Gloves or Not?

trent27 · Newbie Joined: 10 Jun 2003 Posts: 49 City: Newark

I have been wakeboarding now for 9 years and just can't ride without gloves. I try sometimes, but everytime I do I end up putting them back on because I don't feel like I have any grip and the handle slips out of my hands. Any tips on how to gradually go from gloves to no gloves. Now everytime I compete it's like less and less people wear gloves and I feel stupid putting on my gloves and the judges kind of laughing. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

koltman · Addict Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 902 City: Sydney/Orlando

You need to work out your lower arm muscles. And throw away your gloves, if you keep going back to them, you'll never change. Also what handle do you have?

JHrod · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 3144

my tip is too kick the judges ass if they laugh at you Laughing

Tyson · Posted: Jun 24, 2003 8:39 pm Post subject:

You've gotta start building up some caluses to help your grip out. The way you build them up is your decision though Shocked

timmy · Addict Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 882 City: Jupiter, FL

ride for a week or two without gloves and soon you will find that you don't need them. at first it will hurt a bit, but after a while it is nice. i wore gloves for the longest time but kicked the habit this spring.

mdshoes2 · Outlaw Joined: 17 May 2003 Posts: 145 City: FLORIDA

i just started wearing gloves because i got tired of getting blisters all over my hand! It sucks when you try to go out like 2 days in a row. At least the gloves look somewhat decent though. Surprised

quigglymaster · Posted: Jun 24, 2003 9:38 pm Post subject:

just work up the callouses on ur hand, they'll come eventually. raquet sports help a lot. my calouses after badminton got prett good.

Fredrick Eisenhauer · Posted: Jun 24, 2003 11:33 pm Post subject:

Or let a job in the labor business and you will get strong hands then.

trent27 · Newbie Joined: 10 Jun 2003 Posts: 49 City: Newark

The handle I use is the Straight Line Tractor Grip. Should I get a different handle? I've heard the team handles feel nice, but you don't get a good grip. Any suggestions?

wakeriderof87 · Posted: Jun 25, 2003 10:20 am Post subject:

get a nice and cushy eva handle, they feel much better and are easier to grip.

King of the Tigers · Posted: Jun 25, 2003 10:27 am Post subject:

Ya, the tractor grip will tear your hands up. Me and my friends still go gloveless during the summer even with our tractor grip. I work out using those weights that give you calouses so I don't notice the tractor grip. But hey if you like gloves don't worry about stupid judges or hot babes... ok just not the judges.

PimpinD · Addict Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Posts: 785 City: Orlando, FL

bah, throw those gloves away, i know i have ripped threw like 5 blisters in the same spot, so that blood was coming out of my hand, after the day was over, and was forced to wear 1 glove hehe, i called it the MJ style Very Happy

. but i threw that away after the first couple went away, even thoughi still can see the place where they formed.

c glass · Posted: Jun 25, 2003 6:51 pm Post subject:

dont be a Taco Bell Chalupa

hc_zer0skater · Posted: Jun 25, 2003 8:01 pm Post subject:

mdshoes2, where do you live in Florida?

Tyler · Posted: Jun 25, 2003 8:10 pm Post subject:

If there is no reason to ride with em why not wear em? im sorta new to the wakeboarding stuff, but i do water ski and slalom ski and try to wakeboard Embarassed

I dont do the water sports thign alot cos htere isnt really any where to go here in alberta unless there lakes 2 hours out thats are choppy and full of people so i only get to go at my cabin, i dont need gloves and ive never tried, i race ds and free ride (pedal bikes) so i have great hands/arms from just biking alot. I refuse to ride with out gloves it just feels unnatural plus the padding is good when u go into trees or bail ect, but do you loose alot of feeling on the ski handle?

Ride wiht what you like, i see no reason to wear em unless u cant hang on?

Ty,

MackDaddyWake1 · Posted: Jun 25, 2003 8:11 pm Post subject:

It's cool dude, you can put your gloves in your purse when your not riding.

Lindsay · Posted: Jun 25, 2003 8:31 pm Post subject:

just say no to gloves

J_DOGG · Posted: Jun 26, 2003 4:01 am Post subject:

Lindsay said it! - NO GLOVES....

I have rode 3 to 4 sets a day 4 days in a row and never ripped my hands apart like you guys talk about and I sit in front of a computer all day for work.

Leggester · Posted: Jun 26, 2003 4:57 am Post subject:

Wear gloves it you want, no big deal.

If you're like me, you don't want callouses on the hands. I basically type for a living and cannot afford the loss of dexterity.

I myself prefer the 3/4 HO gloves.

mandi · Outlaw Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Posts: 223 City: Oklahoma

I have the Connelly Tournament gloves. Last summer I didn't wear any gloves and I hated being in so much pain from my blisters and I still have my callouses. I have the same handle as Trent. It does tear your hand apart. But hey buddy if us girls can handle the pain I know you can. I only use the gloves to help my grip. I am already to the point of callouses.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Buy a handle that doesn't require gloves. I used to have a tractor grip that would tear my hands up. I bought one of those 'squishy' handles and it's great.

Grouch · Posted: Jun 26, 2003 12:38 pm Post subject:

jbelson · Guest

I wear gloves so I dont chip my nails. My OBGYN recomenede it.
No seriously, I wear gloves.

THey're your hands, stick 'em in whatever you want.

Wake upPp · Soul Rider Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 338 City: NOR-CAL

friends don't let friends wear gloves... knock that purse off ur shoulder!!

Jake0306 · Posted: Jun 26, 2003 7:16 pm Post subject:

as someone earlier said on here, take off those damn hand panties.

Hoya · Newbie Joined: 22 Jun 2003 Posts: 3 City: NE

go to the gym and lift free weights. that is the fastest way to build grip strength, caluses, and muscle.

patmetro · Newbie Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Posts: 17

no gloves

byerly2003 · Criminal Joined: 13 May 2003 Posts: 82 City: Nashville

no gloves, without it seems like behind the back handle passes are so much easier. i use the 2003 Accurate Byerly v shape handle it doesn't hurt my hands at all and i barely have any calluses

ice9v2 · Newbie Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 34 City: Conroe

Buy a Premier handle (aka squishy eva). Gloves not required with it (and I used to wear gloves pretty regularly)

louis123 · Posted: Jun 27, 2003 7:04 am Post subject:

i started to ride with gloves and i like it
i can ride 5 hours non stop and my hands wont hurts!!
but my feet will
Very Happy

NAW · Posted: Jun 27, 2003 7:21 am Post subject:

I use a tractor grip and don't wear gloves.....I type all day too.

trent27 · Newbie Joined: 10 Jun 2003 Posts: 49 City: Newark

Thanks for the tips. I'm not sure where everyone got the impression that my hands hurt from not wearing gloves. If you review my first post I said that the handle slips out of my hand, but my hands never hurt. That's never been the problem. I lift weights on a regular basis and have built up many caluses. I just don't see the benefit in NOT wearing them besides for the fact that you have a better feel for the handle on handle pass mobes and spins. I still hit all of my mobes though and never have any problem passing the handle. I guess I was looking for more of a reason why not to wear them. For all of you that put truthful post to help. Thank You. Now for all of the others with smart remarks and no tips, the day you can ride like me is the day I'll ride without gloves. Which would probably be never. If you can ride like me then grow up and help the people out that are beginners and need good advise. Represent wakeboarding in a positive way since we all know it's the best sport in the world. At least I think so.