Wrist strength: grippers versus dumbbell crush?

[Lordmuppet]

So I'm planning on building up my very weak wrists in accordance with this http://www.t-nation.com/testosterone-magazine-640?s=indexTitle#building-the-death-grip Go to the article 'building the death grip' if it doesn't take you there straight away.

Thing is good grippers are not cheap so I'm wondering is there any justification to buying grippers when I already have an olympic dumbbell and weights (including fractionals) that I can do dumbbell crushes with?

thanks!

edited to add: I ask because the article seems to suggest that they both (Grippers and crush) develop the same type of wrist strength

[wannalift]

You are better off doing the dumbbell crush exercise. The dumbbell crush will build your crushing strength better than grippers. Gripper strength actually doesn't translate as well as one might think. You can also do this with both hands on a barbell and it's called 'finger curls'. That routine looks pretty good. Here is another one that is good for pretty much any level:

http://www.davidhorne-gripmaster.com/basics.html

Basic training routine

Firstly you should have reasons why you are training on certain exercises, and a goal that you want to achieve short term at the end of your 12-16 week programme.

Always train all your body, it's not benificial to your body to have a strong grip, but a weak unhealthy body. Two to three days a week training on the rest of your body is sufficiant, and use the basics, i.e. some kind of squat, deadlift, press, bench press, dips, chins, and curl.

Recently I was asked about a program for beginners.
Here is that ‘First Workout For Beginners, Gain a strength base with no injuries’ post. I seem to be seeing a lot of beginners jumping into all sorts of feats of strength, including bending before they have got any real base strength in the hands and wrists. This is what I would advise to the pure beginner to start with, for a good few months before he/she decides on the path they want to choose. I think this will stop a lot of injuries that are happening due to imbalances between certain areas.

Exercises
1. Two Hands Pinch Lift for holds, also use work gloves to protect your skin.
2. Finger curls with an Olympic Bar, overhand grip. Hold it on the last set when you can't do anymore finger curls.
3. Two Hand Wrist Curl. Normal, with a comfortable range of motion. Do not let the bar go into your fingertips like some bodybuilders do, also do them with your thumb under the bar as you are training your wrists and don't want to fight against the thumb digit on top of the bar.
4. Two Hands Reverse Wrist Curl.

Do the Pinch holds for 10-15 seconds, and the other exercises for 15-20 reps.

These were some questions I got asked.
1. How often?
I would do them 3 times a week if you can, but twice a week if struggling with this.
2. How many sets of each?
I would say 3 sets per exercise, which you should easily do quickly. If this is a struggle then go down to 2 sets.
3. What about crushing?
The 'crushing' exercise is Finger curls with an Olympic Bar, overhand grip. This is an easy exercise to learn for the beginner and doesn't have the techniques of setting, etc. Grippers can be brought in later when they want to excel at this implement.
4. Why the gloves with pinching?
You can easily tear the skin in between the index finger and thumb, which would put you out of action, especially since you will be pinching 3 times a week. This initial program for the beginners is all about strengthening, and the gloves will make it a tougher exercise, but safer for the skin.
5. Should you do all these exercises on one day?
Yes. In the order I stated.

Hopefully this will help some beginners out there, it’s also a good routine even for advanced athletes.

[Webb]

The dumbbell crush will be fine, you should definitely check out David Horne's routine that wannalift posted.

If you have a sledge hammer or adjustable dumbbells, use them for leveraging, it's an excellent way to build wrist strength.


Edit: I didn't realize you said you had on oly dumbbell. For leveraging, you just load one side of it and use the other as the handle. Also the thick handle will work the heck out of your grip.