Shown in this video are our AG Competitor Uneven Bar Dowel Grips with a Velcro strap.

First, make sure you are putting your grips on the correct hand.  For gymnastics grips with a Velcro strap, as you tighten the grips, you want to be pulling the strap in towards your body.  For grips with a buckle strap, as you lay the palm of your hand down on top of the grips, you want the buckle to be on the outer most side of your hand.

Next, put your middle two fingers (i.e. ring finger and middle finger) into the finger holes of the grip. As you do this, make sure the elastic band is sticking out between your two middle fingers.

Next, twist the elastic band once and bring it down over and around the fingers and grips.  Then, twist the band again and bring it back up over and around the fingers and top of the grips.  Watch the video for a demonstration of this.

Now your fingers are locked securely in the finger holes and will not slip out while you are swinging on the bars.  Once you do this a few times, you will quickly get the hang of it and it should only take a couple of seconds to put the elastic band into place.  If you feel your fingers are secure enough in the holes without the elastic band, it is very simple to cut the elastic band out with a pair of fingernail clippers or scissors, being careful not to cut any stitching around the dowel area.

For more information about the American Gymnast grips, just go to: http://wwww.american-gymnast.com/shop/American-Gymnast-Grips-C130.aspx

Train Smart. Compete Hard!
American Gymnast

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Start with the finger holes pointed upward and the dowel facing you. Wrap the leather around the dowel and roll the grip down to the cuff. Follow the same procedure with the dowel facing away from you. You should notice a difference in the softening of the leather. Perform this step several times on each grip and on the wrist cuffs as well. Never pinch the leather sharply as this could be detrimental the leather.

When it comes to the finger holes, shown is an example of what not to do to adjust the finger holes. Stretching the opening by hooking it on something and pulling or cutting the holes with a knife or another sharp object can weaken or damage the leather beyond repair or use. (grips with finger holes that are damaged or ripped because of this can NOT be replaced under warranty!)

The proper way to adjust the finger holes is to use a small piece of sandpaper and a pencil. Wrap the sandpaper around the pencil and slowly and carefully sand around the inside of the holes until you have the desired fit.

Once you have desired feel it is ok to start using your grips with basic swings and skills until the grips feel comfortable enough for full giant swings and more advanced skills. Remember it is always a good idea to have a broken-in back up pair of grips at all times. To order new gymnastics grips, go to http://wwww.american-gymnast.com/shop/Gymnastics-Grips-C3.aspx

Train Smart. Compete Hard!

Jay Thornton
American Gymnast

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The next few clips are examples of the grip being too long. With these grips the gymnast can fully extend her hand and fingers. The grip may also be so long that the grip slides off the fingers. Here we see the grip laying off to the side of the gymnasts palm instead of the center. This can cause the dowel to slide to the side while the gymnast is hanging and swinging on the bar. These examples can cause the grip to lock around the bar, increasing the chance for injury.

As you can see with these next two examples, the stitching between the grip and strap or at the dowel can come loose over time due to the pulling and stretching of the grips during use. Tears in the Velcro can also occur from the pulling and tightening of the straps. The Velcro on the straps can become layered with fuzz and foam, decreasing the binding and effectiveness of the Velcro.

Regularly check your grips for signs of weakness and make sure you always have a back up pair of grips. To order new grips, go to http://wwww.american-gymnast.com/shop/Gymnastics-Grips-C3.aspx.

Train Smart. Compete Hard!

Jay Thornton
American Gymnast

The post When to replace gymnastics grips appeared first on American Gymnast and Ninja.

The Hot Shot Gymnastics Grips are our best selling style of Narrow Uneven Bar Grips with a Dowel.  The original Hot Shot grips were designed for girls under 70 lbs and under Level 7 in ability.  This will typically include girls that are just beginning to use dowel grips for the first time.  However, as more and more gymnasts started out using the Hot Shot grips, these same girls eventually had to change to a different style gymnastics grip once they passed over the 70 lb mark and/or moved up to Level 7.  For gymnasts in this situation, I generally recommended that they switch to the Millineium One or Two Grips because they they are somewhat similar in shape to the Hot Shot Grips.  The palm of the grip is slightly wider than the Hot Shots, but they are still tapered in the middle as opposed to being cut straight down.

However, now we have a solution for these gymnasts that want to continue using the Hot Shot Grips!  American Gymnast is now offering the Hot Shot Uneven Bar Grips with a Leather Cuff.  These new Hot Shot grips feature the same narrow cut as the original style, but they are now constructed from a slightly heavier leather for more durability – making them now suitable for gymnasts over 70 lbs and/or in Level 7 or higher.

To summarize, the several options available in the Hot Shot style Dowel Grips are now as follows:

For gymnasts 70 lbs or less and under Level 7 in ability:

• Hot Shot Uneven Bar Grips – Velcro
• Hot Shot Uneven Bar Grips – Single Buckle

For gymnasts over 70 lbs or Level 7 or over in ability:

• Hot Shot Uneven Bar Grips – Velcro Leather Cuff
• Hot Shot Uneven Bar Grips – Single Buckle Leather Cuff
• Hot Shot Uneven Bar Grips – Double Buckle Leather Cuff

If you are just beginning to use Dowel Gymnastics Grips, give the Hot Shot grips a try.  They are perfect for smaller hands, comfortable to wear, and durable for long-lasting use.  And now, you can use the same style your whole career!

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Step 1: Decide if you need Palm Grips or Dowel Grips.  (If you need help in determining this, please see our Video on Choosing Palm Grips versus Dowel Grips)

Step 2: Using a ruler or tape measure, measure your hand in inches according to the following:

• Step 2a: If purchasing Beginner Palm Gymnastics Grips

– Measure from the BASE of the palm to the BASE of the fingers.  Palm grips are worn at the base of the fingers, so you only need to measure the palm of the hand that is being covered by the grips.

• Step 2b: If purchasing Dowel Gymnastics Grips

– Measure from the BASE of the palm (where the wrist and palm meet) to the TIP of the middle finger.  Dowel Grips are worn between the last two knuckles on your fingers

Step 3: Refer to the Sizing Chart listed on the product page for the particular style and brand of grips you are purchasing.  Each grip manufacturer uses a slightly different sizing chart, so be sure to look at the sizing chart for that pair of grips you are purchasing.  Choose the size that corresponds to your measurement in inches.

• For Girls or Boys Beginner Palm Gymnastics Grips
• For Girls Gymnastics Grips for Uneven Bars
• For Boys Gymnastics Grips for High Bar
• For Boys Gymnastics Grips for Rings

If your measurement falls right in-between two sizes, we generally recommend you select the smaller size.  Because the grips are made of leather, they will stretch over time with use.  When the grips become too long it becomes more difficult for the gymnast to hang on the bar or rings as tightly, and the leather will also get thinner with more and more use.  Therefore, it is extremely important to immediately replace worn or over-stretched grips when you first notice it.

Disclaimer: Each manufacturer’s sizing chart is an approximate guide and does not guarantee a safe or perfect fit. The gymnast and his/her coach must decide on the appropriate size by evaluating the actual grip once it is on the gymnast’s hand. There are dimensions to the hand that cannot be taken into account with a flat measurement, such as the position on the wrist where the gymnast might decide to wear the wristband. Only the gymnast and his/her coach can make the proper judgment as to the correct size for any gymnast. American Gymnast will not be held liable for failure and/or injury due to the use of an incorrectly sized grip. The coach and the gymnast must take final responsibility as to the fitness of a particular size. Improper fitting grips that have not been used may be exchanged for proper size.

The post 3-Step Approach to Sizing Gymnastics Grips appeared first on American Gymnast and Ninja.

Step 1: Decide if you need Palm Grips or Dowel Grips.  (If you need help in determining this, please see our Video on Choosing Palm Grips versus Dowel Grips)

Step 2: Using a ruler or tape measure, measure your hand in inches according to the following:

Step 2a: If purchasing Beginner Palm Gymnastics Grips

–       Measure from the BASE of the palm to the BASE of the fingers.  Palm grips are worn at the base of the fingers, so you only need to measure the palm of the hand that is being covered by the grips.

Step 2b: If purchasing Dowel Gymnastics Grips

–       Measure from the BASE of the palm (where the wrist and palm meet) to the TIP of the middle finger.  Dowel Grips are worn between the last two knuckles on your fingers

Step 3: Refer to the Sizing Chart listed on the product page for the particular style and brand of grips you are purchasing.  Each grip manufacturer uses a slightly different sizing chart, so be sure to look at the sizing chart for that pair of grips you are purchasing.  Choose the size that corresponds to your measurement in inches.

• • For Girls or Boys Beginner Palm Gymnastics Grips
  • For Girls Gymnastics Grips for Uneven Bars
  • For Boys Gymnastics Grips for High Bar
  • For Boys Gymnastics Grips for Rings

If your measurement falls right in-between two sizes, we generally recommend you select the smaller size.  Because the grips are made of leather, they will stretch over time with use.  When the grips become too long it becomes more difficult for the gymnast to hang on the bar or rings as tightly, and the leather will also get thinner with more and more use.  Therefore, it is extremely important to immediately replace worn or over-stretched grips when you first notice it.

Disclaimer: Each manufacturer’s sizing chart is an approximate guide and does not guarantee a safe or perfect fit. The gymnast and his/her coach must decide on the appropriate size by evaluating the actual grip once it is on the gymnast’s hand. There are dimensions to the hand that cannot be taken into account with a flat measurement, such as the position on the wrist where the gymnast might decide to wear the wristband. Only the gymnast and his/her coach can make the proper judgment as to the correct size for any gymnast. American Gymnast will not be held liable for failure and/or injury due to the use of an incorrectly sized grip. The coach and the gymnast must take final responsibility as to the fitness of a particular size. Improper fitting grips that have not been used may be exchanged for proper size.

The post 3-Step Approach to Sizing Gymnastics Grips appeared first on American Gymnast and Ninja.

The palm on both of these brands of grips is cut straight down, not tapering at all in the middle like you see on the Narrow width style of Gymnastics Dowel Grips.  The main difference between the Reisport and English Bulldog Grips is where they are manufactured.  Reisport Gymnastics Grips are manufactured with a white leather in Switzerland and then imported into the USA.  The English Bulldog Uneven Bar Grips are manufactured with a bluish-grey leather here in the United States.

Reisport Uneven Bar Grips are the best-selling brand of gymnastics grips on the American-Gymnast.com web site.  The English Bulldog grips are also very popular and are our next best selling brand.

The post Lady’s Regular Width Uneven Bar Dowel Gymnastics Grips appeared first on American Gymnast and Ninja.

When choosing the appropriate size in this style of women’s uneven bar grips, measure from the base of the palm (where the wrist and palm meet) to the tip of the middle finger.  Then reference the sizing guide for these grips, which you’ll find in the description area of the grips on our web site at the link above.  Sometimes gymnasts find that when wearing the Protec style of grips, they may actually have to go with one size larger than they typically wear because these grips stretch less than other grips on the market.

The post Reisport Protec Uneven Bar Dowel Gymnastics Grips appeared first on American Gymnast and Ninja.

The Narrow style of gymnastic grip has a palm that tapers in the middle so that it is narrower than that of a regular width dowel grip.  We typically recommend these for girls when they are maybe just beginning to compete and are choosing their first pair of dowel grips.   For girls with smaller hands, the Narrow Dowel grips are not as cumbersome and actually allow a little more contact between the palm of the hand and the uneven bar, giving them a little more sense of security while they are swinging.  If a girl continues on to a more advanced level, we also carry a Narrow Dowel grip designed with this more advanced girl in mind.  The Millenium One and Millenium Two Dowel Grips are more advanced grips that still have the narrow style palm.

The Regular Width Dowel Grips are the most common style of Uneven Bar Grips that you will find.  The palm of this grip is cut straight down, with no tapering at all in the middle.  The Reisport Uneven Bar Dowel Grips are the most popular style of grips we sell in this category.

The last style of  Uneven Bar Grips we carry are the Elite Protec Uneven Bar Grips.  These grips are in their own category because they are a little different than the other types of grips.  These Protec grips actually have a palm made up of 2 pieces of leather with a Kevlar bond sandwiched in-between.  Because of this chemical bond, the grips are stronger than some other styles, but they don’t stretch as much which can take some getting used to.  We generally recommend this style of grips to higher level optional girls (Levels 9, 10 & Elite) that are breaking other styles of grips more frequently than they should.

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Palm Grips primarily provide basic protection for the palm of the hand. They are intended for beginner (mostly non-competitive) gymnasts or for athletes just training pull-ups and/or basic swings.

Dowel Grips are typically for competitive gymnasts that are swinging at least bar height (horizontal). If you need gymnastics grips with a dowel, choose either Uneven Bar Grips (for girls), High Bar Grips (for guys), or Ring Grips (for guys).

The post Selecting the Correct Gymnastics Grips – Palm versus Dowel Grips appeared first on American Gymnast and Ninja.