The Tracy Rif Sock Sleeve
for High Rep Snatch and Swing Training

By Mark Reifkind,
Master RKC

Perhaps the most troublesome aspect of high repetition snatch and  swing training, especially for Comrades Ladies, is the wear and tear on  the hands. Women clients, most particularly, are loath to develop  calluses much less deal with tearing those calluses. While proper hand  care; consisting of shaving and filing large callus pads down regularly,  is vital, many trainees like to use some kind of hand protection during  rigorous training. One can use gymnastics grips (sometime poor feedback  from the bell), make grips from athletic tape (hard to do if you train  alone) or, you can use an innovative solution my wife came up with – the  Sock Sleeve.

This is a very simple solution to a vexing problem. The  gymnastics grips and the athletic tape work by reducing friction between  the hand and the bell. Holding the bell in the hook grip and NOT deep  in the palm is another key component to not tearing calluses and this  solution actually encourages the correct hand and grip position on the  bell.

All one has to do is find a pair of medium thickness socks and  cut the top, elastic portion of the sock off. A two-inch section is  best, although one can cut three inches if they have very large hands.  We have found crew socks, as opposed to tube socks to work best although  feel free to experiment. New socks works best as the fresh elastic  helps to keep the sleeve in the right part of the hand.

Simply slide the sleeve over the top of the hand covering the  lower portion of the fingers and the top section of the palm of the  hand. Just where the bell should sit if properly held!

That's it! Pick up the kettlebell and start snatching or  swinging and you will find there is considerably less friction in the  hand right from the start, but with almost no extra bulk to tax the  strength of the grip. The sleeve doesn't roll up as you swing and  encourages you to hold the bell in the correct part of the hand. You can  use this all the time or just when you feel tender or hot spots on the calluses.

A very simple but effective solution for keeping the hands in  tip top shape and keeping your training on track. Nothing worse than  wanting to train but having to make adaptations because the hands are  trashed. Enjoy!

Just a note from me on that.

I use these for high rep training. I find they work brilliantly, with a nice snug fit, and really save your hands from blistering.

Tom

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