Why Grip Strength Is More Than Just a Deadlift Accessory

When most people think about grip strength, they picture the bar slipping out of their hands on a heavy deadlift—or maybe their forearms burning out on pull-ups. And while those are valid moments where grip can make or break performance, the truth is far more powerful:

Your grip strength might be one of the most important indicators of your overall health, strength, and longevity.

Let that sink in for a moment. The strength of your hands isn’t just about lifting heavier or looking more muscular—it’s tied to your life expectancy, functional independence, and physical resilience. And yet, it’s one of the most overlooked areas in nearly every training program.

Let’s change that.

Grip Strength Is a Marker of Total Body Health

Multiple studies have shown that grip strength is inversely related to all-cause mortality. That means the weaker your grip, the higher your risk of dying—especially from cardiovascular disease. In fact, one major study found grip strength to be a better predictor of cardiovascular mortality than systolic blood pressure.

That’s not just gym talk—that’s real science.

Grip strength has also been associated with:

Improved bone mineral density
Lower risk of disability in older adults
Better outcomes after surgery or illness
Higher quality of life scores in aging populations

It’s a simple, non-invasive metric that doctors and researchers use because it reflects more than just hand power—it reflects your overall neuromuscular strength.

Why Grip Strength Matters in the Gym

If you’re a lifter, grip strength plays a foundational role in your progress.

You might have a strong back, powerful glutes, and good technique—but if your hands can’t hold the bar, it doesn’t matter. Weak grip is a limiting factor in:

Deadlifts
Rows
Pull-ups and chin-ups
Carries (farmer’s, sandbag, yoke)
Olympic lifts

And let’s not forget: forearm fatigue can kill your intensity during biceps curls, rope work, sled pulls, or even just changing out plates during a session.

When your grip gives out, everything else follows. And that means leaving gains on the table.

Grip Strength Carries Over to Real Life

Whether you’re lifting at the gym or living life outside it, grip strength has direct, practical carryover.

Opening jars, carrying groceries, or loading equipment? That’s grip.
Holding your balance when you trip? That’s grip.
Playing sports, swinging tools, or protecting your wrists on impact? That’s grip.

As we age, grip becomes even more important. A strong grip is a predictor of functional independence—meaning your ability to care for yourself, move without aid, and stay out of assisted living environments.

Strong hands for a stronger future.

Why Most Programs Ignore the Forearms (And Why That’s a Mistake)

Most training programs don’t include direct grip or forearm work. If they do, it’s usually an afterthought—maybe a couple sets of wrist curls or some gripper squeezes at the end of arm day.

That’s a huge oversight.

When you neglect the muscles of the forearms and hands, you’re missing out on:

Size: Forearms are visually impactful and often lag behind because they’re undertrained.
Strength: Weak hands = weak lifts.
Injury prevention: Elbow and wrist pain often stems from imbalanced or underdeveloped forearms.

The irony? You train legs, chest, and back with purpose—but the muscle that connects you to everything you lift? You leave that up to chance.

Grip Strength Is Trainable

The best news? Grip strength responds very well to training—and you don’t need hours to see real gains.

With the right mix of volume, variation, and progression, you can:

Increase your crush strength (hand grippers, squeezes)
Build your support strength (holds, carries, hangs)
Improve pinch strength (plate pinches, blocks)
Strengthen your wrists and extensors (wrist curls, levers, rice bucket work)

And that’s exactly what we’ve built into our 6-Week Forearm Training Manual.

Build Your Grip. Build Your Strength.

If you’re tired of your grip giving out before your muscles do…

If you want bigger, stronger forearms that turn heads and dominate barbells…

If you care about long-term health, longevity, and strength that lasts…

Train your grip like it matters—because it does.

Ready to Build a Skull-Crushing Grip?

Our 6-Week Forearm Training Manual is built to help you:

Add up to 2 inches to your forearms
Train support, crush, and pinch strength
Build bulletproof wrists and elbow stability
Fit it into any current program in 15–20 minutes a day
All for less than $1 a day

Download the Forearm Training Manual Here and get started today.

References

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Garcia-Pallares, J., & Izquierdo, M. (2011). Strategies to optimize concurrent training of strength and aerobic fitness for rowing and canoeing. Sports Medicine, 41(4), 329–343.

Chaabene, H., Negra, Y., Bouguezzi, R., Capranica, L., Prieske, O., & Granacher, U. (2017). Tests for the assessment of upper-body strength and power in judo athletes: A systematic review. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31(10), 2831–2842.

Reid, R. E. R., Harvey, J., Sabik, E., & Faulkner, R. A. (2012). Grip strength and its relationship to physical fitness and body composition in young athletes. Pediatric Exercise Science, 24(2), 306–317.

Baker, D., & Nance, S. (1999). The relation between strength and power in professional rugby league players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 13(3), 224–229.