Belts? Not necessarily a bad idea, but you want to understand how to use them. You’d also want one of the powerlifting styles (not tapered); but I’m not that great at explaining how to use them.
Do many oly lifters use those? I don’t know. Don’t think so, but don’t know.
As for straps with high pulls, again, I can see where someone might have you do that in training, but it doesn’t come up much around here.
TP
I train in en GLOBO gym and whenever I do heave backsquats or deadlifts people are nagging me i should use a belt. Figured i ask other Crossfitters what they think.
Instead of using sports tape for my wrists id figure wraps are easier
Several people in our gym use the wrist straps for various reasons. Some have rpior wrist injuries and the wrist position for cleans, and front squats is very painful the wrist straps seem to help, also those with some flexibility issues like them. Weight belts again several people use them mostly for power lifting, knowing how to use them correctly is important. Lifting straps, the people I know who use them the most are all oly lifters and I’ve never really asked them why, I kind figure that if your grip is the weak point you need to get a stronger grip not use a strap. All simply opinion and observation.
There may well be better, but this covers the main points.
The big thing is that you’re using the belt to push against with your stomach through the lift. Do it right and your thorax will be a tight column and you’ll pop out of the bottom of the squat. Then you’ll put more weight on the bar and the pop will disappear, but it’s sure fun to feel the difference for a start.
Several people in our gym use the wrist straps for various reasons. Some have rpior wrist injuries and the wrist position for cleans, and front squats is very painful the wrist straps seem to help, also those with some flexibility issues like them. Weight belts again several people use them mostly for power lifting, knowing how to use them correctly is important. Lifting straps, the people I know who use them the most are all oly lifters and I’ve never really asked them why, I kind figure that if your grip is the weak point you need to get a stronger grip not use a strap. All simply opinion and observation.
What Mags said. I’m one of those people who use wrist wraps. I’ve had surgery on my right wrist from prior good times and the wraps make it bearable for me to go heavy overhead. When I first got cleared to lift again, I used them for all oly lifts and pressing movements. Now, I generally only use them above 75% of my max and am continuing to wean myself as best I can. They’re much easier to use than taping up, but the tape does offer more support. I just got tired of going paying for Johnson and Johnson exec’s BMWs, so I bought the EFS wraps.
As for the straps, I believe the oly lifters use them to overload their hip extension with pulls and high pulls. I actually bought some to use for that purpose during my oly classes and promptly pulled a hamstring before I got to use them!
Recently I have been reading a lot of Bill Starr’ s articles from the Crossfit Journal.
Such as: Improving Clean, Full Cleans, building a strong shoulder girdle, pyramid strength etc.
Here he advices to use straps for high pulls, to use tape to prevent your wrists from getting injuries.
But since I never see Crossfitters with belts or wrist-wraps I felt like getting a second opinion here
On a side note: I am doing CFFB since about 2 months now.
Good question - I use all three, but for specific purposes only:
Weightbelt for max attempts (above 95% 1RM), especially helpful for me with front squats
Wrist straps for clean and snatch pulls (MANY Olifters do this also… worth considering as well if you get any bicep tendonitis kind of pain from mixed grip dl’s)
Wrist wraps for added comfort and preventative reasons (just eases the stress on the wrist a bit with overhead stuff)
I also use knee sleeves as I did have some knee tendonitis issues last year that have almost resolved.
Definitely experiment with bits and pieces but don’t get too attached, especially if you are doing competitions… as you want to be able to adapt to your gear being there or NOT being there!
