The Importance of Grip Strength
Grip strength is critical when working with large animals, whether through herding, farming, or riding. A firm grip can be the difference between life, serious injury, and sometimes even death. Physical activities demand athletic fitness and strength.
Enhanced Athletic Performance
Grip strength is particularly important for athletes in different riding and roping competitions. For bronc and bull riders, grip strength distinguishes between winning and losing. A firm grip can keep riders safe and confident in the saddle for dressage, jump, and barrel riders.
Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation
A firm grip is indicative of strong hands and wrists. Strong grip strength can also help you avoid hand and wrist injuries.
Assessing Your Current Grip Strength
You can use several different tests to assess your grip strength. For athletes, it is important to evaluate their grip strength and improve it through exercise. These tests include:
- Hand Dynamometer Test
- Pinch Grip Test
- Farmer’s Walk
Fundamental Grip Strengthening Exercises
Crush Grip Exercises
Crush grip training focuses on the fingers, hand, and forearm. It strengthens the muscles around the hand to improve overall grip strength. You put all the weight in your hand or fingertips in these exercises.
A hand gripper will challenge the muscles in your hands and fingers. Additionally, you can do plate pinches. For plate pinches, you will lift weighted plates with only your fingertips. Finally, you can work on hand squeezes. Initially, start with a tennis ball. After working your way up through reps, you can increase the tension with dedicated hand squeezes.
Pinch Grip Exercises
Pinch grip exercises focus on your ability to hold items with your fingertips. Exercises include:
- Holding a weight between your thumb and fingers
- Curling a plate with your fingers
- Towel pull-ups
Support Grip Exercises
Support grip focuses on holding items for an extended period of time like you would when holding reins in a competition. For these exercises, you will work on holding heavy weights or body weights for as long as possible.
- Farmer’s Walk
- Dead hangs
- Plate pinches
Advanced Techniques and Equipment
Grip Strengthening Tools
Besides the exercises above, you can use tools to improve your grip strength. There are specific grip trainers in which you can increase the resistance as you improve. Additionally, you can use grip balls and grip plates. Finally, grip gloves will artificially enhance your grip to help you as you train.
Incorporating Grip Training into Weightlifting
Because we use our hands for many things, you can incorporate grip training into all your exercises. Farmer’s walks, deadlifts, and pull-ups are all exercises that do double duty. Moreover, you can participate in rock climbing to challenge your grip.
Ultimately, your grip can improve through various activities, including your next riding competition.
