The new World of Grip V2 adjustable gripper and the "thumb screws" for pinch training
Enter the V2
Just this month David Horne announced he was releasing a new model of his extremely popular Vulcan gripper. He stated this model would be improved beyond the current version of the award winning adjustable gripper.
As you can imagine, I was pretty excited. The Vulcan is a staple to my hand strength training, I do over 75% of my crush grip training with it and I must attribute my massive progress in 2011 to having a fully adjustable resistance crushing tool.
Additionally I ordered a set of the “thumbscrews” pinch apparatuses which easily attach to the legs of the vulcan. Several grip athletes I routinely email rave about these simple little handles.
First Impressions:
The V2 is very sturdy construction, without a doubt better design than the original Vulcan. I noted the new model looked bigger to me than the original. To test that idea I overlaid the V2 upon the Vulcan I have and discovered the height is the same between the prongs, yet the V2 handles are about 1/2 inch longer. More distinct is the MUCH wider spread on the handles. The V2 has a very wide handle settting.
Field Test:
I have no doubt using this gripper will make your setting power really fierce. The wider set handle means more spring stretch on the set, which means it’s harder. The Vulcan and V2 both share smooth handles, which are more challenging to position. The smooth handles are also a major plus- it saves your skin. Knurling is great for torsion spring grippers in contest, but they chew up your hands badly in training. The V2 will allow you to get in much more volume in training without cutting you or giving your hands hot spots.
The newer springs are Silver/black dipped and they are HARD. My perception is they are harder to close than the yellow and black striped “wasp” spring which was released this year as well. If you are not currently closing a 4 or 5 on the wasp you may find the silver spring is simply too hard. In this case I would recommend buying an orange or red spring.
The thumb screws are simply ingenious.
The slide on the ends of the V2 and allow you to train a variety of pinch gripers against an adjustable resistance. Some of the pinches you can try- Dynamic open hand pinch wide, DNP narrow, key pinch, palm squeeze, and the monkey grip. Normally to train all of these you would need a TTK or similar see-saw style tool. There is an issue with those. The #1 problem with a TTK is its bulky and can be difficult to find a suitable location to work with. Thumbscrews solve this problem. The second issue is resistance. A 2.5 lbs jump on a TTK can be a huge change in difficulty for many people. With the V2 and thumb screws you can micro load with rubber bands to ensure the difficulty is never too challenging.
A great tool!
Who does this set up benefit?
Everyone. Seriously.
One Vulcan gripper with one spring is equal to 24 Torsion spring grippers. Another way of saying that: (01) V2 = (24) TSG.
Cost of a V2- around 129 dollars from the UK. BTW on that topic Jedd Johnson has a mess of V2′s right now so you can order them and save on Shipping!
Cost of 1 torsion spring gripper – 19.99 to 49.99. This means one V2 is worth upwards of 1,000 dollars of grippers.
And if you buy two or three springs? More gripper difficulties than you will close.
If you train at a gym where they are not as Awesome as Movement Minneapolis (IE pretty much all other gyms) you will need some grip tools to get your mighty mitts on. A V2 and thumb screw pair fits in your bag. Throw in some Fatgripz and you have crush/pinch/support grip in a nice under 5 lbs package.
Know what that is? #Epicwinning as Doctor Sheen would say.
Exciting news on the adjustable gripper scene
Ryan Pitts – owner/operator of Strongergrip.com has acquired rights to manufacture an American made version of the Vulcan. This model is being delivered to me on Saturday at WSH leg 1 to field test. Ryan consulted on me for improvements and we added a key feature to the Strongergrip Vulcan to get you more strength and more PR’s faster. I will be posting results of my field test / abuse of the SGV very soon. I am extremely happy to have gotten the ball rolling on this deal to secure the worlds greatest hand gripper in a domestic model. More to come soon.
{ 14 comments }
Yea way harder to set on this new one! The closing is so smooth. Can’t wait to see your review on Ryan’s vulcan.
Soon, Ryan and I were going over some modification ideas just yesterday. The wait will be well worth it as we are making some changes which will up your gains considerably
I also purchased a V2 about a week back. I haven’t had the chance to try out the older versions but I can agree that this is an outstanding gripper
I’m at the monent on level 11 on my right hand and level 9 on my left.
Btw Adam, do you know what level on the Vulcan equals to a CoC#3?
/A.E
Depending on spring – gold spring is 14-16
I’m using a Dipped Black spring, thank you for the answer : )
Should be around the same. Typically the set is harder than a TSG but the finish is easier. When you can rep 14 I bet you close a 3
Was looking forward to Jedd getting a few domestic, but they sold out before I could get my hands on one! So I just ordered one from David Horne, I’ll pick up a set of thumbscrews in a couple weeks.
On that note, I am curious if you have any experience with the Tombstone vs the Europinch for those of us looking to save some $$$ on an adjustable pinch lifting apparatus.
Chris
I do not own a Tombstone, because I have an official apparatus. BUT if I didn’t I would have bought one. They are cut from the same steel plate, and the shape is the same. I have to imagine someones TS numbers would translate to the EPA very well. The obvious advantage of the TS is the weight. A europinch weighs at least 35 lbs or more depending on what plates are in it (the 6 mm steel plates are 12.5 lbs or so a piece for example) and a TS would fit in to a gym bag. Portable is a good thing in my book.
The other option is the Strongergrip model Ryan Pitts is developing. We are currently working out the kinks on a modular grip system to allow someone to train all facets of grip in a light weight package. I will update on this very soon.
Great post Adam!
I have 4 Vulcans now and 2 sets of Thumb Screws. One of my Vulcans is the V2
and I love it even with the wide handle spread. Like you said, it will help one’s
setting strength immensely.
Best review I’ve seen on the Vulcan to date!!!
Great job!!!
I don’t think it benefits anyone to make the handle spread so wide, except maybe someone with a hand as large as Rich Williams. The Vulcan II is a pain in the ass to set, to the point of frustration.
Aaron, did you find your levels dropped a lot on the v2?
Adam, I didn’t even know what a Vulcan was until I attended the Ft. Worth WSH event a few weeks ago. I was able to close a level 10 on the old Vulcan at 20mm after not touching grippers for several years. I ordered one prior to reading your review, so I was unaware the new models had an even wider spread. I’m closing a level 11 on the new model, but even attempting a close on anything higher than this is a pain in the ass to set. But it has had a big carryover to the COC’s for me. I’m smashing a 2.5 for 4 reps at 20mm, which I was unable to do even once before my Vulcan II.
Aaron how long have you been working with grippers now?
Off and on since 2001, with the biggest layoff being about 3 years. Every time I have taken a layoff though, I haven’t lost much strength, possibly due to my heavy squats, dls, etc.