4 Tools for a better Grip

Why Grip Strength Matters in Calisthenics

A good grip is essential to ensure your best possible performance. Whether you're doing handstands, pull-ups or freestyle calisthenics, a good grip can make the difference between holding the handstand for 30 or 50 seconds, doing 10 or 12 reps of pull-ups, or catching the 360 or not. Sweaty hands or a slippery bar surface often make your performance suffer.

To counteract this, we provide you with 4 tools in this blog to ensure you have the perfect grip to take your performance to the next level.

The Benefits of a Strong Grip

Your hands are the only contact point between your body and the bar. Everything you build above them, from your back to your arms to your core, is limited by what your fingers can hold. In calisthenics, that makes grip the most common hidden bottleneck: most athletes stop a set because their hands open, not because their lats are finished.

A solid grip gives you four concrete advantages:

• More reps in every pulling exercise. Pull-ups, muscle-ups and rows all end when the bar slips. Remove that limit and your working sets get longer.
• Longer static holds. Skills like the front lever, back lever or human flag demand a hard squeeze for the whole hold. A weak grip cuts your time under tension before your core is even challenged.
• Safer dynamics. On workout rings or the bar, catching a 360, shrimp flip or geinger means catching your full bodyweight in a fraction of a second. Confidence in your hands is what lets you commit to the movement.
• Healthier elbows and wrists. Strong forearms stabilise the joints above them. Athletes who train grip and wrist mobility deal with far fewer elbow issues over time.

Grip has two sides, and both are worth training. Grip strength is built through your workouts: dead hangs, heavy weighted pull-ups, farmer's walks and towel hangs. Grip quality is what happens at the contact point itself: friction, moisture, and the texture of the material under your hands. The 4 tools below solve the second half of the equation, so the strength you already have actually reaches the bar.

1. Chalk

Chalk is one of the most popular tools in many sports, and is also considered a must-have by calisthenics athletes. Chalk is available as powder or liquid. A comparison of the two variants can be found in our blog article, specifically about the chalk. Even if both variants have advantages and disadvantages, both products have one thing in common:

Thanks to the use of chalk, you no longer have to worry about sweaty hands and can deliver your best performance during training. It doesn't matter if you train on parallettes, workout rings or pull-up bars.

Discover Liquid Chalk

2. Grip Tape

Grip Tape has become one of the most popular products for many athletes. Once wrapped around the parallettes, workout rings or pull-up bar, the tape provides a very comfortable and strong grip on your equipment. Best of all, wrapping takes only a few seconds and the tape does not have to be put on or taken off every time.

The Grip Tape is made of cotton, which absorbs sweat and thus provides a better grip and prevents slipping.

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3. Wooden Handles

Parallettes, gymnastics rings, or bars are most often made of wood, metal, or plastic. The material can make a big difference in your performance. Sweat buildup on metal or plastic handles creates a higher risk for slipping during certain exercises. Grips made of wood absorb sweat better and provide you with a better grip in most cases. If you have problems with grip on your metal parallettes, you can replace them with wooden parallettes and benefit from a better grip.

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4. Workout Grips

Workout Grips provide you with a similar function as the well-known workout gloves. The good thing about the workout grips is that they only cover the palms and do not enclose the whole hand. The freedom of movement of the hands is not restricted, and you benefit at the same time from a very good grip.

The Workout Grips prevent sweaty hands and are the perfect training tool for you if you tend to have sweaty hands.

As a bonus, the grips also support your wrists.

Discover Workout Grips

Want to take your workout to the next level? Discover equipment from GORNATION now and create a new workout experience.

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FAQ About Grip in Calisthenics

Chalk or grip tape: which one should I choose?

Chalk if your hands sweat. Grip tape if the bar or the parallettes themselves are slippery. Many athletes use both.

Do workout grips make my hands weaker?

No. They improve friction, not strength. Your forearms still work, you simply stop losing sets to slipping.

How do I train grip strength directly?

Dead hangs, towel hangs and farmer's walks. Two to three sets at the end of your pulling session is enough.

Is liquid chalk allowed in gyms?

Usually yes. It leaves almost no dust, which is why most gyms accept it where powder chalk is banned.

How do I stop calluses from tearing?

File them down regularly and keep them flat. Workout grips also reduce the shearing that causes tears in the first place.

Phil

Hi, I’m Phil, the founder of GORNATION. I brought the brand to life in 2015 with a clear mission: to create a premium brand for Calisthenics, something that didn’t exist before. I live and breathe this sport, doing calisthenics myself since 2013. My vision is to unite 1 million people around the world through calisthenics, building a strong, supportive community. I'm happy that you're part of that!