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Super Wraps vs. modern "Rubber Wraps"
Tue, 03/09/2010 - 10:59am — TomNFlorida
Dr. Hatfield,
Correct me if I'm wrong, but when you squatted 1014, you used Super Wrap 3's, or a variation thereof. By the way, I still think that squat is one of the greatest squats of all time, factoring in the squat suit material then, the brief material as compared to today and your clearly legal depth. I know you had utter disdain for what you referred to as "rubber wraps". I couldn't agree more. Back in the mid-90's, while in my 40's, I squatted 800+ twice as a drug-free lifter, using a single-ply suit, single ply briefs. Mike Francis, my training partner of 23 years, who is life-time drug-free, has squatted 800+ more times than I can remember. In fact, at age 50, he is about to hit a 750 squat raw! Here's what Mike and I found back then. No matter who made the rubber wraps; no matter how tight they were applied, they simply did not come even close to providing the rebound of the Super Wrap 3's. When Marathon went out of business, a similar but inferior brand called "Sharkskin" came out. Even though they were inferior, they were still significantly superior to the rubber wraps. Then Sharkskin went out of business, sometime around 1996 or so, and since then, no one to my knowledge makes that type of wrap anymore.
6.5 years ago, I suffered a major injury, with a complete detachment of the lower quad in my left knee. The fall also caused damage in my right knee, so I have had surgery in both knees. I thought my days of squatting were over and done with. However, in the last couple of years, I have slowly been coming back; nothing extravagant, but ok for a 54 year old. Last year, I hit a very conservative 500, wearing an old, ripped out Champion suit, without any briefs. What I did have was a 15 year old pair of Sharkskin wraps. I'm getting ready to compete in a federation where the length of the wraps is limited to 2 meters, so I thought I'd try some of the newer wraps to see if there was any improvement. I've tried 4 different pairs and found I got the same results as I did years ago. They simply stretch and give, no matter how tight they're wrapped. Here's an example. Three weeks ago, wearing a pair of Inzer knee sleeves, I hit 405 for 9 reps, straps down. I figured with a good pair of knee wraps, I could add 50 lbs and still hit 5-6 reps. The following week, wearing a pair of Titan THP wraps, which are supposed to be "cast-like", I went up to 455 and with the wraps so tight, my hands and forearms ached from the effort, I found myself having to gut up a very hard single. I dropped down to 435 and once again, with the wraps super-tight, managed to hit three very hard reps. Now, with legs and back tired from the maximum effort, I broke out my 15-year old pair of Sharkskins, cut down to 2 meters. These wraps have seen their best days behind them. I wrapped up with those, went back to 435 and hit 6 reps! The following week, I went back to 455, wearing the old , worn-out Sharkskins and hit it for 5 reps! The point to all of this is, so many of us know this type of wrap is far superior to the rubber wraps, but so many of the newer lifters have never been exposed to that type of wrap and don't realize how much better the Super Wrap 3-style of wrap is. They have been brain-washed into believing the toilet paper roll-sized rubber wrap is the best thing out there. I have searched far and wide and cannot find this type of wrap anywhere. Do you know anyone that still makes this style of wrap and if not, do you think there is anyone we can convince to bring this style back, based on the merits and superiority of it? As I know you know, you could torque those Super Wrap 3's up to the point where you could not bend your knee whatsoever without decent weight and you didn't get exhausted wrapping with them. We've recently even had a couple of elite lifters use an old pair of the Sharkskins and they couldn't believe how much more support those 15 year old wraps provided over what they are currently using. My wraps are on their last legs and I simply will not squat anything even remotely heavy without that style of wrap. I'm sure hoping you can help on this.
Tom Harrier
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The best wraps I've used
The best wraps I've used were the TP 5000 wraps by Frantz but that was 4 years ago. THose were cast like. I order some new ones from Frantz and they are too tough and will not get tight around my wrist or knees.
Try some APT convicts. Much better wrap with lots of stopping power. TItans and Inzer wraps are terrible.
APT has a nice line and they
APT has a nice line and they rock. I like and use the Strangulator/Convict hybrid.
Willis Lewis, Jr.
"The man that dreams success is already successful"
two old threads
http://drsquat.com/content/knee-wraps-what-look-recommended
http://drsquat.com/content/knee-wraps-900-1000-lb-leg-presses
This was my take back then, and it still is today. Anyone want
There are two theories behind manufacturing knee wraps. The most prevalent theory (which I don't agree with) is that a heavily elastic wrap is best because too much fabric behind the knees of smaller guys screws up their knees. With this kind of wrap, you must get 'em on as tight as possible -- stretch 'em as close to the limit of elasticity as you can -- because the moment you begin squatting, the wraps "give." At that point, they become less than supportive despite how tight they feel.
The second theory (which I ascribe to) is that the wrap must stretch out to as long a length as possible (at least 20 feet). That means that whatever elastic you use in them, they nonetheless must shrink to a legal 2 meter length. Getting the wrap around your knees as many times as possible has an obvious advantage. More support means more poundage in the squat. With less elastic, you are able to get them on REALLY tight without having to worry about the elastic stretching when the act of squatting stretches them. When standing, they may feel less tight than highly elastic wraps, but the moment you begin squatting they do not give and thus support you more.
On top of that, for you lifters who like to put your own knee wraps on before lifting (as did I), you won't wear yourself out putting this kind of wrap on nearly as much as you would with the highly elastic ones.
Here's the best way to put on a wrap, regardless of which you own...
Start at the top, 2-3 times around the quadriceps tendon (pinning that tendon to the underlying bone, thereby improving leverage). Criss-cross the knee 3-5 times (depending on the size of your knees), so as to avoid getting too much fabric behind the knee joint, and also to provide greater support when descending. Then do a couple at the bottom to pin the wraps in place, and end up at the top with about 5 inches of wrap left. Tuck the excess under the first layer of wraps above the knee, as this will give the illusion of a deeper squat when viewed from the side. Leave a piece of the end sticking out so that the wrap can be released after squatting with a mere flick. Be sure to chalk the wraps well...impregnate a lot of chalk dust into the wraps beforehand to minimize fabric slippage and thereby maximizing the wrap's support.
Roger's wrapping method is archaic. It isn't that it's not a good method -- any method of tight wrapping is good -- but there's a much better way! He's right about wrapping in-to-out, and he's right about starting at the bottom. But....
Go as high above the knee as the rules allow, and pin the quad tendon to the femur with super-tight wrapping three time around (better leverage this way). Little guys can get away with this (big guys maybe only twice around the top because you need more wrap for the next step). Next, diagonal criss-crosses over the knee as many times as you have wrap for. This leaves the crease behind the knee free of excessive wrap material which is damaging to the knee in the bottom position. Fold the end and tuck it under the TOP of the wrap so there's a bulge on TOP of the knee and also so you can pull the end untucked easily after the squat attempt. The bulge presents the illusion of a deeper squat to the judges.
Furthermore...
Your choice of the wrap you use is important. Here's how to judge...
The heavier the wrap (weigh it on a small food scale) the better. Usually that means that there's more material (and thus more support). Also, the rules allow the wrap to be 2 meters in length...measure it! Always use NEW wraps in competition, as they stretch longer than the allowable limit after use, and you'll have to cut them (that means less material and less support). Now stretch the wrap to it's full length and measure it. A good wrap will stretch close to 20 feet...bad wraps only stretch about 12-14 feet. The myth is that you need real strong elasticity. NONSENSE! You need FABRIC! NOT rubber! In the hole, fabric will give you support, whereas rubber will give.
Modern knee wraps
Probably the reason behind their thick fabric is the 2 meter rule
I'm also using some toilet paper roll-sized rubber wraps and I can tell you that you need to squat in them for several workouts to get maximum support as the rubber seems to be getting loose and easier to stretch thus allowing a tighter wrap because you need to tighten them past the point of elasticity where tightness comes from fabric not rubber.
I agree with Doc 100% but since we are limited to the 2 meter length the old style 3-3.5 meter wraps are just not allowed and cutting them down to 2 meters means just too little material for optimal support.