Thursday, April 26, 2012

Gymnastics Grips buying tips

By John Cox


It's always a good idea to ask the coach what, if any, brand and type of gymnastics grips they prefer as some coaches have a specific brand in mind.

The final say is ultimately lies with the gymnast as they must be satisfied with the feel and quality of the grips.

Choosing high quality grips is a rather simple process with the majority being on the market.

Costing between $10-$55 is most gymnastics grips.

There are, however, a couple of key points to keep in mind before you purchase a pair of gymnastics grips.

The type of grips needs to be decided.


The Palm grip and Dowel grip are your choices.

Two finger holes and a flat piece of leather basically make up the Palm Grip.

Palm grips are popular among beginners due to ease of use while Dowel grips are popular for competitive gymnasts due to the round dowel attached below the finger holes.

The dowel provides holding power for advanced level gymnasts by acting as a clamp on the bar.

Then decide if you prefer a Velcro wrist strap or a Buckle wrist strap.

The advantage of a Velcro wrist strap is ease of use and since Velcro is easy to open and close you can put the grips on quickly without assistance.

More comfort is provided by the Velcro wrist straps.

Velcro tends to wear down over time from constantly being adjusted which is a disadvantage for longevity.


A Buckle strap is a great alternative to Velcro providing a snug fit around the wrist.

The Buckle strap keeps the grips from slipping or moving around while performing skills and is preferred by most gymnasts.

The Buckle wrist strap will not wear down over time like the Velcro strap.

One downside to Buckle straps is comfort but there is a solution.

Thick cotton wrist bands to cushion the wrist bones can be worn since Buckle grips can be tightened down firmly on the wrist. Assistance may be required to put on Buckle grips which is a small inconvenience.

Securing a Buckle strap is like trying to put your belt on with one hand so you'll understand why it may require assistance.

Purchasing the correct size is essential as each brand of grips will come with a specific sizing chart.

A ruler or tape measure is required for sizing for this fairly easy process as indicated in the sizing instructions from the manufacturer.

Measuring from the base of the wrist to the top of the middle finger is usually what you will do.

This is a fairly easy process and requires a ruler or tape measure as indicated in the sizing instructions from the manufacturer.

The right pair of grips can now be purchased.

The measured length can then be applied to the provided sizing chart. Now you're ready to purchase the right pair of grips.




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