Facts on Towel Pull-Ups

1. Get a Grip

Do you want a firm handshake? Have you ever wanted to win an arm-wrestling match? The key to both is grip strength. Improving grip helps rock climbers support their weight, allows wrestlers to exert strength from unusual positions and makes it possible for a man to rip a phone book in half or bend steel. Grip strength helps with virtually every athletic event, from football to weightlifting.

2. Bigger Isn't Better

Large muscles and strength are two different aspects. Someone with large muscles may not be able to rip a phone book in half, while a small, wiry person can easily bend horseshoes. Small wrists shouldn't stop you from working on your grip or doing towel pull-ups. Once you develop grip and forearm strength, the size of your wrist doesn't matter. If you have weak wrists, building the strength, not size, of the surrounding muscles helps compensate.

3. Slip and Slide

Have you ever wondered how to do a towel pull-up? The first technique wraps a towel around the pull-up bar. Use one towel for each hand and grip the bar through the towel. The more bulk between your hand and the bar, the harder it is to grip the bar. To start, drape the towel over the bar like you would a towel rack. As you pull your body up, the towel tries to slip around the bar. Maintaining your grip challenges your muscles and develops grip strength.

4. Hang Around

Want more of a challenge? Drape the towels over the bar and grab the ends in each hand. Pull your body up using just the towel. You can work one arm at a time with one towel or both using two towels. To start, secure the ends of the towel with duct tape to keep the towel tight and grip the towel just below the bar. Move your hands further down the towel toward the ground as your skill improves. You may want to twist the towel to resemble a braid or rope. Even if you don't do the full pull-up, hanging on the towel for as long as possible helps develop muscles.

5. Terry Cloth vs. Egyptian Cotton

The type of towel you use for towel pull-ups affects the level of difficulty. Small workout towels with a rough texture help you grip better, and the shorter distance from the bar actually reduces the level of challenge. Smooth towels increase the chance of slipping and require a more firm grip. The longer the towel and the farther your hands are from the bar, the more difficult it becomes to complete a pull-up.