RINGS FAQS
Wood or plastic?
You have two choices with your strength training. Move other things, or move yourself. I have time for literally any type of training, but Olympic rings will always be near the top of the tree.
There are benefits to both. Wood looks nicer, and is (arguably) gentler on the hands, but plastic is cheaper and you can leave your rings hanging outside in the rain. A final consideration is the surface – whatever you go for, you’ll want enough grip to be able to hold on comfortably. Wood edges it, just.
If you’re short on space and time, rings are one of the most versatile investments you can make. Apart from unlocking an array of new moves, they’ll add unpredictability to existing ones, forcing your often-neglected stabiliser muscles to work overtime to keep up and building your focus and coordination. Another benefit is that a lot of moves can put excess strain on the elbows, since your wrist wants to naturally rotate, but can’t – unless you’re using rings.
Where should I start?
When it comes to learning how to move and using nothing but your own bodyweight to get stronger, it’s hard to beat the versatility Olympic rings offer. Anyone can go up to a set of rings and hang on them – maybe even hit some L-sit pull-ups and some dips – but the problems come when you take your training past those simple exercises.