 Poster: A snowHead
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I had a quick blast on a climbing wall the weekend before last, with my daughter, and we both loved it. We're looking to see if there's any decent ones near us.
However after about ninety minutes I couldn't grip my pint - yes, it really was that bad. I've decided I'm a wuss and need to improve grip and forearm strength.
You can get these powerball thingies on ebay fairly cheaply and was wondering about buying one.
Anyone know whether they're any cop?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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marc gledhill, was it your first go at climbing? (Just wondering whether I am about to patronise you completely or not!). Unless you're on something vertical or overhanging try not to cling on too much with your hands - just use them to balance. Also, if you're doing a steep or overhanging bit, do it as fast as you can, again to save energy. Have a rest when you get to a nice comfy place that you can stand on without using your hands. That will save them a bit.
That said, I did a 4 hour bouldering session once and ended up with hardly any skin left on my hands so maybe I'm not the one to listen to 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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marc gledhill, Forget it, keep at it, next time it will be none existant. Otherwise buy some 'BLUE TACK' it will do the same as anything else and will cost nothing 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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marc gledhill, Have a chat with Debs (Spyderjons better half) she does a lot of climbing she should be able to give you some advice.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Don't know if they're any good for climbing, but they're great fun. It's a surprisingly good workout, too. Arm ache will ensue.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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marc gledhill, great workout tool for increasing hand wrist and fore arm strength. i used one a while back after a broken wrist
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Arno, yep, it was my first go, so patronise away with impunity. The wall was simply vertical, no nice slopey bits at all, I'd guess about 40'.
SMALLZOOKEEPER, fair point. Do you have anything that shoots webs?
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marc gledhill, learn to use your feet & lock off at the shoulder so the arm is skeletally loaded. Grip will come, but slowly over weeks and months. Have you tried open-grip chinups off the first and second finger joints yet? Once you can do that, there's a fun forearm exercise we call typewriters, chin up then over one hand's fingers then the other's and repeat like a top secretary.
(From a not so secret crack addict)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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they are great fun Marc, I'd make sure you get an "official" one with LCD counter so you know if your improving!! There was a discount code I had that worked on powerballs.com of flexifoil, that gave you 10% discount.
regards,
Greg
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marc gledhill, My son has got one as he's into climbing, he seems to think they are good. I did have a go on it, and it felt quite wierd. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I've got one, they're good fun!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I actually found after going each Thurs night for 3 weeks in a row that my grip increased plenty enough, fingers felt a lot stronger. I think those training aids you mention are useful, but certainly no substitute for actually learning good technique. Also don't overdo it too much too soon, else you'll end up straining the ligaments on your fingers which will cause you no end of long term problems, plus thats a big factor in the loss of strength as the session goes on.
I rarely spend much more than 2 hours climbing at a go - I don't go that often, it is knackering!!
A great side affect, if you've been going a few times then stop, is all the toughened skin all starts to come off  (i'm an office bod so my hands don't often toughen up!!)
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I got a powerball as my wrists are weak and it did help, it's just getting into the knack of using it.
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