Yes, it hurts.
Yes, you’ll get used to it.
And yes, I am the person who wrote in an earlier article that hook grip hurts like hell.
So here are some tips for learning how to get comfortable with hook grip.
So double-check that the bar you’re trying to hook grip isn’t a super thick one.
If you have larger hands, any normal barbell should be finethat usually means a 28 millimeter handle.
Dont think of your thumb as wrapping underneath the bar; its not like a pincer opposing your fingers.
When I bring the rest of my hand back into place,my middle finger crosses my thumbnail perpendicularly.
I loosely wrap the rest of my fingers around the bar.
I don’t have to squeezethe hook locks everything into place.
But ensure that your thumb goes more or lessalongthe bar, parallel to its length.
(It may help to think about pointing your thumb toward your pinky.)
Practice
Will it still hurt?
Your first time going heavy, yeah.
But you’ll get used to it more quickly than you think.
During this time, hook grip everything that you’re able to.
You get the idea.
Before long, you’ll be hook gripping everything.
Some lifters like to tape their thumbs.
