In the ever-evolving world of functional fitness, the conversation around gymnastic hand grips continues to grow. From classic finger-hole designs to modern chalkless rubber options, athletes are always searching for the grip that provides the greatest advantage in both training and competition.
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But with all the hype and shifting trends, which grip is truly the best—and does such a thing even exist? Let’s explore.
Gymnastic hand grips, as the name suggests, originated in gymnastics. Initially, grips were designed to protect athletes' hands from the friction and tearing caused by swinging on apparatus like the high bar and rings.
As gymnastics evolved and movements became more dynamic, mere protection wasn’t enough. Enter the sewn-in dowel, which allowed gymnasts to lock in their grip and better control their movement. These grips were made primarily from cowhide leather, offering strength, friction, and durability—usually paired with heavy chalk use to reduce slippage.
As CrossFit gained popularity and skill levels increased, gymnastic grips naturally made their way into the sport. Movements like kipping pull-ups, toes-to-bar, and muscle-ups introduced new demands on athletes' hands.
Early CrossFit grips followed simple designs—2-hole or 3-hole leather or microfibre options—designed to offer protection and work in tandem with chalk. This led to innovations like our own BumbleBee and Panda grips, which use chalk-assisted microfibre leather to deliver enhanced grip and durability for everyday training.
Around , a new trend emerged: chalkless rubber gymnastic grips. These grips offer superior stickiness and friction without the need for chalk, making them ideal for:
Competitions
High-stakes workouts
Gyms where chalk isn’t allowed
While these grips provide exceptional performance, they aren’t suitable for beginners. If an athlete struggles with grip strength or shoulder stability, using grips that "lock you in" artificially can bypass necessary muscular development, potentially increasing the risk of injury over time.
In short: address the limiting factor before upgrading the gear. Strength, technique, and mobility should always come first.
There’s a lot of misinformation about what grips can and can’t do. Here’s what they’re really for:
Primary function: Preventing hand tears
Secondary function: Providing grip without interfering with movement
Many athletes still rip their hands even with grips. Why?
Over-gripping (especially among beginners)
Improper hand placement (e.g. knuckles under the bar)
Weak grip strength
Failure to allow grips to slide when necessary
Advanced athletes learn when to grip hard and when to relax, letting the grips move with the bar. Developing these skills will increase performance and reduce injury risk, while getting the most out of your grips.
So which type of grip should you use? The answer depends on your goals, environment, and training demands.
Best for everyday training
Ideal for high volume and durability
Great for varied surfaces
Work best with chalk for grip consistency
Should be your go-to grips 80% of the time
Best for competition settings where chalk may be limited
Excellent for slippery or smooth bars
Useful in commercial or outdoor gyms where chalk isn’t permitted
Offer maximum grip, but with faster material wear due to high friction
Best used in low-volume or high-intensity workouts
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The most prepared athletes have both options in their gym bag—chalk grips for training and chalkless grips for competition or unpredictable environments.
By knowing the purpose of each grip and when to use them, you’ll be better equipped to train smarter, protect your hands, and perform at your best no matter the workout.
Finding the best gymnastics grips is crucial for any gymnast aiming to enhance their performance and protect their hands during bar routines. Whether your child is just starting or is an experienced gymnast, the right grips provide essential support, prevent blisters, and offer better control on the apparatus. With various styles and brands available, choosing the perfect grips can be overwhelming. In this article, we’ll guide you through the top gymnastics grips on the market, explaining their features, benefits, and how to choose the best option to meet your gymnast’s needs.
Gymnastics grips are leather devices worn on the hands of gymnasts while they perform on the bars. Grips are basically a piece of leather material that covers the palm of the hand. The gymnastics grips are attached at the wrist and secured on the fingers with holes. Female gymnasts use grips on Uneven Bars, while male gymnasts use grips on High Bar and Still Rings. Crossfit athletes also wear grips while they are practicing and competing. Gymnastics grips typically have 2 finger holes while crossfit grips can have 3 finger holes.
Gymnastics grips are used to help the gymnast grip the bar and to prevent blisters or “rips” to the gymnast’s hands. Rips are friction injuries where the outer layers of skin rip or tear away from the hand. (
Beginner gymnasts don’t always wear grips, but many start wearing them when they start to get rips and blisters. Most competitive gymnasts wear uneven bar gymnastics grips. They can help improve performance and lessen the wear and tear on your hands.
We can help you find the right gymnastics grip for you – as a gymnast starts her career she will likely want beginner gymnastics grips. Once she becomes a mid-level gymnast she might want a thinner leather grip that is easy to break in, so that she can still have a good feel for the bar. As she becomes a high-level gymnast she will most likely want a thicker leather grip that takes longer to break in, but that will be able to hold up during advanced skills.
Deciding whether you should start using uneven bar grips is a decision that is usually made with your coach. You can check out the video above to find out when my sister started wearing grips. Most coaches want their gymnasts using grips by the time they are starting to learn circling elements like clear-hip circles and giants.
If you’re a beginner gymnast, and your hands hurt while you are practicing bars there is no reason not to try them as long as your coach doesn’t object.
When you go to buy grips, there are a few things to consider – dowel vs. non-dowel grips, the shape of the grip and what type of closure you would like (buckle vs. hook and loop).
There are two main types of gymnastics grips – a basic non-dowel beginner grip and a dowel grip.
If you are a beginner gymnast learning basic bar skills then you want a non-dowel beginner grip. They all come in basically the same shape with two holes for your fingers. Here are Nastia Liukin Beginner Grips and another basic beginner grip.
OUR PICK: Nastia Liukin’s Beginner Hook & Loop
WHY: Basic, soft leather grip that gives you full palm protection. The hook & loop closure makes it easier for beginners to put the grips on themselves.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Zechen Fitness.
Dowel grips come in different shapes — skinny, straight and curved. You probably need dowel grips if you are doing more advanced bar skills.
Some dowel grips come with a rubber band attached. The rubber band can be used to help hold the grip more securely to your finger. If you don’t like it on the grip you can always cut it off.
OUR PICK: Bailie Beginner Hook & Loop Grips
WHY: They are a great first pair of dowel grips because they are narrower and smaller than a standard grip. The leather is easier to break in, and they let the gymnast keep more of their hand on the bar so they can feel their swing.
Bailie Beginner Dowel Grips
If this is your first time getting a pair of dowel grips, and you are a gymnast with small hands, you might want to consider the Bailie Beginner Dowel Grip (the first link is hook and loop, here they are in buckle). They are a great first pair of dowel grips because they are narrower and smaller than a standard grip. The leather is easier to break in, and they let the gymnast keep more of their hand on the bar so they can feel their swing.
Reisport Protec Grips
Reisport Protec grips are a little different than normal grips. They are recommended for Level 9, 10 or Elite girls who are frequently breaking or over stretching their grips. They are different from normal grips in that they have stronger leather that stretches less.
Grips are secured around the wrist with either a buckle or hook and loop. The issue of buckle versus hook & loop grips can be a personal preference. Buckle grips can offer more wrist support and will give you piece of mind that they won’t come undone. Many high-level gymnasts prefer buckle grips because of this; they don’t want to risk hook & loop grips coming undone during a high level skill. However, hook & loop grips tend to be more popular among beginner to mid-level gymnasts. Hook & loop grips are easier to tighten and can be adjusted exactly to your wrist.
While there are many grip brands, I will give you the benefits of the most popular.
Gymnastics grips generally come in sizes 0-3. Each company will have a different sizing chart. Generally to determine what size grip you will need, measure from the tip of the middle finger to the bottom of the palm. Look this measurement up on the sizing chart. The finger holes will come relatively small and then you will need to widen them to achieve your perfect, snug fit. To widen them, use sandpaper wrapped around a pencil. Make sure to not make the finger holes too big because the leather will stretch over time.
While you can buy grips online at a few different stores, the site we recommend is Gym Supply because of their high quality grips and variety of choices.
We know how confusing it can be to pick the right grips! To help you, we’ve created a list of the 10 Best Gymnastics Grips below.
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Bailie Beginner Dowel Buckle Gymnastics Grips XXS, XS, S, M, L They are a great first pair of dowel grips because they are narrower and smaller than a standard grip. The leather is easier to break in, and they let the gymnast keep more of their hand on the bar so they can feel their swing. $34.95Click Here to check current price
Bailie Beginner Hook & Loop Gymnastics Grips XXS, XS, S, M, L Same as the Bailie grips above, these are a great first pair of dowel grips. These are the hoop & loop option for those who prefer an easier to put-on closure. $34.95Click Here to check current price
Nastia Liukin Big Swinger Buckle Gymnastics Grips 000, 00, 0, 1 These grips are constructed from a slightly heavier leather for durability with a finger locking system that helps keep fingers from slipping out of holes. These grips are skinny, to allow a better feel for the bar and are recommended for gymnasts 70lbs or less, Level 7 or under. $34.95Click Here to check current price
Nastia Liukin Big Swinger Hook & Loop Gymnastics Grips 000, 00, 0, 1 These are the same as the grips above however with the hook and loop closure, which is easier for young gymnasts to put on. $34.95Click Here to check current price
Nastia Liukin Champions Buckle Gymnastics Grips 00, 0, 1, 2, 3 , 4 These Nastia Liukin grips are curved grips. They are wider than the skinny Big Swinger grip to offer more protection against rips. Most gymnasts wear curved grips. $41.95Click Here to check current price
Nastia Liukin Champions Hook & Loop Gymnastics Grips 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 These grips are the same as the grips above with the hook and loop closure. $41.95Click Here to check current price
Reisport Double Buckle Gymnastics Grips 00, 0, 1, 2, 3 These grips are durable and well-made. Reisport makes a great grip, that is the “most popular grip in the world”. $54.95Click Here to check current price
Reisport Hook & Loop Gymnastics Grips 00, 0, 1, 2, 3 These are the same type of grip as the one above with the hook and loop, easy-to-put on, closure. $59.95Click Here to check current price
Reisport Hyper ProTec Hook & Loop Gymnastics Grips 00, 0, 1, 2, 3 These grips are recommended for Level 9, 10 or Elite girls who are frequently breaking or over stretching their grips. They are different from normal grips in that they have stronger leather that stretches less. $69.95Click Here to check current price
When you first get your grips, make sure you break them in slowly. Break them in by doing simple skills, or swinging on the bars. The purpose of breaking your gymnastics grips in is to get the leather molded to your hand and the bar. You should also always have a backup pair of broken in grips during competitions, in case one pair breaks.
Take care of your gymnastics grips by storing them in a grip bag. Also try not to cake too much chalk and water on the grips; this can make them wear out faster. Use a grip brush on the surface of the leather if it gets too smooth. If your grips get too smooth, it could cause you to slip on the bar.
The grip brush will break up some of the caked on chalk and roughen up the leather.
Even with grips, your hands still need some attention especially if you do bars several times a week. The key to rip prevention is to keep excess callous from building up by using a pumice stone, and to keep your hands moisturized. Once you have ripped, you need to protect the damaged area from the elements so that it has time to heal. The Ript 3 Phase Hand Care Kit has what you need to protect your hands.
You will need to wear wristbands with your grips, so that your wrists don’t get chafed. There are a couple things to consider when you buy wristbands.
Material:
Width:
Other Essentials for your Grip Bag:
Deciding which grips are the best gymnastics grips for you is a process that takes careful consideration along with some trial and error.
First it’s important to talk with your coach to decide if grips are something you need and are ready for. Next, once you’ve decided that you are ready for gymnastics grips, you need to decide between non-dowel and dowel grips. If you decide on dowel grips, your next step is to decide which shape you want your gymnastics grips to be – skinny, straight, or curved. You can then decide if you are getting buckle grips or loop and hook grips and which brand of grips to buy. Finally, getting the proper size is important to ensuring a good fit and for your safety.
Again, remember that finding the best gymnastics grips is a personal decision and what might work for a different gymnast might not work for you. Consult your coach for advice if you are having trouble deciding between different grips. The bottom line is that your grips should feel good to you and fit properly so that you are comfortable using them.
Q: What are gymnastics grips and why are they important?
A: Gymnastics grips are protective gear worn by gymnasts to provide extra grip and support while performing on bars. They are important as they help prevent blisters, calluses, and other hand injuries, as well as improve performance by enhancing grip strength and stability.
Q: How do I choose the best gymnastics grips for me?
A: When choosing gymnastics grips, consider factors such as size, material, and design. Make sure the grips fit snugly without being too tight, are made of durable leather or synthetic material, and have a secure wrist closure to ensure proper support and comfort.
Q: How should I care for my gymnastics grips?
A: To prolong the life of your gymnastics grips, make sure to clean them regularly with water, allow them to air dry completely before storing, and avoid exposing them to excessive heat or moisture. Additionally, consider using grip brush to keep the surface rough for better grip.
Q: How often should I replace my gymnastics grips?
A: The frequency of replacing gymnastics grips depends on how often you use them and the wear and tear they experience. Generally, grips should be replaced when they start to show signs of excessive wear, such as tears, fraying, or loss of grip.
Q: Can gymnastics grips help improve my performance?
A: Yes, gymnastics grips can help improve your performance by providing better grip on the bars, reducing hand fatigue, and preventing injuries. By using grips, you can focus more on your routine and skills without worrying about slipping or discomfort in your hands.
Are you still confused about the best gymnastics grips to buy? Take this Quiz to Find Out the Best Gymnastics Grips for You or watch the video below!
For more information, please visit finger hole grips manufacturer.