Anybody tried Towel Chinups? Thoughts??

Vas85 · 24-Aug-06, 05:48 AM

Hey everyone, just curious on those that have tried Towel Chinups, what their thoughts are regarding it, as for my I have chinups as a core workout for my lats. Towel chinups look to also work the forearms more as you have to grip a towel and by looks of it doesnt seem like blisters will form or harden as a result of doing Towel chinups.

Anybody have any thoughts about it experience? whether it is good / bad etc...?? As i'm possibly thinking of incorporating it into my workouts.

standAPART · 24-Aug-06, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vas85

Hey everyone, just curious on those that have tried Towel Chinups, what their thoughts are regarding it, as for my I have chinups as a core workout for my lats. Towel chinups look to also work the forearms more as you have to grip a towel and by looks of it doesnt seem like blisters will form or harden as a result of doing Towel chinups.

Anybody have any thoughts about it experience? whether it is good / bad etc...?? As i'm possibly thinking of incorporating it into my workouts.

They are good fro overall upperbody strength development, mainly grip strength. BUT...I recommend people be capable of performing 10 bodyweight chins (without machines or bands or spotts), before moving on to a towel grip chin. Why? The towel chin-up is a progression and the prerequistes should be mastered first. Overall, good exercise.

ebon00 · 24-Aug-06, 11:44 AM

I've never been a big fan. I much prefer hooking a rope attachment over the bar and use that. Same basic idea but it works the forearms/grip a little more for me. That said, I hardly ever do them since I do regular pullups and neutral-grip pullups as part of my weekly routine.

Vas85 · 24-Aug-06, 12:44 PM

StandApart, I currently weigh in at 220LB, as can be seen in my little avatar. I do currently 10-12reps of chins when I do my working sets, but I'd really love awesome forearm / grip strength thus this post. I'm really beggining to think its the missing link to truly lifting crazy numbers... basically since Luke and Dan have spoken in the several threads regarding grip, i'm truly just keen to get as much strength in my forearms and grip strength as possible.

Khaine · 24-Aug-06, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebon00

I much prefer hooking a rope attachment over the bar and use that.

This is what I do as well... Not that I mind the towel variant much, I just prefer the rope attachment... It's terrific for grip and hand strength/toughness... A stayer in my routine...

standAPART · 24-Aug-06, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vas85

StandApart, I currently weigh in at 220LB, as can be seen in my little avatar. I do currently 10-12reps of chins when I do my working sets, but I'd really love awesome forearm / grip strength thus this post. I'm really beggining to think its the missing link to truly lifting crazy numbers... basically since Luke and Dan have spoken in the several threads regarding grip, i'm truly just keen to get as much strength in my forearms and grip strength as possible.

If your bodyweight chins are good...go for the towel/rope grip. Then progress to a weighted vest.

Dan C · 24-Aug-06, 02:19 PM

You could either wrap the towel around the bar to make it thicker, or you could drape the towel over the bar and grap the ends... they'll both work your grip pretty nicely.

Something else you could do (I'm assuming when you say "chins" you mean palms facing you) is thumbless pull ups with a pronated grip. This will work the elbow flexors in your forearm a little more than your hand/grip, though I would say for grip specific strength there are better exercises to do than pull up variations.

Deadlift holds in the rack and farmers walks are great too... all depends on what kind of grip strength you're looking for really.

Khaine · 24-Aug-06, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan C

Deadlift holds in the rack

Also a regular in my routine... They're great stuff... I attribute my acceptable forearms to these...

**.V.** · 24-Aug-06, 08:17 PM

Yeah, they suck to do but as you know the level of suckiness of an exercise increases exponentially the amount of results it gives.

I can only do a few at a time so most of my pullups are just overhand medium grip unless I'm showing off for my wife. No the teenage boy never completely dies out in any of us.

Vas85 · 26-Aug-06, 12:13 PM

Dan, what do you exactly mean by deadlift holds in the rack?

Like do i perform 1 rep of a deadlift, and hold at the top for x amount of seconds and repeat the deadlift, or do 1 rep of a deadlift and hold until i cant no more? Thanks.

nate · 26-Aug-06, 01:33 PM

towel chin ups are the sex.

Khaine · 26-Aug-06, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vas85

Dan, what do you exactly mean by deadlift holds in the rack?

1 rep of a deadlift and hold until i cant no more?

Pretty much, except you don't even have to do a full DL... Just set the pins at knee level and lift from there... this way, you can use more weight...

That's what I do anyway... 2 sets of 10-15 sec holds, after my DLs...