Wrist Developer Common Questions and Answers
Thursday, October 31st, 2013The Wrist Developer
The Wrist Developer is a training tool designed and sold by David Horne’s World of Grip and from time to time sold here at DieselCrew.com. It is a spring-loaded device that is used to strengthen the position of Reverse Style Nail and Short Steel Bending.
The Wrist Developer is aptly named because it certainly builds strength and stability in the wrists. On top of this, it also can help you build improved strength throughout the upper body, depending on how you use it.
The Wrist Developer has been around for many years, but there still remains quite a bit of confusion around it. To help clear up some of the misunderstandings about how the device works and the methods to train with it, I put out an all-encompassing Training Video/DVD in 2012 => How to Train with the Wrist Developer. This video shows you how you can use the WD as a way to increase your general wrist strength, bring up your reverse bending, as well as strengthen your entire upper body.
As you can see, with the variety of ways the Wrist Developer can be utilized and the many ways it can be used to bring up each skill (wrist strength/stability, reverse bending, upper body strength) it is a very good investment and takes up very little room, as long as you understand its proper use.
Here is a quick run-down of some of the most common questions I get or find being asked.
Common Wrist Developer Training Questions
How is the Wrist Developer Used?
The main objective of the WD is to grip the handles with one hand in front and one hand behind, as in the grip taken on a nail or steel bar when using the Reverse bending Technique. From there, the handles are moved together so that the loading bars separate, stretching the spring. The repetition is complete or the attempt is “good” when the guard on the back of the device touches the rear loading arm.
How Are the Levels of the Wrist Developer Determined? How is the Wrist Developer Spring Adjusted?
With the Black spring, or equivalent, the lowest setting is called Level 3. You then move the rear spring hook up one notch to get level 4. For level 5, you move the rear spring hook back down one notch and then move the front spring hook up one notch. For level 6, you move the rear spring hook upwards again to get Level 6.
So, every time the spring is on equal notches in the front and back, your spring level is a multiple of 3 => 3,6,9, etc.
Here is a video demonstration of how the spring hooks are moved in order to get level 3, 4, 5, and 6 (and beyond).
Video Demonstration: How the Wrist Developer Spring Levels are Changed
Is it acceptable to glue the suede wraps to the handles? They tend to slip a lot.
For the purposes the Wrist Developer even in a grip contest and for Wrist Developer records lists, glue on the handles is not permitted. What is permitted is suede wraps with rubber bands wrapped tightly around them.
Slippage is definitely something to contend with when training on the wrist developer. One of the things I show in the Wrist Developer DVD is how to get the wraps on there as tight as possible using wrapping strategies from nail and steel bending which comply with WD performance standards.
The good thing about having the wraps against the bare steel and paint of the WD handles is that it forces you to squeeze the handles hard, which actually will help you exert more force into it. This will lead to better overall strength bending performance. But like any technical lift, it takes time to perfect.
Adhesives, glues, etc., are not permitted in competition or for records purposes, but certainly they can be used as a training method. If you have no desire to compete or measure yourself against others who have tested themselves on the WD, then by all means, use whatever you want to keep the wraps in place. Just keep in mind that if you get used to tapes or glues on the handles, you will see a drop in performance on the WD.
Can the Wrist Developer be Used to Train Double Overhand or Double Underhand Bending Techniques?
While the Wrist Developer can be used with the hands in the positions of DO and DU bending, the size and shape only permits these techniques in a limited way. You can certainly accomplish variations of Double Over and Double Under with the WD, but it is very cumbersome.
Is the WD Effective at Developing Strength for Reverse Bending
Yes, it certainly can be, but it depends on how you use it. There are distinct differences in how to use the WD, depending on your actual goal. This is the information that makes the WD Training DVD so valuable.
If you own a Wrist Developer, I can help you maximize your training results with it, through the use of my video. Many people do not realize just how technical of an event the Wrist Developer is, but are amazed how much stronger they can get on it with just a couple of easy technique modifications and slight changes to their approach.
In addition, you need to use the WD in the way it is meant to be used for your specific goals. If you want to perform well in a competition setting with the WD, knowing the proper means of force production with it is imperative. Also, if you are using the WD to save on the amount of bending stock you have to go through, it only makes sense to use it in the manner it was meant to be used for building your wrist strength for Reverse Bending. While there is cross-over from both techniques, you will get your best results from specific training.
For more information on what is covered in the Wrist Developer DVD, click the banner below. This video comes in both Digital and Hard Copy Versions, depending on what your viewing preference is.
All the best in your WD training,
Jedd
Wrist Developer Training and Technique Tips for Maximum Performance on the WD
