Cool Tips for Using NewGrips:

Grips may be worn over conventional gloves

HOW TO BREAK IN YOUR NewGrips::
NewGrips, not unlike new shoes or a baseball glove, need breaking-in to feel comfy. Prior to each use:

1. Warm them up. GENTLY squeeze, bend, and twist the neoprene hand pads and velcro in all directions.
GENTLY. Do NOT pull.

2. Whenever you reposition NewGrips pads for fit and comfort please REMEMBER that attaching the hand pads to the wrist straps creates a very strong, velcro, bond. When you want to detach them, there is only one correct way: grab the lower edge of the hand pads, where they attach to the lower edge of the wrist strap: lift both the neoprene and velcro at the same time.

PULLING and LIFTING:
Position the pads to cushion your finger joints. This may mean lifting them off of the wrist support and making them fit 'longer' in your hand to pad your fingers. Keep good form.

BENCH PRESSING: Throw away the chalk!
> No more beat up, dried out, cracked skin.
> NewGrips cushion your hands against weight bar pressure and protect against calluses.
> Grips distribute weight bar pressure and weight load and provide a better balanced bar.
> Are shock absorbers for your hands.

"Our bench-press has gone up 15-30lbs. Cynthia can bench 215 for 4-reps now, and I'm doing 250-275 for 6-8reps. The Grip makes the difference." 

-Elmus Jr. & Cynthia Billingsley, California

NEED MORE PADDING for bench work and pushing?
TRY THIS:
1. Place the right hand pad in your right palm, velcro side up.
2. Turn the pad so that the elastic strap is near you and the velcro away.
3. Slide your right hand under the elastic until it butts up against your thumb joint.
4. Grab the velcro end and slide it under, between your palm and the pad, toward your wrist.
5. Grab that end and position it until you can comfortably squeeze it into a fist. Test on weight bar.
You now have DOUBLE THICK PADS for pushing & lifting. REPEAT FOR LEFT HAND.

"Until about 6 weeks ago I could bench up to 355 pounds and then I started getting pain in one hand and I haven't been able to tolerate more than 315 since (at times 200 has been hard). Using your "double thickness technique" I lifted 345 this evening with no pain or discomfort (at least not in my hands)."

- Herb Neufeld, California

IF YOUR GRIP SLIPS:
Leave either your two middle fingers or your little finger outside the strap. OR, try leaving your baby fingers outside the straps as this places more padding under your thumbs, which also improves grip.

REMEMBER:
the padded grips on equipment handles can be moist from the last users. They can also be saturated with hand oil... making them slippery. Thus, it should not surprise you if NewGrips also slip on them.
SOLUTION?: Degrease the handles.

FIT:
Grips do not fit ‘tight', like gloves. The elastic strap is for control, once you release your hands from the bar, - not tightness. In practice it has little effect once you grab a weight bar.

THUMB JOINT COVERAGE:
Anatomically called the thenar eminent, thumb joints are sensitive to pressure, pain, bruising and injury. If your NewGrips do not adequately cover this area trying leaving your little finger outside the elastic strap. This places more padding under the thumb.

ODD SHAPED OBJECTS:
NewGrips may be adapted to grasp almost anything. The are 2 ways to do this:

1. Changed the angle of the pads by positioning them on the velcro of the wrist straps.
Experiment until they fit and contour as needed.

2. The angle of grasping / gripping can be changed by leaving your little finger (s) outside the
elastic strap. This places more padding under the thumb. If this is not adequate leave 2 or 3 fingers outside the strap.

For example: garden tools with long handles. Leaving 1-2 or 3 fingers outside of the
elastic straps will provide the maximum cushion to protect your entire hands.

WRIST SUPPORT

The firmer you can comfortable wear them the more help they provide.

NOTE the progress expressed in the following 2 emails:

"I have used Grips for only four days and can tell a huge difference in the way my wrist feels."

-Suzanne A., Georgia

"It has now been two full weeks of using my Newgrips and my wrist is pain free. I will not forget to mention this to friends and fellow trainers."

-Suzanne A., Georgia

"After using NewGrips for just two weeks, my wrist strain has greatly improved. I am now able to workout again without pain in my wrist. Now, just invent something for my knee, and Mr. Olympia here I come."

-Justin Jolly, California

NUMBNESS / TINGLING
"Since using NewGrips I no longer feel tingling sensations in my hands, fingers. My wrists have better support, which I feel allows me to perform the exercises more correctly and thus reduce strain."

-Bill Bohaboy

SENIORS
"I am a 67 year old senior, train with light weights and spend 45 minutes a day on a Concept II rowing machine. Add to this 50 years of callus build up and you will appreciate when I say that after using NewGrips for less than two months my callouses are almost gone. You have indeed built a better mouse trap."

-Herb Yager, California

NEED MORE TIPS or INFO? Visit: Frequently Asked Questions or, Tips 2 or, Ask Alan, by email.