How To Tape Your Thumbs Like A Weightlifter
The hook grip is an incredible tool for weightlifters everywhere. By wrapping your thumb around the bar first then wrapping your fingers over your thumb, you can lock in the bar, get a better grip, and improve the leverage you have on the bar. Since we don't want to have all the pain and discomfort that can come along with that, here is how to tape your thumbs like a weightlifter.
Step 1: prep your tape strips
Most rolls of athletic tape are 1.5 inches in width, and our goal is to tape our thumbs once before our training session and keep that tape there for the remainder of our workout. You'll need three 8-10 inch strips of tape to tape both your thumbs.
Once you have your three strips of tape, you'll tear those in half lengthwise:
And you'll have six strips of tape around 3/4 inch wide and 8-10 inches long:
You'll use three of these per thumb.
Step 2: from the base of the thumb to just above the knuckle
You'll take your first strip of tape and start it off at the base of your thumb with the tape hanging down towards you:
While keeping a slight bend in your thumb, wrap the tape up your thumb aiming to complete this wrap just above your knuckle:
Step 3: from the fingernail to just below the knuckle
Keep that bend in your thumb and grab your next strip of tape. This time you'll start at the thumbnail and work your way down to just below the knuckle, again with the tape heading down towards you:
You'll finish this strip just below the knuckle and your whole thumb will be covered.
Step 4: lock it in
You'll take your last piece of tape for this thumb and start it halfway on the thumbnail and halfway on the bed of the thumb just above the knuckle. This time though, the tape will start over the top of the thumb:
Wrap that piece of tape down past the knuckle to lock in the tape, squeeze it tight, and you're good to go!
