Are Gymnastics Grips Necessary

1. Level of Gymnastics: If you’re at a beginner level and are not yet working on high bars or uneven bars, you might not need grips immediately. However, as you progress and start practicing more advanced moves, grips can become essential for safety and performance.
2. Frequency of Training: If you train frequently and for extended periods, grips can help reduce the risk of hand injuries, blisters, and calluses.
3. Comfort & Grip: Gymnast grips can enhance your grip on the bar, making it easier to perform certain moves and reducing the risk of slipping.
4. Coach’s Recommendation: It’s always a good idea to consult with your coach. They can provide guidance based on your current skill level and the type of routines you’re practicing.
5. Personal Preference: Some gymnasts prefer the feel of the bar without grips, while others find grips more comfortable. It’s a personal choice, and you might want to try both to see which you prefer.
6. Safety: Grips can provide an added layer of safety, especially when practicing new moves or routines.

If you decide to get grips, ensure they fit well and are designed for the type of gymnastics you’re practicing. It’s also essential to break them in properly and maintain them to ensure they provide the best protection and performance.

Our personal experience with grips was that my daughter started using them around level 2/3 so pretty early in her gymnastics journey. This allowed her to get used to the feel of grips as she learned skills. The gym will measure and provide grips and they are trained to do so and know what they are recommending. The other benefit of grips comes with the tap swings that the girls start doing early. The gym bars (especially if they are new) can contribute to rips on the girls hands. I have seen girls rip 5 times on each hand.

Some gymnasts will also use tape grips but it really doesn’t make that much of a difference.

I have also seen gyms wait until the gymnasts get their kip. Normally tap swings are shortly before the kip however so this matches with the level 3 skills. One last factor to consider would be the amount of time your gymnast spends on bars. 30 minutes on the event isn’t much time vs my daughter who can spend up to an hour on bars at a higher level.

Hope this article helps you decide what is right for your gymnast but ask the gym and consider skill, the gym recommendation as well as the training hours before moving ahead with grips.