Exercise Gloves

[Chicago South Sider]

Originally Posted by Sunbiz1

Hand size determines grip strength.
I've used gloves and no gloves for months on reverse grip curls; w/o noticing any difference in grip strength/endurance upon performing deadlifts.
My grip always fails before the targeted muscles(shrugs), regardless of training methods.
And the hell w/straps, didn't help; switched to lifting hooks for certain exercises.

Hand size does not determine grip strength. There are lifters out there pulling insane amounts of weight that aren't that big. Chalk doesn't really increase grip strength. It creates friction between your hands and the bar which makes it easier to hold.

Personally, my muscles always fail before my grip does when performing the deadlift.

[CoastieTX]

Originally Posted by Steve McDonald

What works really well for improving your grip on bars and other equipment and also when handling basketballs and footballs, is the pine pitch that was used before thin gloves were adopted by many football players. It came in large tubes. I used it for handling weights and exercise bars, instead of chalk. Two of the brands were "Suregrip" and Firmgrip", which were a light, golden color, not like the mostly black types of pine tar that are sold today.

I use a rosin bag for this purpose if the gym I’m in doesn’t allow chalk, which is pretty much all of them these days. A light dusting makes all the difference when doing chin up and pull up work, especially if the bar’s knurling has been worn.

Some people like gloves..personally, I hate them. They effectively increase the diameter of whatever it is I’m holding onto, resulting in a weaker grip. They also reduce tactile feedback, which can be dangerous. I can’t relate to the complaints of damaging your hands, or losing dexterity from lifting with no gloves. My hands work just fine, and I’ve been doing this a while.

[Sunbiz1]

Originally Posted by Chicago South Sider

Hand size does not determine grip strength. There are lifters out there pulling insane amounts of weight that aren't that big. Chalk doesn't really increase grip strength. It creates friction between your hands and the bar which makes it easier to hold.

Personally, my muscles always fail before my grip does when performing the deadlift.

Mine don't, but I have carpal tunnel in the right wrist; so have to work around it.

Did some research on this glove thing, not much out there on the subject.
But what there is available supports not using them, as your mentioning the layer leaves less of your hand in contact with handles/bars.
Chalk is prohibited in my gym, and quite a few others.
But medical gauze is not, which apparently is used to build up callouses for those with girly hands.
Gradually one reduces the amount of gauze wrap, eventually eliminating.
You certain about hand size?, it would seem like simple physics.
Larger hands have more contact, just as short guys can bench more; as their shorter arms only have to move said weight less distance than tall guys.

[Florida2014]

Hand size certainly helps but it's not the only determining factor in grip strength.

[1orlando]

I went to the gym Saturday morning which is rare for me and I was observing the people.around and noticed that about 4 out of probably 40 people were wearing gloves and everybody else were barehanded. They seemed to be all in their 40s -60s. I will have to check if that number and demographic changes during the week.