Gym Tips #1

A few excerpts from International Gymnast magazine's "Gym-Tips" (Nov 1991):

Circles are Gnarly, Dude!

For those of you who have an old pommel horse with leather slick as marble (and chalked hands slip off right and left), our California friends suggest a little surfboard wax for a better grip.  Just rub some across the top of the horse and you can hang ten all day.

Twisting Belt Medicine

A twisting belt is a delicate and valuable learning tool, so never drop it to the floor after you take it off.  The frame might get bent and then the belt won't twist freely.  As for lubricating the belt, never use oil or any liquid lubricant (it will get gunked up).  Graphite powder (available in hardware stores) is the best medicine to loosen those ball bearings.

Save Those Socks

With today's high-tech mega-grips, normal wristbands just don't cut it sometimes.  In fact, they can be a waste of money, especially if they are the thin kind that don't protect the wrists.  A good makeshift wristband is the elastic top of an old tube sock.  It can be doubled over for extra support, and the price is right.

High Bar Helper

If your gym is typical, the high bar gets used all afternoon by class kids who rarely use grips- or chalk.  Nothing-especially chalk- will stick to a pipe covered with hand sweat and grease.  No problem.  Get some fine-grain metal sandpaper and sand the bar in all directions.  This will remove the sweat and grease and put a "tooth" on the bar that will hold chalk.