Kipping Pullup. What Grip?

[Scott Jenkins]

I noticed watching many of the videos that most people who use the overhand grip when doing Kipping Pullups have there thumbs the same side of the bar as there fingers. I have never tried it this way and was wondering if you can maintain your grip longer this way.

On some of the videos its hard to see exactly how they are gripping so I might be wrong. I have trouble with my grip at about 20 reps when kipping and really I am just looking for quick ways to improve my numbers. The bar I use is also thicker than most so that does not help much. Any thoughts on this subject much appreciated.

Scott

[Larry A Henrikson]

Yes. Your thumb will add a significant amount of holding strength.

[Scott Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Larry A Henrikson

Yes. Your thumb will add a significant amount of holding strength.

Yes I imagine the thumb does add significant holding strength, but placed where does it offer the most holding strength. Under the bar or over the bar with the fingers?

[Leonid Soubbotine]

Any grip goes really.

In high rep pullup wods I usually use mixed grip and do butterfly kip.
In short rep wods - overhand with butterfly kip.

[Scott Allen Hanson]

I definitely find thumb over, hands pronated, to be the most efficacious for me, especially with a larger diameter bar (I do have relatively small hands). I also find less callous development and less chance of ripping one with the thumbs over grip on a larger diameter bar.

[Scott Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Leonid Soubbotine

Any grip goes really.

In high rep pullup wods I usually use mixed grip and do butterfly kip.
In short rep wods - overhand with butterfly kip.

Yes I also do high rep pull-ups kipping (normal kip) with an overhand grip and weighted Pull-ups underhand grip. The main thing i was wondering is why in some of the videos they have there thumbs over the top of the bar with there fingers. I have always gripped overhand but hooked underneath with my thumbs. I hope this is clear enough, trying to explain it properly.

[Leonid Soubbotine]

Ah, I get it.

Not sure - but I always put my thumb on top with the rest of the fingers. Just works better for me.

[Nick Gagnon]

You just have to work on doing pull-ups to get a stronger grip. Strong forearm flexors are very important when you get up to higher numbers. Eventually you might find that where you put your thumbs isn't going to matter that much, and you might be more comfortable without wrapping your thumbs around the bar.

[Brandon Oto]

Thumbs with the fingers is better for me, when I'm gripping overhand.

[Larry A Henrikson]

Originally Posted by Scott Jenkins

Yes I imagine the thumb does add significant holding strength, but placed where does it offer the most holding strength. Under the bar or over the bar with the fingers?

Over the bar. I can't do very many with my thumb underneath. I don't feel the thumb doing anything when it us underneath, but over, it's like having another three fingers holding my weight. The thumb has to work opposite the other 4 fingers so it has to be just as strong as those 4 combined. I think the full overhand grip with thumb on top utilizes that thumb strength more than underneath.