Blog | Strength | Training Lifting Straps: Strength Hack or Weak Link?

Author / Ben Skutnik

3 - 5 minutes read

Why Straps Can Improve Your Strength Gains.

Many lifters believe using straps is a shortcut that weakens grip strength. The reality? Straps allow you to push your posterior chain harder without being limited by grip fatigue. If your goal is to build strength in movements like deadlifts, RDLs, or rack pulls, then your focus should be on loading those muscles, not worrying about whether your fingers can hold on.

How to Train Grip Strength Without Sacrificing Heavy Lifting.

The Role of the Posterior Chain in Lifting

The posterior chain, everything from your neck to your calves—drives serious strength. Hinging movements like deadlifts demand heavy loads to stimulate growth. However, grip fatigue often becomes the weakest link, cutting sets short before the target muscles are fully taxed. Straps eliminate this bottleneck, allowing your hamstrings, glutes, and spinal erectors to carry the intended load.

Grip Training: More Than Just Holding a Bar

If your concern is grip strength, don’t rely solely on static holds with a barbell. A well-rounded grip includes:

Flexion: Closing your fist (e.g., using Captains of Crush grippers)
Extension: Opening your hand (e.g., using rubber bands for resistance)
Wrist Stability: Strengthening through curls, rotations, and dynamic tools like maces or sledgehammers

A strong grip isn’t just about hanging onto a bar, it’s about overall hand function and resilience. Training across all these aspects ensures a grip that translates to real-world strength, from crushing apples to dominating lifts.

Building a Grip Training Routine

To balance grip training with heavy lifting, integrate these:

Flexion training (grippers) once a week for low reps, high intensity
Extension training (rubber bands) after every grip session to avoid imbalances
Wrist strengthening (curls, rotations, rice bucket drills) 1-2 times per week
Dynamic work (mace swings, sledgehammer drills) to challenge grip endurance and stability

Final Thoughts

Straps are not a cheat—they’re a tool. If your goal is a stronger deadlift and posterior chain, use them when needed. Just make sure you’re training grip properly outside of your lifts. A strong handshake might not replace your squat PR, but it sure makes an impression.

Ben Skutnik

Ben, a former All-American swimmer at the Division III level, discovered a passion for training and performance that led him to earn an M.S. in Exercise Physiology from Kansas State and pursue a Ph.D. in Human Performance at Indiana University. Along the way, he coached swimmers to National and Olympic Trials and served as a strength coach for post-grad Olympians. Now a clinical faculty member at the University of Louisville, Ben combines teaching, sports science, and shaping the next generation of strength and conditioning coaches.