Elite Muscle Pink Camo Padded Lifting Straps

Not if you use them right. 

• Use straps strategically – Don't rely on them for every set. Use them when your grip fatigue starts limiting your performance, but try to use your grip strength for as long as you can in your lighter sets.
• Train your grip separately – Even if you use straps for heavy pulling, keep working on grip strength through exercises like suitcase holds.

Ed Coan recommends adding suitcase holds to your routine – Here’s a video guide: Watch Ed Coan Suitcase Holds

• Lifting chalk – Apply magnesium carbonate (Chalk) to your hands before lifting. This helps improve your grip and keeps your hands dry. Keep going until your grip starts to fade, then put on your straps to finish the set strong.

Both wrist straps and wrist wraps are useful tools in your kits, but they are used in different situations.

• Wrist Straps: singular purpose is to eliminate grip strength as the point of failure so you can handle heavier loads. They tie your hands to the weight which helps disperse the load between your hand and wrist whether it be lifting a barbell, dumbbell, or something else. 
• Wrist Wraps: are designed to provide stability to your wrists during pressing movements. They help keep your wrist in a neutral position and protect against hyperextension. They don’t directly improve your grip strength.

1. Thread the strap through the loop at the end, and place it over your wrist.
2. Loop the strap around the barbell or dumbbell.
3. Pull the loose end of the strap tightly, ensuring it is snug around the bar and your wrist.
4. Hold the bar and wrap your fingers around the strap to enhance your grip.
5. Lift!

This is a common myth, but using wrist straps does not hurt your grip strength. They are a tool to assist when your grip starts to fail under heavy loads.

When used correctly, wrist straps actually allow you to continue training your muscles, such as your back or legs, without being limited by grip strength. 

It’s important to balance your training by including dedicated grip-strength exercises so your hands stay strong while you use wrist straps for those heavier sets.

You should start using wrist straps when your grip becomes the limiting factor in your lifts. For example:

• Deadlifts: If your grip starts giving out before your legs and back, it's time to use straps.
• Rows or Pull-Ups: When you can’t hold onto the bar any longer and your forearms feel fatigued, straps can help you finish your sets and build muscle without the grip being the bottleneck.

That said, it’s a good idea to train without straps initially so you can build your natural grip strength. Once you reach a point where your grip limits your performance, use straps to push through those tough sets.