How to Break in Gymnastics Grips

Grips are a necessary part of higher-level gymnastics. Grips can help gymnasts doing harder skills stay on the bar and they can prevent rips and excessive friction, but not if they aren't broken in correctly! This article will teach you how to break in grips so that they are functional in gymnastics practices and meets.

Steps

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1
Before beginning to chalk up grips or use them at all, you must first designate which grip goes on each hand. Grips are made so they can be worn on either hand, but after you designate one grip as your left hand grip, it has to always be your left hand grip.
- Mark with a Sharpie or pen the letter "L" or "R" on your left hand and right hand grip so you know which grip to put on each hand.
Your grips will have two finger holes if you are female, and three finger holes if you are male. If you have never worn grips before, you might find that the grips are uncomfortably tight in the fingers when you first wear them. This is normal, and will be fixed as you wear them more often, but there are ways to loosen the finger holes quickly, like sticking the hole on the bar adjustment knobs (if you are at the gym) and twisting. This will make the grips easier (and less painful!) to wear.^{[1]XResearch source}
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3
Put on your grips and wristbands. Be sure that they fit snugly, but they aren't too tight.
- If you feel like the grips are too big or are extremely small, you may have ordered the wrong size. If you believe you ordered the wrong size, you might be able to return them but they must be in factory condition!
- Sometimes grips might feel too small at first, but this usually goes away as grips are broken in and the finger holes expand.
Spray your grips with water and then use a block of chalk to make them chalky.^{[2]XResearch source}
Grabbing the bar with grips on is a bit different, because grips have dowels in them. Dowels help you to stay on the bar easier. When grabbing the bar, there should be a fold in the grips where your dowel will go over the bar.^{[3]XResearch source}
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Swing! Tap swings are good for breaking in grips.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Your grips will feel uncomfortable at first, especially the first time you use them. This is a normal part of the process and should be expected for the first few days of wearing your new grips.
- As you work with your grips more, add in other skills as you feel comfortable. This even includes "basic" skills, like back-hip circles, casts, and kips.
7
After each workout, store your grips in a way that will make them more broken in.^{[5]XResearch source}
- When you take your grips off, take one grip and face it like it would go on your hand.
- Fold the top half of the grip down, so the dowel is hidden and the finger hole flaps face you.
- Fold the grip in half again the other way so you now have a zig-zag or "S" shape.
- Fold the grip down one more time towards you, so that the whole folded up palm part of the grip is inside the wrist area.
- Buckle or velcro the grip closed, as if your wrist were inside the grip. Repeat to the other grip.
- Store your grips like this after every workout, even after the grips are broken in. Storing grips like this will make the part of your grip where your palm goes more folded, so you can properly grip the bar with the dowel grip.

Community Q&A

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Question
How do I chalk grips?
Aimee Hughes
Community Answer
You need a block of chalk or powder chalk, then rub it on your grips and hands. You may need spray to help with gripping the bar, so either spray the bar and chalk up your grips, or spray your grips, then chalk the grips. Don't use too much spray or chalk, or you could slip.
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Question
How much of my fingers should be through the grip holes after they're broken in?
Community Answer
The grips should be to your first knuckle on your two middle fingers. At first they will be tight, but you will get used to it. Talk to your coach and see if your grips fit correctly.
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Question
How long should it take to break in my grips?
Community Answer
It will usually take 1-2 weeks for your grips to be broken in. Make sure to use them over and over again on the bar so that your hands become accustomed to them.
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Tips

Before you start breaking in your grips, check with your coach that they fit. An improper fit can cause problems down the road.
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Wear your grips every time you practice on the bar. Wearing grips only sometimes won't help you break them in, after all!
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Give yourself plenty of time to break them in. Breaking grips in the day before a meet isn't a smart idea that will leave you frustrated (and maybe even on the ground from a fall)!
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Warnings

Be careful when spraying water on grips! One or two squirts from a squirt bottle is plenty. Too much water can soak the grips and make you fly off the bar!
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Do not break in grips anywhere else than a functional set of bars.
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Buckle grips take a little more time to break in than the Velcro grips.
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