The Crazy Cool Part About This? It Is Not As Much As You Think!
If you have smaller hands than most behemoth armwrestlers, I wouldn’t worry too much. The sport accounts for hand size differences in a multitude of ways. While hand size is a genetic factor and big hands mean you could be a pro armwrestler, many ingredients go into the recipe of an expert arm wrestler. Also, it is important to remember the key factors that win a match:
- Power (explosiveness)
- Use of technique
- Experience
- Table IQ
Let’s Talk About Hand Size And Armwrestling In Terms Of Weight Classes
First and foremost, there is a significant chance that you will be armwrestling within your weightclass. Unless you are a chicken nugget like me, chances are you will be armwrestling at equal hand size. Most of the time armwrestlers with larger hands armwrestle each other (because they both happen to be heavyweights), and smaller people will be armwrestling each other with smaller hands (because they both compete at lighter weights); following so far?
Hand Size Only Works For Your Benefit If You Know How To Use It
Smaller hands can suffer because they can’t grip their large-handed opponent well. Conversely, large hands can have difficulty ensuring a smaller opponent’s knuckle remains visible—leading to the strap!
When you have small hands, your opponent has to grip you lower. Not only can this put you in an advantageous position with smaller hands, but it also leads to the use of the arm wrestling strap, which ensures both opponents are locked in.
Also, you can force a hook quickly because the larger-handed opponent, by nature and rules, has to grip you lower due to the strap.
Scenarios And Strategies For Armwrestling Based On Hand Type Match-Up
Large Hands vs. Small Hands
Pin them quickly. Grip fairly. Don’t let them bring out the armwrestling strap or you will be gripping lowly on your smaller-handed opponent.
Small Hands vs. Large Hands
You will most likely have a shorter forearm and smaller wrist due to your smaller hand size. This is not a bad thing. Use this to your advantage by having the larger-handed opponent grip lower. If they slip, the straps come out. You must use your hands to execute an armwrestling hook and a top roll at the speed of light before your large-handed opponent can use their leverage.
Small Hands vs. Small Hands
Level playing field; carry on usually!
Large Hands vs. Large Hands
Level playing field; carry on usually!
A Grip Trick: Titan Squeeze
The last trick in my playbook for smaller armwrestlers: use your index finger and your thumb to execute an insane grip around your larger-handed opponent’s thumb. This squeeze can be pretty uncomfortable for the competition. You can hone it by working on your grip strength training!
Parting Thoughts About Hand Sizes In Armwrestling
I am a decent armwrestler and I have small hands. If you can train your explosive power, technique, and strategy to align with your genetics, you can work wonders at an armwrestling table. Tim Bresnan, Rustam Babayev, and Dmitri Vizii all have smaller hands, and they dominate the table. You decide your limits in armwrestling.