have to not use as much weight and limit their risks of doing the exercise wrong. I use it as a way to limit the athletes from doing more than they are ready for.December 2, 2014 at 2:38 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Different strokes for different folks. But who says that performing them with a mixed grip is wrong? Is Andy Bolton wrong because he deadlifts with a mixed grip? Am I wrong because I coach my clients and athletes to pull with a mixed grip?December 2, 2014 at 2:55 pm |
Dave Scott-McDowell
not at all was not inferring that.. that is what works with your clientele there are many factors at play namely the level of supervision that can be given to each rep. was not trying to be confrontational. I enjoy the information you put out, always thought provoking and entertaining, thank youDecember 2, 2014 at 3:05 pm |
TonyGentilcore
No, I should apologize Dave. I didn't meant to come across as such a dick. I TOTALLY get where you're coming from.December 3, 2014 at 8:52 am |
kongo
Tony, love your stuff. I have a question regarding mixed grip deads: How do you implement them properly when most people are right hip dominant (Eric Cressey and Greg once demonstrated a reaching hamstring stretch on a plate to counteract this)? Meaning, the "crooked bar" that this article mentions is obviously due to the difference in lengths between sides when using a mixed grip. So if you have a hip imbalance (which can cause back pain), would the set up to use a mixed grip be different to account for this? For example, slightly offsetting the grip distance from center to account for the difference? I don't know if this question makes sense. Thanks for the awesome information. I appreciate it.December 2, 2014 at 2:54 pm |
ChaCha
You would be putting your supinated side's bicep at risk.December 14, 2014 at 5:28 am |
TonyGentilcore
Well, there's an inherent risk to ANY exercise, right? Which is why I advocate for people to alternate grips with each set. That seems to help offset any "potential" imbalances.December 17, 2014 at 7:21 am |
Sarah
Hey, great article Tony. As a female I struggled a lot with grip as my deadlift got heavier, so I transitioned to mixed and alternated hands like you suggested. Problem was solved until I took up Olympic lifting and could barely hold any weight on a snatch. I recently bought a womens 15kg Olympic bar and am trying to teach myself hook grip, and it's been easier to adjust. Would it be wise to exclusively perform deadlifts on the Olympic bar with hook from now? Feels like I'm kind of cheating myself with the thinner bar.December 2, 2014 at 7:29 pm |
TonyGentilcore
Hook grip is definitely a viable alternative! I'm just too much of a wimp to do it myself.....;o)December 3, 2014 at 8:53 am |
chris
Appreciate this is possibly a unique result, but I was doing deadlifts with straps, about a 6RM lift, and focusing on speed. I had got into the habit of using straps so did so all the time, even though for 6RM I didn't need them. I lifted and stuffed up and smashed the bar into my knee cap. Result was my knee jerked backwards, my hips went back as well and I was left in a bad position - and couldn't drop the damn bar because it was strapped to me. End result - herniated disc. I think straps do increase the risk of injury because you cannot dump a bad lift, or a too heavy lift or when your knee gives a sharp tweak or whatever it is that sometimes means you have to pull out. Obviously I never use them now, even for (say) pull ups, where I found the lack of movement at the hand/wrist level resulted in movement at the shoulder level in a fairly painful way. All in all, I'm not a fan (for what that is worth!)December 3, 2014 at 8:06 pm |
TonyGentilcore
That's actually a very fair point Chris. Sorry you had to learn the hard way.December 8, 2014 at 12:45 pm |
Jessy
I don't use straps, but I do the same thing regarding the grip that you recommend - it just seemed natural to me to use the overhand grip as long as possible and then in the last set (AMRAP - I do 5/3/1) I use the mixed grip. Then I saw your video tutorial for deadlifts and was happy to see that I was right, haha. If I used it on more sets I'd switch the grip up, but since it's (so far) only for the last set, I always use the same set-up (right hand pronated, left hand supinated). I was wondering about your thoughts on chalk. As someone who's into training for strength but doesn't compete in powerlifting (yet?), should I use it or avoid it? When is the time to start using it? I hadn't thought about it before, but last week I felt the bar slipping away in the last reps of my last set (with mixed grip). For what is worth, I'm still a novice in this and don't lift that heavy yet (my 1RM is probably about 110 kg). Also, what about the belt (for deadlifts and squats)? I would prefer to lift all raw, especially since I don't compete, but I see that even those powerlifters who don't use other gear (knee wraps etc.) use at least a belt. Mind you, I'm not a powerlifter haha, I just ''look up'' to these women. :)December 7, 2014 at 6:25 am |
TonyGentilcore
I love chalk. Takes away any moisture in the hands which helps grip. Makes a world of difference for sure.December 8, 2014 at 12:46 pm |
Jessy
So there is no such thing as using it ''too soon''? I read Rippetoe's book a long time ago and I remember him advising against using a lifting belt too soon (or maybe I'm confusing him with someone else), so I wondered if using chalk too soon would prevent/stall grip development. But I guess not, since it only helps to dry the hands, right?December 8, 2014 at 12:54 pm |
TonyGentilcore
I agree with Rippetoe on the belt thing. I only let people use them once they're approaching 85-90% of 1RM. But too, the belt DOES give people feedback on how to "push against" it to increase intrabdominal pressure to improve stability. So there IS a time and place. With chalk, I don't feel it's a grip issue at all. Even guys with death grips get sweaty palms.....;o) Chalk just helps in that regard.December 9, 2014 at 8:49 am |
Jessy
Hmm, I guess I understood it also in the meaning of not using the belt when your too soon, as in when your 1RM is not that much (and when you're still progressing well without it)? Thanks for your replies! I'll go look for a good chalk then. ;)December 9, 2014 at 9:06 am
TonyGentilcore
I think there's some validity for beginners using the belt to help teach them to attain more tension and to learn how to use a belt correctly. But yes, some tend to gravitate towards it too soon and use it as a crutch. It's silly when you start seeing people using a belt during lat pulldowns and bicep curls.December 11, 2014 at 7:19 am
Chuck Lee
Tony, I have always used overhand grip until I get to the point I can not grip the bar in my wo's. And my grip continues to get stronger. The poster that asked about using chalk...... I like Jim Wendler's advice on using chalk....... If your gym does not allow chalk, sneak some in!December 7, 2014 at 11:07 am |
TonyGentilcore
I agree. I used to always sneak chalk in in my gym bag. I'd also clean up the bar when I was done as a courtesy. You know, cause I'm not an asshole.December 8, 2014 at 12:48 pm |
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[…] Should You Use Straps When Deadlifting? […]December 22, 2014 at 3:57 pm |
Patrick Close
I compete in powerlifting so I need my grip to be strong. I actually got to the point where I was stronger without straps because you lose your tightness when you bend down to tie them up. I use a mixed grip from my first warm up. The reason being I don't want to fatigue my grip before I get to my heavy sets. I switch my grip every rep/set so each arm does the same number of reps in each position. I have no imbalances. I always use chalk from my 3rd warm up set. Grip used to be my weak point so I would pull as many reps as possible with no straps and then when the bar was almost slipping out my hands I would put the straps on and bang out more reps if I could. When I knew I'd hit my last rep with no straps I'd just stand there and hold the bar for as long as I could. Unfortunately I broke my hand in a motorcycle accident and will be using straps for a while! Thanks for the article.May 24, 2016 at 4:11 am |
Heath Watts
Eddie Hall pulled an 1100 lb. deadlift with straps. He should be bragging.November 11, 2018 at 2:20 pm |
Strongman123
Working my way up to 700lbs and solely got straps to allieviate elbow pain. A mixed grip isn’t great for your underhanded side’s elbow. Every single open division strongman pulls with an olderhand grip and straps, as it’s allowed. Open division strongmen are typically the best pullers on the planet, so if they do it, there’s gotta be a reason for it. Maybe this article is just dated and it’s more popular now in 2019, but it’s definitely not abnormal.February 27, 2019 at 11:05 pm |
Brawn
I appreciate your candidness in discussing the mixed grip and its potential risks. It's true that every exercise carries some degree of risk, and the mixed grip is no exception. However, it's reassuring to know that many experienced lifters utilize this grip without any issues. Personally, I prefer a pronated grip for warm-up sets and switch to a mixed grip only when necessary. It's all about finding the right balance between strength gains and injury prevention. Thanks for sharing your approach!July 5, 2023 at 8:34 am |