In Search of the Elusive Muscle Up...

The Story:


When I first started CrossFit occasionally a few WODs called for a Muscle Up. So we would always sub 4 dips and 4 pullups for 1 muscle up. One day I decided that we learn how to do a muscle up. So I went out and looked for rings. A lot of rings on the internet were $100+ and I wasn't sure I wanted to spend that. I should have just gone to Rogue Fitness or Again Faster. I ended up seeing some EXF Rings at Total Fitness USA. I had seen these online before and decided to pull the trigger and buy them. I figure it would force me to learn the muscle up and could always do ring dips on them in the mean time.

The Review:


So far I have had these rings for over a year and have been able to use them quite often. It is advertised with three different grips. The three grips, to me, aren't really three grips. Two sections of the ring are just different textures. The third grip is a rubber section. I really like the rubber section.

I use a hybrid grip. I like to put my pointer and middle finger on the top of the ribber grip and the plastic. Then my wrist sits on the rubber section. I am find that the rubber section really tears up your wrists (if you hold a false grip) when doing consecutive muscle ups.

The rubber section also is starting to tear off. At first I thought it was from nails digging into it but then I found out it is from my wrist and hands.  The friction fro the false grip is tearing the rubber off. It also comes off when you are lowering yourself down from the muscle up to do another one. Makes me worry when this will tear off.

The rings do come with a nice straps. The straps have numbers on it to make it easier to setup. This actually does help when you position the clips. Although since the numbers are painted on the numbers will start to come off due to wear and tear.


Conclusion:
IF you get these to start learning how to do a Muscle Up they can be nice because of the rubber grip that coats  1/3 of the rings. It will help a person hold on to the rings, get used to a false grip and also strengthen a false grip without hurting their wrists. The rubber grip is also great for doing ring dips and Hand Stand Push Ups. However in the long run I would not recommend these rings because of the rubber grip. I am finding that I actually don't like this grip. Not only is it tearing it can get in the way for rotating your hands over when not using the false grip in the kipping muscle up.

Pros:

Numbered strap
Rubber grip is good for ring dips and Hand Stand Push Ups

Cons:
Price ($80)
Rubber grip tears easily
Numbers are not permanent

broken toe blues

Had 
"JT."
or
"Lynne"
or
Death by Pullups
or 
Death by Muscle ups
or
HSPU's 15-13-11-9-7-5-3-1
L-Pullups 1-3-5-7-9-11-13-15 for time 
or 
30 Muscle Ups for Time
or
100 HSPU's for time
or
Tabata Pullups / Pushups / Situps / SDHP
or
Deadhang pullups / Overhead press 65# pyramid to 10 and back