High Bar Straps

[rainbowgirl28]

I'm a little confused about what you're explaining, but let me make it more clear. You have to strap yourself into something that goes around the bar, like a PVC tube. Strapping yourself in locks you in. You can't strap yourself straight to the bar or you'll break your wrists.

You don't need grips if you are using straps (properly) because your hand is locked to the PVC tube, there's no friction. The tube rotates around the bar.

If you don't have a tube to go around your bar, there's no point in getting straps.

[birdi_gurlie]

At camp we didn't use a bar that had a PVC pipe around it or anything.
I think I'm going to forward this to Altius about this...he was my coach at the camp and I'm slightly confused about this right now. He may know how to explain what we did better than I do. We DID use the bar straps though, on the high bar. I'm not quite sure how to explain it....I know what to do, just not how to explain it well.

[powerplant42]

Alan came to my high bar during my clinic... We used straps. We used tape on our hands. We used no PVC tube.

[birdi_gurlie]

Okay, yeah, that's what I thought PP42. We used straps and tape grips...though we actually didn't use the tape grips with the straps; we used a thin oven-mitt thing. But it is essentially the same. We used no PVC tube either. I PMed him this so that hopefully he can explain things a little better than I did...I'm typically horrible at explaining things.

[rainbowgirl28]

I am surprised Alan would support such a thing. To use the straps directly onto the bar, you must be doing them fairly loose, in order to be able to swing.

This is EXTREMELY dangerous because while you are swinging they could lock up and you could break your wrists.

[PVstudent]

I am surprised Alan would support such a thing. To use the straps directly onto the bar, you must be doing them fairly loose, in order to be able to swing.

This is EXTREMELY dangerous because while you are swinging they could lock up and you could break your wrists.

Straps are used directly on to the bar in gymnastics. The practice is used world wide and has stood the test of time and results. Wrist injury is rarely reported when straps of appropriate size and fitted correctly to the gymnast and the bar have been used. As with all teaching aids and devices nothing is fool proof!

PVC piping has advantages and some disadvantages when used with bar straps ("loops").

Dogmatic dismissal of a proven method in facilitating the teaching of swinging and circling work on the horizontal bar is not, in my view, a balanced judgement. Knowledge and experience in the use of straps in the coaching of horizontal bar swinging technique simply does not give any credence to your boldly stated opinion.

Gymnastic training "loops" are readily available from reputable gymnastics equipment suppliers.

Such training "loops" will have been subjected to testing and the quality of the materials and stitching used will not be in question. Also they are relatively cheap!

[rainbowgirl28]

I guess it's more popular in Australia. I did gymnastics for 15+ years and have never seen it.

[birdi_gurlie]

I've never seen them either. I searched the internet for "gymnastic bar strap" and got the same thing...a set of 8 different sizes for 50bucks. [I won't use 8 sets.]
If you can find a good, cheap set, let me know. I can't find a single thing. ANYWHERE. Also, how do you size them, exactly?

Also, I was strapped in pretty tightly. Could I swing? Yes. But the strap was quite tight on me. My hands weren't going ANYWHERE. It was just loose enough that I could swing but tight enough that my hands were securely on there.

[PVstudent]

I guess it's more popular in Australia. I did gymnastics for 15+ years and have never seen it.

Thank you for the quick response. Your 15+ years of experience, I suggest, was limited. I assure you ("loop training") training in introductory bar giant swinging and bar circling work using direct attachment of the "loops" to the bar is practiced not just in Australia but around the world. The method had its origins in the former Soviet Union and with the success of their gymnasts in the 1960's and 1970's was adopted by many european countries. It is practiced in the UK, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Russia, Germany, Denmark, Sweeden, Brazil and Argentina by some of the pole vaulters in those countries. It is a proven methodology and is popular elsewhere besides Australia.

Again I reiterate the point that PVC rigid tubing can also also used safely by pole vaulters.

However, both practices wrongly employed, by using inappropriate "loops",bars, techniques and inadequate coaching supervision and knowledge will assuredly increase the injury potential to aspiring pole vaulters.

There are other issues, in regard to the specificity and transfer of training, that should also be considered in "loop" training where the loops are directly attached to the bar or PVC pipe tube placed around the bar. Those issues primarily relate to gripping and grip tensioning control in bar work and pole vault. But that is another discussion entirely.

[birdi_gurlie]

However, both practices wrongly employed, by using inappropriate "loops",bars, techniques and inadequate coaching supervision and knowledge will assuredly increase the injury potential to aspiring pole vaulters.

There are other issues, in regard to the specificity and transfer of training, that should also be considered in "loop" training where the loops are directly attached to the bar or PVC pipe tube placed around the bar. Those issues primarily relate to gripping and grip tensioning control in bar work and pole vault. But that is another discussion entirely.

What are "inappropriate loops"? Could you send a link where to buy them? We DO have bar straps [or "loops" as you call them] but the only set I've been able t find is too expensive and includes WAY more than I need. [8 of various sizes for 50 bucks]

[PVstudent]

However, both practices wrongly employed, by using inappropriate "loops",bars, techniques and inadequate coaching supervision and knowledge will assuredly increase the injury potential to aspiring pole vaulters.

There are other issues, in regard to the specificity and transfer of training, that should also be considered in "loop" training where the loops are directly attached to the bar or PVC pipe tube placed around the bar. Those issues primarily relate to gripping and grip tensioning control in bar work and pole vault. But that is another discussion entirely.

What are "inappropriate loops"? Could you send a link where to buy them? We DO have bar straps [or "loops" as you call them] but the only set I've been able t find is too expensive and includes WAY more than I need. [8 of various sizes for 50 bucks]

Below I have listed some useful sites re use of bar "training loops" and potential purchase sites obtained from a quick internet survey:

www.gymnasticexpress.co.uk/shop/product.php?xProd=28 -

www.amco.com.au/templates/amc/page/page_standard.php?...

www.gymnasticexpress.co.uk/shop/product.php?xProd=29

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfF1u6CTX5U -

gymnasticscoaching.com/new/?p=7213

You are correct USA sites appear limited. However you do not need to purchase a whole set of loops. All you need is one pair of loops, correctly sized, and one pair of gloves. Most retailers will sell you a single pair of loops. Gloves of the type that will work effectively can be purchased at any Wallmart or handiman hardware store. The "loops" can be ordered via internet and supplied to you in a matter of days. The total cost would be about $20 (US dollars) including the postage cost for an overseas purchase. If you live in a city with an Elite level gymnastics centre a quick phone call to them will hopefully lead you to their "loop" supplier. You do not need handguards or bar grips and should make this clear in your enquiry.

The youtube video shows correct use of loops connected directly to the bar. Using loops will always involve some tension around the wrists created by the centripetal forces of swinging. The wearing of the gloves and the loop acting on the bar will reduces direct friction on the hands but does allow you to make required changes in grip force and to perform the wrist motion essential in performing circling movements around the bar. Whip leg swinging is only the first step in using the horizontal bar to learn the swing and inversion that specifically relates to covering the pole in the pole vault.

[birdi_gurlie]

Thank you so much!
How would you decide on the proper size if you have no bar straps to try on and see if they're the right size?
We have one gymnastics place in our area, and I don't know if they have those.
Also, what's the difference between http://www.gymnasticexpress.co.uk/shop/ ... p?xProd=28 - and http://www.amco.com.au/Home/Gym-Sports/ ... mens-Grips ? One says their sizes are "23cm to 36cm but typical sizes are often around 28cm" and the other is between 51 and 69cm. Which it totally different. Only thing I can think is that the first is when its folded in half.

Also, if I'm watching the video correctly, there are no loops there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfF1u6CTX5U Can you explain further?