Gripper setting and technique.

[@terryconjugateiron]

To anyone that's new to grip, closing a 220lbs rated gripper is absolutely insane. I'm glad I found your channel Carl. Didn't know you had one

[@Dan-yd2jq]

"This is JUST a 3.5..." 😆

[@samuelsmith6804]

The only person to ever say this is just a 3.5 and mean it

[@AbsoRuud76]

I was struggling to close my 100 lbs gripper with my left hand. After watching this video I did 5 reps with it. Thank you Carl!

[@InspectorHaines]

Have to say this is one of the most detailed and informative gripper setting video out there!

[@PSHARPE1]

Now then mate! Just a little message to say I'm super glad you and your family over there are well. Wherever I think back and reminisce about my athletics career your presence and influence I struggle to think of words just how positively influential you were and your dad too I must say - Anyway, just a quick message to say me and Kara say "Hi" and it's great to see you're well! 👍🏼

[@GLC-1979]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARL! I would love to come train with you sometime..you're a great role model mate. Thank You.

[@toddkovach6967]

Just a 3.5 no biggie GHP 9 no biggie

[@pktlogic]

Thanks Carls. Always appreciate your advice here and on the grip board. I’ve gone from a IM Guide to closing IM #2.5, once, with all y’alls advice.

[@makula5543]

Informative, intelligent and fascinating Carl - very cool for you to do this video. I learned quite a bit from this video.

[@alexandrelevasseur4186]

This video is what i needed. I started my captain of crush journey with the guide (60 lb) back in early 2020. I could barely do 10 reps with the guide (60lb) at first. After three years now i hit my second plateau with captain of crush #2 (195 lb). This video renewed my will and will try your techniques.

[@MASKETOH]

what a fantastic video Carl, insight on your methods and mindset is a goldmine for all of us grippsters looking forward to more vids like this on programming and cert prep

[@muffinthesoulstealer]

Thanks Carl! Love to have insight from the World's Strongest Hands

[@StrengthArchives]

Please try any kind of device that accurately measures your gripstrength in a metric. Like the GM-150 or GD-150 or any good dynamometer..thatd be incredibly interesting to see

[@Nobody2.5]

What’s the difference between GD and GM

[@StrengthArchives]

@@Nobody2.5 its honestly pretty much the same product-idea, I believe the GM-150 was created first by some russian guy, and The GD-150 after by another company

[@griplegend]

Gd dyno-150

[@pascalrouen]

@@Nobody2.5 The GM150 was created by Vano Sukhashvili of Grippermania from Russia. It's basically the 'official' dynanometer test in the grip world, with the current list of records. The GD DYNO-150 is a similar product recently released by the company GD Grip out of Korea.

[@EmilBBechGrip]

Thanks for the video Carl, some really great information. Especially the last part is important to me, last session I felt bad/had doubts and I ended up doing much worse than usual. So next workout I'll make sure to think positively and hopefully I'll get a PR.

[@John13verse35]

Inspiring. Thank you for sharing the wisdom and encouragement, Mr Myerscough!

[@GripperCc]

Absolutely right what you say about moving forward with positive thinking and taking smaller steps all the time and letting it take some time. I thought it wouldn't be a problem to finish 2.5 after I finished no. 2, but it's a big step and first you have to increase the reps of 1.5 and a first on no will first become a second then a third and maybe you can't increase do more reps on no. 2 but maybe a little more reps on 1.5 then train a lot of ones on no. 2 so it feels easier each time and in the end it becomes a second and third on no. 2. Then I think it's good to feel the heavier 2.5 and help close it with the other hand and just hold it so you get the muscles used to that pressure and after a while it gets easier and easier to close no. 2 and you can do it every time no problem. I think for those of us who weren't born big like bears, the problem starts at 2.5 already and close it and no. 3 you may never reach. But this is not a quick fix, but we may have to train hard for several years before we get there.

[@GarageGripGeek]

Great video! Would love to see some more tutorials on grip from yourself 💪🏻🇬🇧👏🏻

[@MikealBasile]

This is so great! So much information and so well explained! Maybe a video about how to use a saxon bar is next?

[@GripperCc]

Incredible performance and absolutely world class. I'm also thinking about driving once a week instead of twice, so you're absolutely rested and can give it your all and drive harder!

[@23rdstreet22]

don't speak English but I want to follow your advice to have brutal grip strength, you are my inspiration to continue improving

[@Pansarpelle]

Started grip training this december, setting a goal of closing the #3 before summer. Oh boy how naive I was. These things are way harder than I thought and the jumps between the grippers are insane. Barely closed the #1 when I got them and up to 30x reps now. Still can't close the #2. It is fun though and I notice the difference already in my everyday work. Thank you for your videos.

[@Explosiveeee]

Brilliant Carl. Thank you!

[@brunosalazar4571]

You are mi inspiration

[@c8myotome]

Amazing video and insight, thank you Carl

[@33Bama33]

Bro, if I seen you in public, I’d be like they make you? And other words, I’m saying you are a goddamn beast! I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody close to you in person in real life. That is even close to you. Keep grinding bro you have arguably the strongest grip on the planet right now for sure at grippers real happy for you man I know you worked hard for years keep grinding and being the motivation you are

[@MakeTracks]

Thanks for this! I'm closing a CoC2 at the moment but I want to work up and get certified in the next 12 months.

[@gammon1183]

I used to have a cracking grip but stupid arthritis from years of outdoor shenanigans. Ive still got a ok grip thanks to my huge mits but it hurts 😂

[@benjaminhelms664]

Fantastic video!! Thank you Carl!

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

My pleasure!

[@Account-kx5vr]

Best grip in the world here, Carl 💪💪

[@griplegend]

Please post a video of me measuring with a GM grip dynamometer

[@vintageweightspgh]

This was very helpful. Thank you!

[@Kentthegamerlam]

Thanks Carl!

[@sour_lemon_00]

Saving to learn later. Thx

[@jameshilton9255]

nice vid carl your a legend i attempted the coc 4 again last month off by a few mm still,i noticed it takes longer for me to recover as i get older(43 now).....quik question how long do you rest before you attempt a big close like the coc 4 or ghp 10 and do you have any tendon pain after the close..thnx mate.. you are officially the TRUE KING OF GRIP.

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

I always rest seven days between gripper workouts and 3 - 5 minutes between sets. From a very heavy gripper close my hands will be tender for 3 or 4 days.

[@MikealBasile]

​@@CarlMyerscoughGripyour honesty and information are both amazing. I can't thank you enough for helping others out in this incredibly cool and niche sport. You're awesome, and I appreciate you!

[@jameshilton9255]

@@CarlMyerscoughGrip thnx for the great info look forward to more vids,the grip community is small so these videos are priceless.✊✊

[@Julez108]

Very useful tips, thank you.

[@williamwallace3780]

Most guys wouldn't use above a 0.5 for a technique video but I heard if Carl uses those now they explode in his hands. Not only is this hazardous but Iron Mind will not credit it as a valid close.

[@HandGrip2024]

love you Carl!

[@Redman_30]

Got the 2.5 but I can’t do it man I can get it about 3/4 the way…man it’s tough but i just bought a 2 to train some more with hopefully I can do it and be able to get the 2.5 in a couple of months

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

@Redman_30 You will likely need about 7 reps with the 2 in the same style to close the 2.5. The amount of reps it takes depends on the individual, but most people are between 6-10.

[@jakiscelel8101]

Thanks , i've never closed 250lbs easier in my life lol

[@tryinhard2gitgud557]

Hello Chief. Could we possible get a video where you tell us about training volume, methods and frequency?. my grip strenght is pathetic and i would really like to change that, but after 3 month of training im already plateauing.

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

It's certainly a possibility at some point.

[@ThesanPitt]

You give me motivation I have the Gillingham gripper 1-9 i can't remember anymore if I bought the level 10, it's been awhile ago. I searched around online but there's no level 10 for sale. Do they stop making it? You're amazing you can close the level 10

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

Unfortunately, for now, it seems all GHP grippers are out of production. I

[@ZedRebel]

Great tips! I had not realized that pinch work would help with setting, I also was not aware of the stretch reflex and why one should release the gripper slowly for strength gains. Thanks!!!

[@MDias7777]

Hello Mr. Myerscough, what do you believe is the minumim hand size for this set on average, my hands are 19.7 cm and I have to set like Ivan cuk to successfully do the ccs, I may be doing something wrong.

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

You can't really say a size because the proportions matter a lot. However, I think your hands are big enough. If you can ccs a lighter gripper you can ccs a heavier one, you just have to get stronger.

[@baguaboy11]

Great video … thanks ! Does it matter about which curved end is placed thumb-side .. others say this is important?

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

@baguaboy11 The science says no, but we all do it just in case it helps a tiny bit. You want the dog leg on the thumb side and the gentler curve down by the fingers. It may help a bit to get it going, but doesn't alter the force required to close.

[@baguaboy11]

Thanks !

[@pierredegaye2141]

Hi Carl - incredible what you have achieved and inspiring also. I wondered if you might be able to make a video about how to progress with the COC grippers. I can do reps with the 1 but can’t close the 2 at the moment. I think Ironmind’s own training guide is somewhat flawed as they suggest higher reps (around ‘5 to 8 to failure’ whatever that is meant to mean) with a ‘working’ gripper, by which point my hands would already be fatigued leaving little power to attempt the 2. I own the sport, 1 and 2. I have come across a few decent guides by people like Clay Edgin that only specify a rep or two with any more demanding grippers (the 1 in my case, which I can do for around 12 reps all out) before going to the main gripper. Anyway let me know if you could suggest a decent guide for progression or if you might be able to do a video about it. Thanks in advance. :). I’m 44 now so perhaps past my peak strength but still hoping I can make gains at this age.

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

Hi Pierre, if you google the grip board, you can find my full gripper workout on there. You may need to invest in a #1.5. For where you are at I would suggest something like Sport x 6 #1 x 5 #1.5 Amrap #1.5 Amrap, So you would be shooting for 5-10 range on the last 2 sets. Once you can do 2 sets of 7 or 8 with the 1.5, then you will be ready to close the #2 roughly. Leave the singles alone and just attempt a max every few months. Taking an unloading week every 6 weeks or so is also a good idea, and just go to 5 reps at 60% that week. Best of luck to you.

[@pierredegaye2141]

Hi Carl - many thanks for taking time to reply. It really is appreciated. I will heed your advice and try and get hold of the 1.5 in that case. I was of the stubborn mindset that I could leave equal 50-60lb increments between my warm-up gripper, tough gripper and challenge gripper, but it appears to be working out tougher than I thought. I've only been on it a few weeks though and getting back into gripping after probably 3 years without doing it regularly. Hopefully I'm not too old to make gains and can somehow get the 2 closed at some point down the line. I will check out the grip board in a bit and will follow your workout for sure. When you say attempt a max every few months I'm guessing that's on the 2, i.e. the gripper I want to close, for a single rep? So leave the 2 alone whilst working with the 1.5, or is there any merit in things like negatives etc? I think I prefer your suggestion above for its simplicity. I have some cheaper (non-ironmind) expand hand bands also that I always do for 3 sets of 15, can't do thick ones but it's challenging enough. thanks again :) @@CarlMyerscoughGrip

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

@pierredegaye2141 Yes, leave the 2 alone and only attempt when your reps have gone up appropriately. No negatives in my opinion, as they are to difficult to recover from and unnecessary. Try and do the band extensions as heavy as you can for sets of 6- 8. It makes no sense to do higher reps on the opposing muscles, you need them to get stronger proportionally.

[@pierredegaye2141]

Thanks again - very interesting point about keeping the extensor reps low too , had never thought of that and makes perfect sense . What’s your opinion on the inverted closes, are these really necessary ? Again I found it fatigued me when doing 3 normal then 3 inverted with the 1 prior to attempting the 2. I obviously want to have full power going into the two working sets. I find my second working set much weaker than my first in terms of amrap. What would you advise in terms of frequency - could your suggested workout above be done every other day ? Do you also find peak focus / strength at a certain time of day? I’m definitely not a morning trainer but due to finishing work late I often find it can be after 7 by the time I’m ready to start . Also, can you advise do you have a particular stance/position for the band extensions? I've been doing them in a bicep curl type position, arms bent to 90 degrees with palms facing up but this can sometimes put pressure for some reason on my right front deltoid (I sometimes feel that when gripping also, not sure why). I guess it's directing the tension into the hand somehow. Hope to hear from you again soon and thank you again :)

[@pierredegaye2141]

Hi Carl - hope to hear from you again soon when you get time re: the last reply. Thanks for all the advice so far :). Really appreciated.

[@mattslittlebrown4355]

Go big red!!

[@Ijustwritecomments1]

Hi Carl. Have you considered buying the GM150? It’s the “official” dynamometer for measuring grip strength in metric. Nathan Holle has done 177 kg. It would be interesting to see where you place. I believe you have 180+ in the bank.

[@Julez108]

Have you ever experienced shoulder pain from grippers? My left shoulder feels tweaky after a couple hard closes.

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

I have. I think it helps to hold the shoulder back like you would for a bench press and not let it hunch forward too much as it can aggravate the rotator cuff.

[@Lefuciy]

Nice video! What’s about volume? I train on 3 reps until failure with 2.0 CoC, maybe on 3-4 sets - until the weaker left hand can’t do 3 reps in full ROM. I repeat this hard training in 7 days, when I don’t feel any pain in tendons, maybe even later. Light or medium training during these 7 days rest only slow down recovery. How to determine the most effective volume? Can be more effective to do everyday sets of singles with 2.0 to create the bigger weekly volume, bigger than 1 hard (3-4 sets on 3) training per week with 7 days rest after?

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

This video is just about technique not training. Lots of different ways to do it, but I do grippers once a week. About 60 total reps split into about 12 sets.

[@dg3972]

Hi, Carl I'm just a beginner of gripper and im impressed your performance! and I have a few questions for you. Idk how to build up my gripper routine. I'm almost closing no.2.5 and how do you often gripper in a week? also how do you deal with when u don't feel like gripper so you have deload week? thank you so much!

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

@dg3972 I train grip twice a week and grippers once a week. You want to spend most of your time with grippers to do a few sets to failure in the 7 - 9 rep range, after warm up sets. Doing the hard rep sets will give you better progress over time, than constantly testing yourself on singles. I like to push hard for 6 weeks and then take 3 or 4 easy weeks where I will warm up and then do one top set of 8 with 75% for maintenance.

[@dg3972]

@CarlMyerscoughGrip oh okay then I gotta go back to like no.2 and doing 7-9 reps, do this like 9~10 weeks and then move to the 2.5 I guess? But when I move on to next level of gripper I think I won't be able to train on 7-9 reps range like let's say I do no 2.5 3~4 reps then u think I practice on that reps to get to 7~9 reps? Or back to no.2 still? Im kinda confused that part . And I think there's a lot setting skills but what do you think I should do if I'm not doing this for cert? I know that has to do ccs but still gotta practice ccs? Or do like parrell set, deep set etc..

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

@dg3972 If you're not training for a cert, then you might as well do all reps through a medium to large range of motion for functional use. The rep strategy as I outlined, a few sets of 7-9 reps requires having lots of grippers with small jumps between. If you are stuck making larger jumps, you will have to be flexible with the reps. You can by rated grippers from Cannon Power works to make small jumps. This is the best strategy for most, so systematic progress can be made.

[@dg3972]

@@CarlMyerscoughGrip thank you so much Carl! I will do it by how u explained to me. hope you have a good one 😁

[@dg3972]

Oh I have on more question sorry, but do u train grippers with both hands at the same day?

[@sigurdmikkelsen7756]

did the #1 for 8 reps two days ago. Today i did 17 reps. I got the gripper two days ago. Is this good for a 17 year old?

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

That's very good for your age, yes, well done. The average man can do about a #1 for 1 rep.

[@sigurdmikkelsen7756]

@@CarlMyerscoughGrip thanks man! I want to achieve a grip like yours one day💪

[@Taka-saburou]

I import Saxon bars to Japan and purchase them. Please tell me the weight of the Saxon bar itself.

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

I'm not sure I understand your question. They come in different weights, the Sorinex 3 x 4" bar is listed at 20kg, I think the arm assassin version is 15kg.

[@Taka-saburou]

thank you🙇

[@Sanking_7]

I'v been in grip training for 5 years, but my grip strength is 65kg..... My strength doesn't grow. I think I've reached my genetic limit. I hate my weak 15.5cm circumference wrist. I started grip training in 2018. Let me tell you the history and results of my grip routine. 2018-2019: full set. 5 seconds of static negative training. 4~5 sets. Twice a week 2020: parallel set. 4~5 single sets (1 reps). Twice a week 2021: cease grip training (giving up) 2022: parallel set. 5 reps 5-6 sets twice a week 2023: CCS 5 reps 5~6 sets twice a week. 2024: full set. 5 sets of static training for 15 seconds. And parallel set. 8 reps 5 sets. Total 10 sets. twice a week My grip strength was 40kg before training. And after a year of training, I achieved 65 kg of grip strength in winter 2018. Maybe it's because I was a beginner then. But from 2019, my grip strength doesn't grow at all. I changed my training routine or tried de-loading with care about recovery, but my grip strength still stopped at 65 kg so far. Everyone grows when they're a beginner. But when they're away from being a beginner, it seems hard to grow because of their genetic limitations. I think I've reached my genetic limit. Can I get more grip strength like you? You are my hope. Please tell me how to train.

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

Progress slows for everyone over time, and gains get harder to come by for sure. I think your training looks reasonable, I'm not a fan of static or negatives. But everything else you have done is close to what I usually recommend. I think that you may need to take a step back and look at it from the outside in rather than the inside out. How is your nutrition, sleep, intensity, stress, etc. Have you gained any size? At a certain point, gains can be virtually impossible without some size and weight gain. However, is it worth it? Only you can answer those questions. It's also difficult to make a few muscles so much stronger than the surrounding and antagonist muscles. Thus, are you doing band extensions and reverse wrist curls. Increasing your strength on those may allow for some further gains. The progress you made from 40kg- 65 is very significant and to be commended. The best of luck to you.

[@Sanking_7]

​@@CarlMyerscoughGrip Thank you very much for your response. First of all, I will check the nutrition, rest, stress, etc. other than exercise. I think there are two main points in your feedback. Size and reverse will curls. I want to ask you about these two things. When you say size, do you mean the size of the forearm? Or body size? And I want to ask about reverse wrist curls and band extensions. 1. Is reverse wrist curls a necessary exercise to develop grip strength? Did you actually do reverse wrist curls as the main training to develop grip strength? 2. If so, how should I coordinate reverse wrist curls and gripper training with each other? 3. How much weight do reverse wrist curls use and how many reps and sets should I use? the goal is to increase the strength, so should I use a relatively high weight low reps? Like 5 reps. and what frequency per week? thank you for your compliment that my grip strength progressed from 40kg to 65kg. But it only progressed one year since I started training. 2019 to 2023 didn't advance at all in 4 years. I trained for 5 years from 2018 to now, but I only got 1 year stronger and I didn't get any stronger for 4 years. So I'm asking you a question because I want to fix my routine. You told me that my routine is valid, but I still think I need to fix it. First of all, I'm going to remove static negative training as your opinion. How should I organize my routine? I got the information from your video comments that there are all your training routines on the grip board. So I looked it up on Google but I couldn't find it. Haha. How should I train? Oh, and I have some questions. 1. The purpose of gripper training is to strength, is volume training of a lot of reps such as 8 reps to 10 reps necessary? Or is it only effective if I use a 1 rep single sets and a low reps such as 2 reps to 5 reps? 2. Someone suggested this to me. Do a lot of 1 rep single sets 1 hour apart throughout the day. For example, 1 rep, wait an hour, 1 rep, wait an hour. Repeat all day. What do you think of this method?

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

@Sanking_7 Overall body size and strength, become necessary to improve at a certain point. I do reverse wrist curls 4 x 6 once a week and band extensions once a week 5 x 6. One of those Monday, one Friday. They certainly helped me to continue improving at grippers when things began to slow. I only train grippers once a week, but others find 2 or 3 better. Either way, 60 total reps a week is about right. I would recommend doing several low rep warm up sets and then 2 Amrap sets in the 7- 12 range. All reps set down to about 30mm. This allows for the best transfer to deep set or back to credit card closes. 3 minutes rest between all sets. Only test single maxes occasionally. Good luck. If you have further questions please private message me on instagram, I'll help if I can.

[@Sanking_7]

@@CarlMyerscoughGrip You're going to help me? Thank you so much. I have more questions. l'll send you an Instagram message.

[@eng1719]

I want to know the size of your hands!

[@Im_TheLineageLifter]

Hello Carl I wanted to know what is that card that you used for the gripper

[@CarlMyerscoughGrip]

An ironmind credit card. They require the use of them for certification to demonstrate the starting width. They're the same size as any standard credit card about 54mm.

[@Zapex-u7t]

Hello My friend gave me his gripper for 2 days and today the Grippers Kg setting corruppted in a kg idk i cant change the Kilo its A gipper From 5kg to 60 kg can you help me? I need to giwe him taht back tomorrow

[@joepaxton3154]

How many reps and sets do you do and how often??

[@tararajooot1245]

Bro how do you increase your height make a video on it every ways hown you reach your height

[@LuisMartinez-te2wq]

Just a 3.5, lol.

[@armwrestlingstore]

Just a 3.5😂