Grip Strength Exercisers

Injuries didn't affect draft status for Puempel, Murphy

A couple of high-profile, draft-eligible players rebounding from serious injuries this season were in the spotlight at the NHL Scouting Combine earlier this month in Toronto.

Even though Peterborough Petes left wing Matt Puempel and defenseman Connor Murphy of the U.S. National Team Development Program were forced to miss significant time this past season as a result of their aliments, each player came away with high marks.

Puempel, who underwent surgery to repair a bone chip on his hip in March, wasn't able to participate in all the fitness tests but did endure the grip strength, bench press, push-ups and push/pull strength exercises. He also was interviewed by 28 NHL teams and given the mandatory medical examination.

By all accounts, everything went well for the native of Windsor, Ont.

"There were a good amount of questions on the hip," Puempel told NHL.com. "Teams wanted to make sure it was good to go and there were no lingering effects. But most teams were pretty good with it and even told me they're not worried about it.

"I was out in Colorado recently and kind of got the clearance to start skating again. The hip just has to build the muscle around it to be back as strong as it was."

Puempel played his last game Feb. 21, and the Petes won just two of their final 11 games to missing the playoffs by three points.

"He's been cleared to skate, so the surgery and recovery are going well," Central Scouting's OHL scout, Chris Edwards, said following the Combine. "I have not heard anything about his medical report, so I would guess he's not in danger of missing time next season. I don't think the surgery will affect his draft status … we've all seen enough of him to make a good, positive evaluation."

One highlight of Puempel's season was during the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Skills Competition in January, when he won the shooting accuracy event by knocking out four of five targets.

Murphy suffered from spondylosis, a stress fracture in his L5 vertebrae, during the first week of his season and missed five months.

"Surgery wasn't needed for this type of injury," Murphy said. "I was just wearing a back brace, sitting out and doing core strength, allowing the bone to heal itself. The trouble is it's not like an arm, where you can put it in a splint and relax. With a back, you're always using it. So once it's in a brace and in therapy, then it just needs time.

Grip Strength Gun Nuts Media

I came into possession of my first pistol by buying it off my mother.  She’s a wonderful lady.  It was a Glock 19.  A great gun in of itself, and for many reasons a great “first” gun for people to get into.  My friends who were in the Marines or had just gotten off active duty had to eschew my choice in firearms for it not being (A) a 1911 or (B) a HK pistol (C) not being .40 or .45.  So I caved to peer pressure slightly.  I traded my G19 for a G23 in .40.

Now that I had a Certified Man-Stopper Pistol, I needed to go shoot it.  What I didn’t understand was why my firing hand thumb hurt so bad, why my middle knuckle was getting beat up underneath the trigger guard, or why I couldn’t control the recoil when I shot with my left hand.  One thing became glaringly apparent.  No, I did not recognize that I had a less than optimal grip or that if I had practiced proper follow through after the shot I would have stayed more committed.  I know that now; but back then I knew everything there was to know about shooting and my Teacup Hollywood Weaver stance was IT!

What my short affair with a 23 model showed me was that I had a seriously weak Weak hand.  So I strove to make it stronger so eventually I could say I shoot just as well with either hand.  Finger tip push ups hurt, using chop sticks with my left hand was torturous and no one had the patience to wait for me to finish my meal.  Writing with my left hand was impossible.  I had all but given up hope.  So I did what anyone would do:  Take the easy way out.  I ditched the .40 and went with a Glock  19 again because it’s cheaper and easier to shoot with a higher capacity.  Later, I found a great grip strength training tool:  The Grip Pro Trainer .

This post is not an ad for a functional and affordable product that will help your shooting ability and other sports that require dextrous use of your hands (not getting paid to say this.)  The point of this whole vignette is that novice shooters, male or female; can get frustrated by long, heavy double-action trigger pulls or other  guns that recoil harshly.

Shooting guns for sport or for self defense will require certain amounts of athleticism if you want to see development.  You can train by dumping thousands and thousands of rounds downrange (and the firearms industry will appreciate every bit of that) or you can cross train with strength training exercises.

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