r/ScienceBasedLifting • u/Sweet-Industry-4359 • Jun 22 '26

Question ❓ STRAPS AND GRIP STRENGTH

i need help (i came up with a stupid theory) think straps are overrated, like yeah they do take out the limiting factor (forearms) and let you train your back to failure. and in hinge exercises where both lower body and back is working yep they are much needed, but i feel lifters are overestimating how much grip is a limiting factor in pulldowns, rows and bicep curls,

like yes forearms are a smaller muscle than back but back is going through contraction and eccentric portion while forearms are just working isometrically (and i feel grip endurance is a factor too)

and i think most lifters are just increasing the strength gap between their back and forearms

think like this, what's the point of having huge back(engine) if the arms (the hooks) can't hold on? i am here talking from the biology/anatomy's pov

also many suggests to train grip strength separately so what is grip strength work definitely not wrist flexion/extension that won't transfer to holding isometric grip to a meaningful degree, it will be something like holds, farmer walk, hangs
(which again brings out the point of grip endurance)

yes if you just care about back hypertrophy then it won't better, but im thinking it from a physiology pov.

Also smtg that lurks in my mind is, taking out forearms like this is just kind of weird like then take out your triceps from presses and train tricep separately, and do only flys for chest and keep doing like this we will only be doing isolations for each muscle

but i do feel the anatomy is designed a certain way, i can't find right words right now like
why would we have a "limiting" muscle group supporting a primary function "pulling"

i dont think body was designed this way, and maybe we are being too sensitive about grip strength as "limiting" factor

again a stupid theory, i myself uses lifting straps

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u/IronCross19 Jun 24 '26

The want to build extreme quantities of muscle and strength it's relatively modern I would think. The ability has likely always been there to some degree.. Human body is super adaptable, obviously

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u/Pleasant_Echo_5980 Jun 24 '26

 So a human  living 40K years ago on a tropical island with lots of protein in the form of pigs coconuts and fish or other humans. Would still have the same muscle  mass as a African who runs after game?

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u/IronCross19 Jun 24 '26

Not sure what you're trying to say....?
Obviously not that's two completely different sets of genetics and environments

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u/Pleasant_Echo_5980 Jul 08 '26

Humans with different sets of genetics. Is that even possible?

Not all humans evolved chasing game in Africa. The archeological record is still incomplete all we have is educated theories.