Don't let your grip hold back your muscle and strength
development! Can
1 Ton
Hooks totally eliminate your grip as a limiting factor
in your back training? Don't
cheat yourself out of hard-earned strength and muscle
gains...read this now!
Your grip is the single biggest limiting factor when
it comes to maximizing your strength (and muscle-building
potential) on pulling exercises that work the back
muscles, such as deadlifts, shrugs, bent-over rows
and chin-ups.
Quite
often, the larger, stronger back muscles still have
plenty of strength left in them when your grip gives
out and you have to stop the set. I'm sure this is
not news to you. The question is...how do we solve
this problem that is most likely a major factor holding
you back in your training in those pulling exercises?
1. Build your grip strength through specific grip
exercises
Developing
your grip strength is NEVER a mistake. A strong grip
is important not only for pulling exercises but for
pushing exercises as well. But, as strong as you build
your grip, your back muscles are still going to be
stronger.
It
is VERY difficult to be able to develop your grip
strong enough to parallel your back strength in pulling
exercises.
2. Use wrist straps
Straps
have been the traditional grip-assistance equipment
of choice for years. And they do work reasonably well
for this purpose. Straps will definitely help you
to use more weight and hold onto it longer.
But
even the best straps WON'T totally remove your grip
strength as a limiting factor (not to mention being
time-consuming and generally inconvenient to use).
Your grip still limits you even using straps.
3. Use 1 Ton Hooks
1
Ton Hooks are simply a beautiful concept: they COMPLETELY
remove grip as a limiting factor in pulling exercises
by attaching your hands to the bar with strong solid-steel
hooks. Thick neoprene padding protects your wrists,
allowing you to lift the weight in relative comfort.
Now, the concept is good, but do the hooks score when
you take them to the gym and start using some REALLY
heavy weight? Let me tell you what I did to test these
hooks...
The Torture Tests:
In
order to be completely sure these hooks could perform
as they claim to be able to perform, I put them through
3 separate torture tests. These tests were designed
to push the envelope on what the hooks are meant to
do for you in your workout.
For
pictures of the hooks in action, please click
here.
Test #1 - With and Without
The
first test I put the hooks through was a "With
and Without" test. I started with a set of Bent-Over
Rows with 225 lbs. Without the hooks, I did a set
of 13 strict reps to failure. After a few minutes
rest, I tried the exact same weight using the hooks.
With
the hooks, I squeezed out 21 reps. That is am almost
40% improvement in rep number simply by using the
hooks (and let me just clarify that I've been training
for 15 years and DON'T have a weak grip).
The
1 Ton Hooks passed the first test with flying colors.
Test #2 - Strength and Endurance
The
next test (Strength/Endurance) would determine how
well the hooks perform over the course of an entire
grueling workout. You see, grip fatigue is not only
a factor in a single set but it can quickly become
a big problem over the course of a full workout. By
the end of a workout, your grip may be so fatigued,
you're no longer able to hold onto anything close
to the weights your back muscles are actually capable
of moving. NOT the most productive way to work out.
The
Strength/Endurance Test workout consisted of barbell
bent-over rows performed for 3-rep sets with near-maximal
weights. I took only 20 seconds rest in between sets
and when my back muscles fatigued, I dropped the weight
10 pounds to allow myself to keep going. I followed
this pattern for 40 minutes straight with the entire
workout amounting to approximately 80 sets of bent-over
rows (grueling is the word!).
This
workout was taken from one of my "Specialization
Training" programs (you can get more info on
those powerful programs here: http://www.fitstep.com/goto/specialization.htm)
So
how did the 1 Ton Hooks perform during this brutal
workout?
Brilliantly!
Every
5 minutes, I tried 1 set without the hooks to gauge
their effectiveness. Due to grip fatigue, I would
have been unable to continue with the same weights
I was using after only 5 minutes. The hooks allowed
me to continue training with heavier weights for FAR
longer than I would have been able to without them.
With the hooks, I was able to stay at my starting
weight for 20 minutes...4 times longer!
Without
a doubt, I was able to more fully work my back when
using the hooks. The hooks passed this test with ease.
Test #3 - Maximum Weight
The
Maximum Weight Test was next. It was time to see whether
the hooks would cease to be useful before I, myself,
gave out. The exercise: partial lockout deadlifts.
The
partial lockout deadlift is done by setting the safety
rails in the power rack to just below the top position
of the deadlift. Since you're only moving the bar
a inch or two, you can use tremendously heavy weight.
This is one exercise where the grip wil ALWAYS give
out before you reach your true maximum weight potential.
Without
the assistance of straps or hooks, the most I had
been able to hang onto with this exercise was 6 plates
a side, which works out to 585 lbs. Respectable, but
plenty of room for improvement. I could always feel
my grip give out well before my legs or back.
Using
the 1 Ton Hooks, I was able to work my way up to using
9 PLATES PER SIDE, plus two 25 lb plates for the same
number of reps. This works out to 905 lbs on the bar.
This is an increase of 320 lbs, simply by using the
hooks! There are very few pieces of training equipment
around that will allow you to increase your top-end
weights THAT much. With the hooks, I knew it was my
maximum because my body gave out before my grip on
the bar did. First time ever!
The
1 Ton Hooks were a definite success on this final
test.
---
My
conclusions:
If
you're interested in maximizing your back development
and strength, 1 Ton Hooks are BY FAR the best investment
in equipment you will ever make towards that goal.
To
recap my results: an almost 40% increase in rep number
in a single set, a four-fold increase in grip endurance
over the course of a workout, and a 320 lb increase
in maximum grip strength in the partial deadlift.
In
a nutshell, you will not only be able to hold onto
FAR more weight on your back exercises, you will be
able to hold onto it practically indefinitely! The
1 Ton Hooks are superbly constructed and very comfortable,
easy and natural to use, unlike traditional wrist
straps. They are also very convenient to pack and
bring with you to the gym, taking up hardly any more
room than a pair of training gloves, an important
consideration for those who don't like to carry too
much equipment around the gym with them.
An
added bonus that I discovered with the use of the
hooks is a greater ability to focus on feeling the
back muscles working during back exercises. This is
accomplished by being able to relax your grip somewhat
while still holding solidly onto the bar. Remember
that old weight training technique of "imagining
your hands as hooks?" Now your hands literally
ARE hooks!
Bottom
line: the 1 Ton Hooks rank among the very best pieces
of training equipment I've ever used and I would HIGHLY
recommend them. They are well worth the very reasonable
$49 (US) asking price.
Give
them a try...you'll be "hooked!"
To
learn more about the 1 Ton Hooks and to get a pair
for yourself, please click here.
For
pictures of the hooks in action, please click here.
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