In the strongman community we all realize how important grip strength is. It is virtually the starting point of all events. Even now, when we train some high school football players, and even a semi-pro 400lb lineman, we still focus heavily on getting their grip strength up. In most athletics, grip strength is a BIG plus. As grip strength begins to feed into full body strength (in deadlifts, rows, cleans, etc...) then you begin to understand how grip strength can hold you back when you thought it was "sufficient."