How To Use Weightlifting Straps

Heavy-duty cotton, nylon, or leather lifting straps can be utilized for a variety of applications. Heavy-duty lifting exercises like deadlifts and other pulling motions that stress your traps during workouts like lat pulldowns and rows are the most prevalent uses for lifting straps.

If you’re unfamiliar with lifting straps, they’re a piece of resistance training equipment that aids in maintaining your grasp on the barbell. Other names for them are deadlifting straps, wrist straps, and weight lifting straps.

It’s just a pair of thick straps that wrap around the bar and over your wrist. During the lift, twist the straps tightly beneath your hands to “tie” your hands to the bar. When you let go, they, on the other hand, undo themselves.

Wrist straps, on the other hand, should not be confused with wrist wraps, which are a different form of weightlifting accessory. Remember that wrist wraps provide more support, whilst wrist straps provide better grip.

The lasso lifting strap is a versatile training tool that may be used by both beginners and advanced lifters for a variety of exercises. lasso lifting straps can be used for deadlifts, barbell rows, pulldowns, shrugs, and other workouts.

Understanding the many types of lifting straps available for training is crucial. Alternatives include Lazo lifting straps, figure 8 lifting straps, lifting grips, and Olympic lifting straps. Each lifting strap style has its own set of benefits and drawbacks.

What Are Lifting Straps Used For?

Grip strength may be a limiting factor in workouts when you lift heavyweights. In particular, deadlifts and other pulling exercises. In certain cases, lifting straps may be useful in establishing a grip on the bar. With this simple strip of fabric, you can lift heavier weights and make faster progress at the gym.

Lifting straps come in helpful when your grip strength fails before the muscle groups you’re intending to target during a lift. Lifting straps should be utilized if your deadlift set comes to a halt when you lose your grip on the bar, for example.

Lifting straps are a wonderful alternative if you want to do more pull-ups but can’t hold on for long enough.

Barbell pulling workouts are the most popular usage of lifting straps. Dumbbells, pull-up bars, and a variety of pulldown cable attachments can also be utilized with them.

They’re just a way to redirect the exercise’s attention from a subsidiary muscle like the forearms to the primary muscle.

Straps, according to some powerlifting purists, allow for weak forearms and a sloppy grip. To their point, lifting straps should not always be relied upon. In fact, to strengthen your grip strength, do workouts without them whenever possible.

Buckle up, nevertheless, when your grip is the limiting factor. There’s no point in squandering possible gains due to a lack of understanding!

How to Use Weightlifting Straps

The first step is to thread the loose end of the lifting strap through the little loop on the other end. The straps should also be mirror images of each other. The one on the left is for your left hand, while the one on the right is for your right.

Pull the loose end between your thumb and index finger with your hand in the strap. At this point, you should also securely wrap the loose end of the strap around your wrist.

Placing your hand on top of the bar with the straps on your wrist, place the loose end of the strap beneath the bar facing away from you. Now is a good time to set the width of your grip with the knurl markings.

Continue to loop the strap’s loose end around the bar and towards you. Once you’ve completely wrapped the strap around the bar, place your hand on top of it. To tighten the strap, twist it towards you with your hand on top of it. Don’t bother about tightening the first strap until you’ve fastened the other hand.

Then repeat steps 1-3 with the other hand. This one may be a little tougher because you only have one free hand. However, gently work the strap around the bar using your fingers and thumb.

Once both hands are on the bar, twist them towards you like a motorcycle throttle. As a consequence, the straps around the bar and your wrists will be tightened. Make the bar as tight as possible to prevent it from shifting.

You may now lift as usual, and the straps will stay in place as long as you keep your pressure on them. When you’ve completed the lift, release your hold and the straps will untie themselves from the bar.

How to Lift Weights When Using Weightlifting Straps

In the direction you want the bar to go, roll it in that direction. You may tighten the strap by rolling the bar. Continue in this manner until your wrists get irritated by the straps. Lift only once the straps are entirely tightened; otherwise, you won’t receive the full advantage of employing lifting straps and might injure yourself.

If you’re lifting, don’t use your wrists to support the full weight. The lifting straps’ purpose is to assist you in maintaining your grasp on the bar, not to perform all the job for you. If you solely use your wrists to lift the weight, you risk hurting your wrists, therefore utilize your grip as well.

To enhance your grip and prevent relying too much on your lifting straps, use hand grips, compress the barbell during repetitions, do fist or fingertip push-ups, climb ropes, or hang from the pull-up bar.

Final Thoughts

Grip strength can be a limiting factor for some in making progress with their workouts. While some choose to train with the best hand strengtheners for boosting their grip strength, lifting straps also come in helpful in establishing grip on a bar. 

Lifting straps exist in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from simple loops or figure eights to specifically designed heavy-duty hook grips. There are also other materials used, such as linen and leather.

The simple cotton wrist bands, in my opinion, offer the best value. They provide the same purpose as more expensive straps at a fraction of the expense. However, you should utilize the weight lifting straps that are most comfortable for you.

Every serious weightlifter should have a nice set of the best lifting straps in their gym bag. They let you lift heavier weights and build bigger muscles without being constrained by your grip strength.

So obtain a pair and wear them throughout strenuous exercises if your grip fails before your target muscles.