Pinch work = I like

One of the things I'm looking forward to train when I get the bulk of my kit out of storage in Gloucester into the new 'gaff' (slang for place where you live) in Wales is the Euro pinch. I like it and not only (but mostly) because I was good at it.

My all time best on the Euro set up (see image below) is a 117.5-kilo effort (matched minutes later by WSM competitior and current Britain's Strongest Man Laurence Shahlaei). As far as I know this is still No 2 on the worlds records list. 

It takes around 100-kilos to get you into the top 10 or so and even with a 100+ competitors taking part in the last World's Strongest Hands event I think only 3 or 4 did over 100kg.

Humidity and surface texture play a huge part in how good you'll grip will be on any given day but that's true for ALL the athletes competing and lifting.

The part in bold below includes text from a half-finished bit I did for another site:

I love to pinch!! Not the kind involving girls asses... ok that too but not in that way. Nah, when I say pinch I mean one hand pinch and two hand pinching (esp) of the kind I might just get a world record in one day.


Image of two differing widths box pinches and a thin plate pinch.


In simple terms it's literally a folding of the hand, fingers and thumbs flat, and with nothing other than a flat pressure through the same. There are wide versions including Blob pinches

Grip equipment varies but includes:

• 2 hand pinch on the Euro set (as per David and Mikeal's creation)

• Weight plate pinching - one and two hand (smooth sides outwards)

• Thin plate pinching

• 2 x 45lbs / 2 x 20-kilo plate pinch

• Super thin pinch - needles (usually a knitting needle thickness)

• 4, 5 and 6 ‘dimes’ (10lb or 5-kilo plates) - image 3 plates

• 'Penny Pinch' (specialized equipment based on an old Victorian Penny welded to a small plate with a clip fastened to a loading pin. Great fun at expos. Indeed I’ve been asked if I brought mine to the last 2 events I’ve done as customers wanted another go.
  

What equipment should I buy if I am 'not a grip guy'

Another reprint: 

Ok, although the precise reply completely depends on your chosen sport, the actual weakness you wish to strengthen and so on the following might be of some use.

Grippers

These train crushing grip. Adapting how you use them can help mimic some holds used in sports and if nothing else you'll have a hell of a handshake.

Wrist roller

A very simple device which can be used to help law enforcement officers (Correctional, Police, doormen and so on) and those involved in hand to hand fighting (wrestlers, MMA, etc) in controlling subjects. Because the two inch thick models are on a par with a thicker wrist working hard on this will help give you greater control when you've got someone pinned and am looking for a 'lock'. Adding a little padding (say using the tape used on some handles) will give the 'give' that flesh over bone has and this make it even closer to what you do.

It's also a very simple item and easy to make (although you'll love the heavier knurled versions if you take it seriously) which can be truly brutal when worked hard. Bone deep muscle burns, hands sore... you'll know you've worked the grip AND the forearm.

Thick bars

Like the wrist roller a good way to mimic real world work. From forearm curls (much harder than a standard bar), to press work (sits better in the hands) to picking it up (deadlifts etc) all are made hard when you use a thick bar but again those working with prisoners and the like will find handling a fighting limb much easier.

Small block pinching

One for the climbers. Think about some of the climbing walls you've seen and the holds they have to grip onto. Now in the case of the free climbers (no rope) you MUST hold on and you MUST have a grip. But if it goes down you come.... ouch. So you can find the guys doing low altitude (6-8 feet from the floor) hangs on beams and so on. Quite often done for time. Providing the block, pin, etc isn't dropped on your toes it's a far safer way to work that grip required.