Purpose Of Honey In Gymnastics

Gymnastic competition, especially the bar events, require men and women gymnasts to have a firm hand grip for both safety and proper execution of their routines. In the preparation before performing a gymnastic routine, many gymnasts use a combination of honey, gymnastic chalk and leather grips on their hands.

History of Hand Grip Preparation in Gymnastics

Hand grip preparation in gymnastics has evolved over the years. Before the 1960s, gymnasts commonly used the dust from pine rosin bags as a grip aid. In the 1960s gymnastics began using gymnastics chalk, which is mainly magnesium carbonate, to ensure a good grip on bar events. To produce an even better hand grip on bar events, today's gymnasts often mix gymnastics chalk and a stickum, such as honey or sugar water.

Events that Require Hand Grip Preparation

All Olympic gymnastic events require some degree of hand grip preparation but proper preparation of the hands is most critical for the bar events. In women's gymnastics, hand grip preparation is especially important in uneven bars. Men's gymnastics has more events that require proper hand grip preparation, including the horizontal bar, pommel horse, parallel bars and still rings. As a general rule, men and women's floor exercise, vaulting and women's balance beam require less hand grip preparation than the bar events.

Hand Preparation for Bar Events

Gymnasts often prepare their hands for a bar event by using a combination of grip aids.
A gymnast might first put a hand grip on both hands, which is a piece of leather that runs down the inside of the hand, is approximately 2 inches wide and is attached to two or three middle fingers at the top and secured to the wrist at the bottom. The next step is to apply honey on the fingertips and/or palms. To finish the process, the gymnast applies a liberal amount of gymnastics chalk to both hands and rubs them together.

The Grip and Release

Even though gymnasts use hand grips, chalk and honey for a better grip, it is important to not apply too much honey to the hands. Some gymnastic skills require the gymnast to perform a release from the bar and a skill in the air, before regrasping the bar. In addition, at the end of a gymnastic routine, the gymnast releases and performs a complex dismount. It takes years of practice to become an expert gymnast and during this time gymnasts learn how much hand grip preparation is optimal for performing a routine in each event.