Grips

[Bay Valley]

She has very tough hands. Her coach has her carry a calluse remover in her bag. I can't even remember the last time she had a rip, probally 1 year ago. She has had 8.500 on level 6 bars before, but her bars isnt the greatest yet. Her kips are very nice, her big problem is keeping her body tight! Being so young is probally a advantage for her give her more time too get use to them. Joyce

[flippymonkeysmom]

Most coaches don't want girls to start using them in the middle of competition season. As a lot of others said - some have to "re-learn" skill with grips since the feel of the bar is different. My dd's coach had them start using grips when going from level 5 to 6.

[awposey1]

In our gym they get them when they have mastered a low bar and high bar kip. My duaghter got her first pair while working her kip and made the kip the first time she used grips (so she was sold). This weekend we saw Level 10's from Funtastics performing really big skills with NO grips...DD was horrified!

[bogwoppit]

Charlotte Mackie a Canadian Elite gymnast doesn't use grips, none of the gymnasts from her club (Omega BC) wear grips ever, they are awesome bar workers.

I think the coaches of each club dictate when and if girls use grips. Some clubs we compete against have their girls wear grips from the start, our club some wear grips, some do not, it is their choice.

[MoonKid]

Wow, I never even noticed that Charlotte Mackie doesn't wear grips, and she's one of my favourite gymnasts.

Edit: Gael Mackie (Charlotte Mackie's older sister) wear grips even though she's also from Omega Gymnastics.

[bogwoppit]

She began to wear grips after she went to school in the states, if you check old vids she didn't wear grips as a younger gymnast. I sat with Brit Rogers parents and the other club parents last yea, none of their girls wear grips. Odd, but true.