By Josh Staph | 
See the issue: September 2006

Regardless of what sport you rep, a stronger grip can up your threat factor. It can mean better ball protection, a more powerful bat or stronger hold on the mat. Despite what many athletes think, functional grip strength doesn’t result from powerful forearms alone. You also need strong hands and fingers. Performing standard forearm curls in conjunction with drills that force you to squeeze your hands best improve your ability to grab and hold. Try this easy, do-it-yourself exercise twice a week to build inescapable meat hooks in no time.

Newspaper Crunch

• Lay full sheet of newspaper flat on table
• Pick up paper from center of sheet with one hand
• Keeping arm straight, slowly crumple newspaper until entire sheet is balled up inside your hand
• Repeat with other hand

Reps: Begin with five sheets per each hand; add one sheet each week until you are at 10 sheets.

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