High bar grips

[graeyohe]

Hi all. I'm pretty new to gymnastics. I'm quite athletic and quite strong, but I've only been doing gymnastics for about three months. I'm doing it for fun and have no illusions about competing anywhere, ever. I'm not your typical gymnast. I'm 31 years old, 6 feet tall, and weigh 210.

I tried to tough it out on the high bar without any sort of grips, but at my weight, my skin burns constantly even when doing simple swings. My coach suggested getting grips, but she's not terribly familiar with them herself. I bought a pair of Bailie X-treme 2 men's high bar dowel grips (size 2, determined based on their sizing chart) and tried them out last week. They were extremely uncomfortable.

How exactly do you wear these things? How far should my fingers go into the holes? Where (both relative to my hand and the bar) should the dowel be placed? I found that they actually made my grip MUCH WORSE (I have a very good grip and could hold on easily without grips... it just ripped my skin up badly) and that they hurt. No matter how I tried to adjust, the dowel was always pinched between my fingers and the high bar, which was really uncomfortable and felt very unstable.

I've read that people say you have to get used to them, but I can barely hang on when using them. That, and I can't be sure I'm even using them right.

Thanks in advance!

[shoegirl]

Hi graeyohe

I am a long since retierd gymnast. However I do remember back in the day when I wore grips. I don't remeber the names for them, but I remember wearing them. I too experience many rips and tears of my hands (despite my grips) during my many years of gymnastics.

As far as fingers go it depends on your grips. I remember wearing mine fairly close to the ends of my fingers. Are you using chalk and sugar water? For me I certianly needed both for things to work.

As far as tears goes on your hands, after awhile you do build up thick callouses (spelling) on your hands and they rip less easily. Until then though I would tape up your hands. Back in my days my coach told me to use white hockey tape. It seemed to do the trick. I use to also get blood blisters from the bars and there is not too much one can do about that.

Anyways best of luck, let us know what works.