Callumf

[Callumf]

Been sking 38 years never had a problem getting up just can't hold on to the handle for more than 5 min any I dears how I can help this if I drop handle and deepwater start again can do another 5 min no probs just lose my grip .any handles or tricks that can help me out tks

[Callumf]

??

[wtrskior]

5 minutes is about 4 minutes longer than most course skiers are up for... I assume you're free skiing?

 

Unless you're practicing to ski in racing events, drop, rest and repeat.

[RazorRoss3]

Or clinchers, not my preference but if what your doing is staying up that long it's probably a good fit.

[oldjeep]

Seems like dowel gloves would help with the grip issue.

 

For me I find that the bigger the handle diameter the easier it is to hold onto and I also use old style Accurate gloves that have a fatter palm too.

 

@wtrskior even in the course some of us that don't shorten the rope (just a 15 off guy) run 2-6 passes straight. The guys I ski with run 2 at a time due to the setup at one end and I prefer to run 4 or 6 because it is a lot easier on my body not doing a bunch of extra starts.

 

 

[6balls]

Pick up some Radar Vice Gloves or Masterline Pro-locks. The Radar run small on sizing.

[ScottScott]

5 minutes is a pretty long run, I know I'd loose grip in about 1/2 that time. I recently started using palm protectors under my gloves and that changes the grip enough that I loose grip pretty quick, even with short free ski passes or a single course pass. More skiing will eventually build those forearm muscles, but if you only ski 1-2x/week that alone wont do a lot. You can add some days of various dumb bell work outs....wrist curls, opening hand and allowing bar to roll into fingers then close hand, and the squeeze spring hand grip exercise.

[A_B]

I use to keep a grip strength exerciser in my car and found that was a way of passing time. Can get multiple sets in on way to work or running errands, especially in the off season.

[lpskier]

Agree with @skibrain and @Mark_Matis. You could also try as large a diameter handle as you can find. You have to grip harder with a small diameter handle. The reverse is true with the larger handle.The large diameter handle also helps with sore elbows.

 

Another good gripping exercise is to attach about 3 feet of cord to a dowel that approximates the diameter of your handle. Attach the other end to a weight. Start with a light weight. Holding the dowel in front of you, one hand on Aeschylus dive of the cord, roll the weight up to the dowel and then lower it back down. Repeat for a total of five reps for a set. Rest, Do three to five sets per session. When it feels easy, add weight.

[Callumf]

Tks guys will try a bit more on the hand exercises maybe i getting older too was able to hit a course then go for a loop and then hit it again for another crack . Just don't want to tape hands to handle to get a good few runs .summer just kicking off here and the ice just starting to melt so wil try some more excises and see how we go tks for the help

[Horton]

@lpskier I completely disagree. A smaller-diameter handle requires much less effort to hold onto but it will tear calluses off. A large-diameter handle it very easy on your hands but requires much more strength.

[BraceMaker]

More surface on large handles but due to the larger radius your fingers don't hook it as far so you don't naturally have a hook and have to hold harder.

[oldjeep]

Guess it depends on your hand size, but for me the skinny handles are hard to hold onto and my finger tips are jammed into my palms when using them.

[lpskier]

@horton We'll have to agree to disagree. In the tennis world, for example, coaches frequently advise to build up the grip on the racquet with a tape product, among other things, to help relax your grip. The larger grip doesn't have to be squeezed as hard to be held tightly.

 

As noted on a tennis website: "The problem with a grip size that is too small is that your hand, wrist and arm will have to expend extra energy squeezing the handle to keep the racquet firmly in place. Over time this can contribute to injuries such as tennis elbow. You’ll also likely find that a grip which is too small will frequently slip from your hand which can be frustrating."

 

This is why a skier with golfers elbow can be helped with a larger diameter handle. On the other hand (so to speak) I agree that a smaller diameter handle is harder to yank out of your hands, and hence I use a smaller diameter handle for tournaments than for practice.

[Horton]

@lpskier go to the gym. Do some pullups on a undersized bar and an undersized bar. Let me know how it goes.

 

Water skiing Tennis

[Callumf]

Some good valid points tks all I could come up with last week was grip tape like sand paper . Had never thought of the die of the handle :)

[paco]

I also think a small handle is easier to grip. 0.94 my preference in a round, radius masterline and I wear xl gloves. I am currently using a 1.13 elliptical radius proline handle. I know it sounds like opposite, and I'm not sure if all elliptical handles are this way, but the front of the handle towards the boat comes to sort of a point. About the same diameter of the smaller 0.94. To me, this may be easier to grip. Kind of the best of both worlds that have been recommended so far. A lot of surface area with the easier grip of a smaller handle.

[ScottScott]

@Horton I'm looking forward to his comparison of the "undersize bar" vs the "undersize bar"....HA!!!! I love typos.

 

Yes there is a big difference between holding on to an tennis racket (that weighs about 1 pound) and holding a handle that is pulling you (how many pounds of force are being pulled all through your finders? ....A lot.) Being able to curl the fingers farther around the handle is less fatiguing to the grip than having the entire pull coming through a more open finger. I would guess that the pull-up comparison is more valid than the tennis racket (or golf club, as oversize grips are the thing these days.) I would agree that the larger may be better for tennis elbow and calluses though, even though more fatiguing.

 

That's why I have been more fatigued using the palm protectors lately, it makes the grip larger. I think I'm going to have to invest in a smaller handle to use when I need the palm protectors.....or spend more time trying different gloves.