Grips on helmets?

[Andrewnewell 0]

I'd just like to get a few opinions about putting grips on helmets. Saw some video of the last air games where some teams had used a grip/loop on the helmets to aid them in carrying out some complex moves.

Is it a good idea that allows ff team's to come up with more imaginative moves?

Or is it an aid that highlights a flyers inability to carry out a manouver with out the aid of a grip?

[sdgregory 0]

Oh man that REALLY scares me! What if you get unstable while someone is holding your HEAD GRIP? Think of the pain that would cause! I would think I only want the best in the world holding a grip conected to my head.

Seems like a dumbass idea to me.

[ivanrockon 0]

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Oh man that REALLY scares me! ....Seems like a dumbass idea to me.

Same here man! Me as a tandem video guy in my DZ I have had some hard opening that have left me with sored neck, so I can not imagine some of my buddies yanking on my head because they can cork or worst...I do! Forget about it!

Ivan "Rock On"

[JamesNahikian 0]

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Or is it an aid that highlights a flyers inability to carry out a manouver with out the aid of a grip?

That's my belief. I note Alchemy and Loki do not use any grippers on their jumpsuits.

D. James Nahikian
CHICAGO

[Trent 0]

We debated doing this for our team suits. I figured if we could do the move right, we should just be flying a slot and using the grip as more of a touch to demonstrate that we we exactly where we want to be. Grips on suits can be helpful in things like the speed rounds, but you can just touch your hand to a leg and it's the same thing. Gripping on a helmet seems like an even worse idea since yanking around someones head and neck could be pretty painful. If you can't fly the slot without a grip, you shouldn't be flying the slot.

Oh, hello again!

[weegegirl 2]

why would you need a grip on someone's helmet? i'm with everyone else that i think this sounds dangerous. "gripping" someone's head should never happen. i've had headdown coaching where coaches have taken grip of my helmet and put my head in the right position. even such a light touch can be "too much". hmmm. curious to see what other, more experienced FFers think.

[freeflygoddess 0]

Sounds like a great idea! If you don't like your head on your shoulders.....

Ok, really though, what happens when your buddy has a grip on your helmet and bam, out pops your main...premature deployments head down suck enough without someone holding onto your head

[sdgregory 0]

Guess the consensus is pretty close to unanimous. No grips on helmet if you want to keep possession of your head.

[skyjuggler 0]

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why would you need a grip on someone's helmet?

My understanding is that the grips on the helmet tend to be used for exits. Just with any other type of grip, death grips and tension are not the aim, the flyers still need to fly their slot. I definately agree with this quote:

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If you can't fly the slot without a grip, you shouldn't be flying the slot.

A grip on the helmet is just the same as a grip on the suit as far as the concept goes. Lots of top freefly teams have grippers. I am not sure about Alchemey, but they used to use grips on their suits and I believe they had them last year, but other teams have grips on their suits.

I don't think they are a bad idea, but only really see them as a potential requirement for teams.
Once flying I don't see the point of them, as the quote above states, and could then imagine them being a problem / misused.
But for exits I can see the benefits. As for safety, I don't think they are dangerous, but then that is probably becasue I am visualising the design I have seen and the people who use them.

[Andrewnewell 0]

Thanks guy's.
will probably be putting grips on our suits to aid linked manoeuver's, but will probably stay away from helmet grips.

[WrongWay 0]

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i've had headdown coaching where coaches have taken grip of my helmet and put my head in the right position. even such a light touch can be "too much".

I think a helmet grip or loop is unnecessary if you know how to fly your slot. Even when maintaining a dock and doing transitions/movement, you should be able to fly your body and leave your hand where it needs to be. Keeping a death grip on the other person (particularly their head) can be pretty dangerous if ya ask me.

Wrong Way
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