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Dad Grip trains every aspect of forearm and grip strength. The most complete tool for keeping your hands, wrists, and elbows strong and pain free.
Introduction
One of my favorite things to do at Plugged In Golf is bring products into your orbit from outside the “golf world.” We’re all missing out on hundreds of cool, useful things – Dad Grip is both – because the algorithm doesn’t show them to us. F*** the algorithm.
Why is Dad Grip important for golfers? Because you can’t hit a golf ball far without a strong grip, and you can’t play golf at all if you’re in pain from golf or tennis elbow. Dad Grip will make your grip strong and pain free. Sound good to you? Keep reading.
Set Up & Ease of Use
Dad Grip is a simple, heavy, one-piece tool. As they say on their site, “No cables, no machines, just twisted steel and sex appeal.” It is very easy to use, but it does require that you have a barbell or weight horn to slide it on to. If you don’t have a barbell in your home, you can rig up a weight horn, or you can take it to your gym and become the object of everyone’s envy.
There are six exercises you can do with Dad Grip, and they’re explained and shown below. If you train with this regularly, you will want to add weight over time, but most people will be fine using it without additional weight at the start. You’re never going to need a ton of extra weights, which keeps it simple and cost effective. [See Price / Buy]
Effectiveness
Having strong hands is a lot more than being able to squeeze hard. Dad Grip trains everything. From the “throttle grip,” you can train wrist extension (above) and wrist flexion (below) while also building your grip strength. Dad Grip intentionally has no texture or traction, so you need to clamp down to move the weight.
Using the handle on the end, you can train pronation, supination, ulnar deviation, and radial deviation. Dad Grip is the only forearm trainer I’ve ever seen that hits every aspect of forearm strength, which is the primary reason that I recommend it so highly.
If you’re thinking, “This is meant for weightlifters, I can’t do it,” I have two things to say. First, all golfers should lift [full explanation HERE]. Second, my twelve year old, 70 pound daughter trains with this. It isn’t necessarily easy for her, but she’s able to do all the exercises and is getting stronger. Start where you are, do what you can, work to get better.
I’ve been training with Dad Grip for a little over a month, and I’ve experienced great benefits. Most importantly, it’s gotten rid of the last of my elbow pain. I’ve had chronic elbow/forearm pain for over a year. Working with a PT has gotten it to manageable levels, but only in the last month has it been completely resolved. I’ve also gotten stronger: I’m able to do more weight and more reps on each exercise. Finally, my forearms have gotten bigger and capable of carrying more grocery bags, luggage, and children.
Longevity
Dad Grip is ten pounds of American-made steel. The longevity of the device itself is not in doubt.
As for how often you’ll use it, I suspect that everyone reading this knows their answer. I love lifting weights, and Dad Grip has become an essential part of my routine. If you have a regular fitness routine and want stronger hands, I’m sure you’ll be in the same boat. For those that don’t have a regular workout plan or don’t like lifting, Dad Grip is probably not going to have much longevity for you.
Value
Dad Grip retails for between $179 and $279. The model shown here is the stainless steel brushed finish, which carries a $279 price tag. A raw steel version costs $179, and a black, powder coated version costs $199.
Is this expensive compared to little squeeze-type grip trainers? Yes, in the same way that a new pickup truck is expensive compared to a skateboard. Dad Grip is a first-tier fitness product, and it’s priced appropriately – maybe even underpriced – relative to other products in this category.
Finally, it’s worth noting that Dad Grip is 100% USA Made. There’s no sneaky wordplay here, no “Designed in the USA” or “Assembled in the USA,” this is made in America from start to finish. This veteran-owned business is “American made by American dads.” They also offer a 100 day money back return and a lifetime structural warranty. [See Price / Buy]
Conclusion
Dad Grip is a great trainer for golfers, but its benefits go far beyond the course. Yes, a stronger grip can help you hit the ball farther and keep you pain free. It can also give you the kind of handshake that earns nods of respect (or pleas for mercy). Whether you’re holding together a personal best down the back nine or hauling all the groceries in one trip, no one has ever regretted having strong hands. [See Price / Buy]
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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Join the Conversation | 6 Comments
If you havent already switch to graphite shafts in your irons my elbow pain went away instantly after i switched to graphite mitsubishi mmt feel just like steel
Keep the niche reviews coming, Matt! As a fellow lifting advocate (strength = wellness and longevity), I encourage anything that creates motivation for adding this into one’s life.
As for this item, does the rotation feel harder on a weight horn than a barbell (which rotates on its own)? I worry the friction there would be problematic. And I think not having any knurling or external grip is a miss. Adding even a powder coat of some kind would still allow for grip strength training, but it would also encourage adding more weight for forearm training without having sweaty palms be the limiting factor in the exercise. Nothing a little grip tape couldn’t solve.
Finally, the price seems a bit steep, IMO. I get that it is USA made, but a wrist roller from JD Gym Equipped isn’t much more and is a much more comprehensive tool for this job. Maybe it’s just the premium version that doesn’t make sense, I guess, but the standard is fine. Looks awesome overall, to be very clear!! Thanks!
Sean,
I think it depends on the weight horn. If the horn isn’t smooth, yes, I could see that adding resistance.
As for the lack of knurling, that’s a feature, not a bug, but I understand your point. As you said, this can be easily modified with some tape if the user would prefer more traction.
Best,
Matt
So I need an olympic bar to use this? Can’t I do these exercises w/ a regular barbell or dumbell?
Mike,
You need either a barbell or weight horn to use Dad Grip.
No, these exercises can’t be truly replicated with a barbell or dumbbell.
Best,
Matt
This is so cool to see! Thank you so much for sharing!