Wrist Exercises: The Key to Your Workout Regimen!

Sure you want a huge chest and rock-solid biceps and triceps, but if you don't have good wrist strength than your best intentions are for naught. Think about it: whether you want to lift heavy or light, perform dozens of reps or just a few, you need wrist strength. And when I talk bout wrists I'm also talking about forearms. But let's not confuse the two.

You need a strong grip and strong wrist strength to maintain good form when holding the bar and all the weight that goes with it. It doesn't matter if you're looking to build forearm and grip strength so you can lift more weight or just want aesthetic good looks. Wrist exercises are the key to your workout regimen.

The key to positive gains in wrist exercises isn't weight. It's all about form and repetitions. So let's break it down.

Grip Improvement: Sure you can spend upwards to $40.00 or more for a delux hand-gripper but you can get the same workout by squeezing a rubber ball. I recommend a simple rubber ball of the type used for handball or racquetball. Don't believe me? Do 3 sets of 70 reps for each hand and call me in the morning. That is if you can pick up your phone.

Wrist Curls: Performed with either a barbell or dumbbells. Like I mentioned earlier, it's not so much the weight as it is the reps. Rest your forearms on your thighs with your hands on your knees (palms up). Raise the bar up and down. You can reverse your palms (down) and this way you work out the top and bottom of your forearms, while at the same time improving your grip and wrist strength.

At a minimum 4 sets x 30 reps per hand/wrist.

Safety First

I don't use wrist wraps when I'm doing wrist curls because the wraps tend to restrict the movement I'm trying to accomplish. However for everything else I do in the gym I use wrist wraps on a regular basis. You may want to consider the doing the same.

Strong wrists really are the key to everything you want to accomplish in the gym. Strong wrists help you maintain good form while lifting. And good form is what will enable you to make great gains in muscle and strength!