Comments on: Weight Lifting Chalk

By: Thomas

Thomas — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:55:23 +0000

Jacques wrote:

Of course he also says that callous formation is essential to good lifting, so if you want to avoid it completely… you can’t lift properly.

That’s true. If you stick to biceps curls and triceps kickbacks, you can easily avoid callouses. But once you start with deadlifts (and other heavy “pulling” moves), they’re unavoidable.

Thanks for the comments.

By: Jacques

Jacques — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 05:26:27 +0000

Mark Rippetoe states in _Starting Strength_ (2nd ed.) that chalk does aid in preventing *excessive* callous formation as it reduces folding of skin on itself. Of course he also says that callous formation is essential to good lifting, so if you want to avoid it completely… you can’t lift properly. On the subject of gloves he states that they are just another surface prone to slipping added to the mix and should be avoided – again the point is that some callouses are the only way to lift well. This is all paraphrased.

By: WeightTrainersUnited

WeightTrainersUnited — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:10:49 +0000

Good lifting chalk is the best thing for the grip, but the hardest to find in mainstream gyms. One reason ‘hardcore’ gyms are gaining in popularity is that they allow lifting chalk. If you are used to chalking up before a lift, its hard to work out in a no-chalk gym.