Build a Bigger Back With Deadlifts & Wrist Straps

Deadlifts are one of the best back exercises for adding muscle mass. Hell, deadlifts are one of the best exercises period. One of the big 3 compound movements, if you’re not deadlifting, you can’t say you train hard. If you’re looking for a killer back workout, then put the dead in deadlift and start doing them!

That being said however, Deadlifts don’t need to be done week in week out. However Ive deadlifted at least once every week throughout all my training this year. My current bodybuilding workout plan has 3 deadlifts in a week. One on a power lifting day, straight leg dead lifts when training hamstrings, and then deadlifts again when training back & triceps.

Depending upon what your ultimate fitness goals are will depend upon if you take my advice from this article, but for me, it’s a necessity. As an aspiring teenage bodybuilder (see – wanna be) long before the biceps’ were poppin’ and longer still before the panties were droppin’ I was reluctant to ever us training aids. Gym accessories such as belts, knee support, straps etc. I thought “what’s the point?” However as you gain experience, and knowledge you can see the value in things you once thought were useless. I wont speak about knee support or belts in this article, I’ll keep it focused on just the wrist straps – and why I use them.

Back > Grip

It’s a simple fact that your back is stronger than you’re grip. My bodybuilding goals are to shape my physique and undergo an awesome body transformation to look the best I possibly can. Yes strength does hold a place in my heart, and as a teenager I often followed strength routines. However now my primary focus is on sculpting the best looking physique I possibly can, by gaining lean muscle and maintaining a low level of body fat.

As such, working on my grip strength isn’t a focus. In the past I would shy away from using straps, as I wanted to develop grip strength, just for the sake of developing grip strength. However on the stage during a bodybuilding competition, grip strength is not a judging factor. Looking aesthetic as fuarq does not require an emphasis placed on grip strength.

So when building a big back, and performing deadlifts as part of my killer back workout, I’ll perform my warm up sets and lighter working sets with no wrist straps. This still allows me to use my gripping strength and forearms in a working manner. However as soon as I hit the point where the weight im deadlifting exceeds what my grip can handle, I drop it like its hot, and strap up.

A weight that I may only get 4 reps on without straps, I’ll get perhaps 10 reps out with the aid of wrist straps. More weight & more reps = more muscle gains bro.

So that’s why I use wrist straps. Now don’t get me wrong, I completely understand why people wouldn’t deadlift without them. They make be strength athletes, power lifts, Olympic lifters whatever. Not everyone who lifts weights wants to be a bodybuilder. Not every young teenage working out wants to be the next Ronnie Coleman. Not every teenager who works out wants to get huge. Adults, men, women all have different fitness goals. I’ve seen guys, skinner and smaller than me, lifting more weight than me, without the use of straps. I take my shirt off to you, and pop my pecs in your honour.

However I would personally recommend the use of wrist straps if you find grip strength giving way before you’re back does when performing a deadlift.

About Shreddybrek

Adam Foster is an aspiring bodybuilder, and has been training since a teenager. As the founder of the website & youtube channel 'Shreddybrek' he shares his experiences and knowledge via informative videos and articles. Get in touch if you have any questions!