Grip Length

[highfructose]

Does a smaller grip make it easier to get inverted?

[powerplant42]

Your grip should be very close to shoulder width. It has almost nothing to do with getting upside down, it has everything to do with the plant being easier and take-off through the swing being easier (which in turn carries you upside down easier). Does that help?

[highfructose]

Yeah, I hold my top hand out so that it is parallel to the ground and then I place my bottom hand at my arm pit. I always have trouble getting upside down and a guy at a meet the other day said to me "it looks like your bottom arm is blocking out, you might want to shorten the width of your grip."

After reading different posts on the forum I think I realized my swing from my trail leg is waaay weaker then it should be and that is a problem I need to work out.

[powerplant42]

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=15562
I asked a pretty open ended question on this topic there.

If you can learn to carry the pole CORRECTLY, then you'll barely need your bottom hand! The pole should feel nearly weightless as you lower it.

[highfructose]

In that topic someone mentions how narrower grip might help prevent "pole blocking".

Could you explain a little about what it is that the bottom arm is doing and preventing when it is "blocking"

[powerplant42]

Pushing into the pole (usually to bend it). It keeps you from swinging naturally/at your best.