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Thumbs under the bar

tew Posts: 51 Joined: 2002/08/23	2003/04/07, 10:14 AM in the excersise guid it says to keep thumbs under the bar rather than over it. What does this help achieve? Just wondering ....... -------------- Only champions enjoy pain
7707mutt Posts: 7,686 Joined: 2002/06/18	2003/04/07, 10:25 AM It provides greater control over the bar, and helps with stress on the wrist -------------- IF YOU CAN STILL ITCH YOUR NOSE AFTER ARM DAY, GO DO ANOTHER SET!!!
Arnold Posts: 1,112 Joined: 2000/11/27	2003/04/07, 10:55 AM I prefer to have thumbs under the bar because it takes away from forarm work as well.. helps you focus on the pushing aspect only. Get's a little to get used to. -------------- .o0 Arnold 0o...o0 theaustrianoak@hotmail.com 0o.
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2003/04/07, 11:51 AM I read that the thumb next to your fingers instead around the bar minimizes biceps involvement in back exercises and helps isolate your lats/ traps, etc. I do feel my back more since swtching, and my fingers don't go numb as much as they used to. I use the same grip for pressing and find my hands don't cramp up because I don't have a death grip on the bar and I can focus more on the muscles that are working. -------------- Challenge + Consistency = Results
arturo03 Posts: 137 Joined: 2003/02/11	2003/04/07, 04:12 PM personal preference if it feels better under the bar then go under the bar. but most power lifters use over the bar to maximize surface area and take stress off of wrists. -------------- Get Rugged
mackfactor Posts: 766 Joined: 2002/10/17	2003/04/08, 01:39 PM For pushing exercise, it's for joint stability and most of all, safety! It's really easy for that bar to roll off your palms if you're not gripping it. Bench pressing with your thumb over the bar is probably one of the most unsafe things a person can do. simmer, as far as the pulling exercises, that's interesting, I'd never heard that before. It doesn't feel any different to me, but there could be something there. -------------- "Don't follow leaders and watch your parking meters!" -- Bob Dylan
mackfactor Posts: 766 Joined: 2002/10/17	2003/04/08, 01:39 PM simmer - do you keep your wrists straight when you press? -------------- "Don't follow leaders and watch your parking meters!" -- Bob Dylan
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2003/04/08, 03:42 PM They are fairly straight.. now you have me sitting here trying to go through a press and see how my wrists are.. the weight rest on the pad of my hand and my wrists are pretty straight. when i up my bench on heavy weeks i use my thumbs around the bar, but when i do my warm-ups and my sets for reps i don't use my thumbs. Maybe i am just part monkey? -------------- Challenge + Consistency = Results
cevers3 Posts: 35 Joined: 2003/02/10	2003/04/08, 07:50 PM It does seem like I get a better feel with my thumbs next to my fingers. But I'm always afraid I'll drop the weight. I may be doin something wrong thought.
mackfactor Posts: 766 Joined: 2002/10/17	2003/04/09, 03:52 PM Something I didn't know until recently - I never used to keep my wrists straight either. I've come to find that you're supposed to have them completely straight - as if you're punching. Apparently it takes the stress of your wrists and sets it along a straight path on the bone through your arm. The article said that you'll do less weight initially, but eventually, due to the fact that your wrists are no longer a weak link, press more weight. I've been doing it the last three months and it's definately more comfortable now. This also sort of cradles the weight between your finger and thumb so you don't feel like you have to have a vice grip on the bar. Try it out and see how you like it. -------------- "Don't follow leaders and watch your parking meters!" -- Bob Dylan
mackfactor Posts: 766 Joined: 2002/10/17	2003/04/09, 03:53 PM Sorry - I meant that is if you're not already doing that. -------------- "Don't follow leaders and watch your parking meters!" -- Bob Dylan
asimmer Posts: 8,201 Joined: 2003/01/07	2003/04/09, 08:47 PM I benched today and looked at my wrists - they are as straight as they can be, so i think i am okay. i still use the monkey grip (my training partner and i nicknamed the no-thumbs grip that during a pull-up session)and don't feel that the bar is going anywhere because the weight keeps it balanced and the force of it is down into my arm, not forward or backward.. -------------- Challenge + Consistency = Results