How to Improve Grip Strength

Grip Strength is often neglected because your forearms aren't exactly popular muscles. Most guys tend to focus on their Chest and Arms (the beach muscles) while most women prefer to train their legs (and you always hear the word tone). The thing is, if you don't work your grip strength, simply holding weights while your training other body parts might be too much. Your biceps won't get a good workout if your grip gives out before your biceps while doing curls! So think of grip strength as strength for your other muscles too. It's not difficult to train your forearms, just takes some extra time.

- If you use straps for movements like shrugs or deadlifts, simply taking the grip aid straps off will force your grip to get better.

- Squeeze a tennis or racquet ball for 3 sets of 10 in each hand. If that's too easy, you can buy special grip balls from an exercise shop.

- Do forearm curls. For a description of forearm curls check out ... http://www.criticalbench.com/exercises/forearm-curls .htm

- Do reverse forearm curls. The same exercise as above but with your palms down.

- Go rock climbing. You'll be amazed at how much your grip is put to the test by trying this sport. Bouldering, which is rock climbing on low boulders with no rope or harness, will put your grip to test. Go check out a local climbing gym and you'll see why climbers have some Popeye-like forearms.

Just a few tips to help out that handshake!