Today we came across an excellent piece of exercise equipment called Swissies™ – a unique multifunctional accessory that fits on every pull-up bar, straight-bar, and elastic band, and allows performing a neutral grip. Swissies™ are simply perfect for people who are interested in calisthenics, street workout, bodybuilding, weight-lifting, gymnastics, fitness, weight-training, CrossFit, etc., or whenever you’re facing exercise machines with minimal or no neutral grip options. They give you the opportunity to train with a different grip (neutral grip) and therefore exercise new muscle groups. By switching the grip every few workouts, the emphasis on musculature recruitment is changed, preventing plateau and damage from overuse.
What are the three main grips we use in a resistance training exercise?
We use different hand grips for different exercises. This is because they are not only more comfortable, but they also anatomically put the exerciser in a much better position to be successful in the exercise. Using the proper hand grip is also safer for the exerciser. Three basic types of grips are used in resistance training exercises: pronated, supinated, and neutral.
- With a NEUTRAL GRIP, the palms and forearms face toward each other as when doing hammer curls.
- With a PRONATED GRIP, often called OVERHAND GRIP, you hold the weight with your forearms in a pronated position (rotated so that the thumbs point inward), but the direction the palms and forearms face varies. For example, when using a pronated grip on lat pull-downs, the palms and forearms face forward. However, when using a pronated grip on barbell curls (reverse curl), the palms and forearms face behind you at the start of each rep, then face forward by the top of the rep.
- With a SUPINATED GRIP or UNDERHAND GRIP, you rotate the forearms so that the thumbs point outward and keep them in that position as you perform a given exercise. When doing a lat pull-down with a supinated grip (reverse-grip pull-down), for example, your palms and forearms face behind you. Likewise, when doing a reverse-grip bench press, your palms and forearms face in the direction of your head.
What are the main advantages of using a neutral grip when doing certain exercises?
We’ll try to explain this in one example – pull-ups! The underhand grip is usually the strongest grip style for most people. This is why chin-ups are easier to perform than pull-ups. You perform pull-ups by using an overhand grip and they are harder to perform.
Another great option is a neutral grip, where your palms are facing one another. Neutral-grip pull-ups require a bar that allows for this grip option (or the use of Swissies™). Additionally, some people who experience shoulder discomfort when performing chin-ups or pull-ups find a neutral grip to be much more comfortable. And shoulder issues or not, many people simply find the neutral grip to be a stronger option. Experiment with various grips and avoid any that you find uncomfortable.
Brief product description & key product features
This exceptionally well-made, light, and versatile piece of workout equipment is ideal for improving mind-muscle connection, increasing exercise variability (by allowing you to perform many exercises using a neutral grip), and preventing injuries.
Here are the key features of this quick attaching handles for pulling exercises.
Key features (Specifications)
- Holds up to 800 lbs (363 kilograms);
- Made from highly durable material;
- Extremely light-weight – less than 1 lb;
- Portable and instant to set up;
- Compatible with bars, bands, and barbells;
- Knurled handle;
- Slip-resistant rubber guard (the inside of the hooks is lined with rubber);
Key advantages of Swissies™ over other neutral grip handles on the market
- The Swissies™ weighs 1lb (less than half a kilogram) thanks to lightweight materials (nylon-fiberglass composite). If they were made of metal (steel or aluminum) they would be closer to 5 lbs (more than 2 kilograms).
- One size fits all. The handle of the Swissies™ is 32mm in diameter. This thickness fits to all diameters – from a woman’s 25mm barbell to a calisthenics pull-up bar of 34mm.
- The knurled handle prevents slipping.
- Rubber-lined hook prevents any damage to the bar. Also, the rubber grips whatever surface the hooks are on to make sure there’s no lateral movement when you’re exercising.
- 100-day money-back guarantee. You can train with the Swissies™ for over 3 months before you even decide if it’s really for you.
- Takes only a second to set up.
- You’re no longer stuck with a fixed width, set the width of the handles at what feels right for you.
Benefits of using Swissies™
Unlike fixed neutral grip bars, with Swissies™ you can personalize your grip width (wide, close) to optimize your mind-muscle connection! Other advantages of this great piece of exercise equipment include the following:
- Higher exercise variability;
- Increased range of motion (ROM);
- Boosted muscle-mind connection;
- Less wrist & shoulder injuries;
Downsides
We really couldn’t find a single serious complaint. This product really outshines the competition. However, the space between the handle and the hook could be a little bit bigger. If you’re a person with a bigger fist there is a possibility that the hook will be slightly touching the back of your hand. Despite the fact that the inside of the handles is hollow, the plastic is hard enough and therefore this is definitely not an issue.
What exercises are particularly suitable for neutral grip?
- Pull-ups
- Deadlifts
- Rows (especially inverted body-weight rows)
- Lat pull-downs
- Bent-over rows
- Seated cable rows
- Seal rows
- Resistance bands exercises (simply insert the hooks into the ends of the resistance bands)
Where to buy Kensui Swissies™? What’s the price?
The only place you can get the Swissies™ is through Kensui’s official website.
They sell them for $37 which is a very reasonable price for an accessory that can be used for many exercises.
Closing thoughts about Swissies™ from Kensui
The neutral grip is essentially a halfway point between the supinated and pronated grip and is a useful addition to a training regime. However, it does require a special attachment or a bar with neutral handles. This is the moment when Swissies™ – versatile neutral grip handles from Kensui – enter the scene. Performing exercises with a neutral grip helps, among others, to reduce the stress on the rotator cuff.
Rating Breakdown: Swissies from Kesui
They can hook onto any bar, barbell, or band making them versatile. And they’re very stable with the inner hook rubber lining. Highly recommended for anyone!
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Weight capacity
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Grip strength
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Stability
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Portability
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Versatility
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Build & Ergonomics
