Hand guard
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Hand guards, or grips are gymnastics equipment that aid both male and female athletes in artistic gymnastics.
[edit] Grips
Grips are supportive equipment that aid male gymnasts on the high bar, still rings and parallel bars, and female gymnasts on the uneven bars.
Grips usually consist of a strip of leather and a wrist strap of either velcro or a buckle. The strip of leather is about 5 centimeters across and has finger holes at the top for the third and fourth fingers. The holes should go down to the first knuckle. Gymnasts normally choose to wear something soft under the wrist strap. Currently, some brands of grips, such as Super Grips, are sold with removable pads that fit under the wrist straps.
Most competitive gymnasts wear dowel grips. These grips have a wooden dowel rod wrapped in leather placed between the grip and the fingers. When worn properly, the dowel extends the reach of the gymnasts fingers making it easier to grip the bar and swing. The leather also protects the hands during workouts. Men use grips with three finger holes and a small dowel for the High Bar (also known as Horizontal Bar) and only two holes coupled with a large dowel for the Still Rings. Women's uneven bars grips have only two holes and resemble the men's ring grips.
Gymnasts at the lower competition levels and those participating in recreational gymnastics often use grips without dowel rods. They do not give the gymnast any advantage in gripping the bar, but do help prevent rips from forming during bar practices. These grips are cheaper and are usually made out of thinner leather.
Grips are completely optional, and are not used by all gymnasts. Some athletes choose to make grips out of sports tape or gauze; others go without the equipment altogether.
No matter what type of hand protection is used on the 'bar' events, rips and blisters are usually unavoidable for gymnasts. These small injuries, in which the outer layer of skin separates from the hand or completely tears away, can be painful, but do not usually interfere with practice or competition.
[edit] Hand/wrist guards
Gymnasts may also wear wrist or hand guards or braces while competing on their other events. These braces do not offer the gymnast any performance advantage, but help to prevent injury by providing support and lessening impact on the wrists and hands. [1] Wrist guards are worn predominantly by female gymnasts competing on the floor exercise or vault, but are permitted for athletes of both genders under the Code of Points
| WAG apparatus (in Olympic order) |
|---|
|
Vault | Uneven bars | Balance beam | Floor |
| MAG apparatus (in Olympic order) |
|
Floor Exercise | Pommel Horse | Still Rings | Vault | Parallel Bars or P-Bars | Horizontal bar or High Bar |
| Equipment and uniforms |
