Buzz
In our journey to uncover the purpose behind gym oddities, we now focus on Fat Gripz. These thick, typically blue, rubber attachments are designed to fit around barbells and dumbbells, making the bar more difficult to grip, which can offer unique benefits.
(Fat Gripz is a well-known brand, but the term is often used generically for similar products. They come in various sizes, and alternatives like Alpha grips are also available.)
They provide an additional challenge to your grip strength.
Gripping a wide object is more challenging than holding a narrow one. When lifting a standard barbell or dumbbell, your fingers and thumb easily encircle it. However, with a thicker bar, you must exert more force just to maintain your hold, engaging your hand and forearm muscles more intensely.
Many bodybuilders appreciate fat gripz for this purpose, as they aim to develop larger and more powerful forearms. While barbells and dumbbells with thicker handles (such as axle bars used in strongman events) exist, they are less common and harder to come by.
They are useful for preparing for thick bar lifting challenges
Certain competitions or challenges may require lifting objects with thick handles. For instance, I once participated in a meet that involved deadlifting a 2-inch-wide bar. Without access to such a bar, I used blue Fat Gripz on standard barbells during my training sessions.
Additionally, there are competitions dedicated to testing grip strength, and Fat Gripz can be a valuable training tool for these events. If you're interested in trying this out, r/griptraining is currently hosting an online challenge to determine who can lift the heaviest dumbbell using a fat handle.
