Is there any reason to occasionally not use wrist wraps during wrist stressing movements?
I used to only use wrist wraps when I would get the occasional wrist fatigue or pain. It helped things heal fast. Lately I’ve just been using it during all presses and that has prevented me from ever getting any wrist pain. But as a general strength athlete, I’m not sure if I am limiting any potential wrist gainz. But more seriously, if I am limiting my wrist from adapting to higher loads by always relying on wraps.
“Wrist gainz” aren’t really a thing in the context of a general strength trainee, so carry on. I don’t see a mechanism by which the wraps would prevent adaptation, in the same way that I don’t see knee sleeves or a belt inhibiting adaptation.
I suffered a fractured scaphoid / radius years ago that need some hardware inserted to fix Though long since healed, occasionally things still make area angry, dirt biking in one, pressing is another. Since focusing on getting my grip sorted or trying as best I can to use a ‘bulldog grip’ as its known, I’ve had no need for wraps. In my own case at least, I found the exoskeleton like function of the wrap was masking the fact I was letting my wrists drift into extension, and thats what was causing the issues.
I have giant wrists of about 6.5". When it’s hot and they’re swollen. They used to start hurting when I reached a (then heavy) press of around 100lb. So one day I started to adopt a proper grip as described by Jordan and SS and never experienced any wrist issues ever since even when reaching a press of 205.
I would also say that the way wraps work is different to how the belt works in the squat and my estimation is that if you really need them you’re allowing your wrists to bend. And if they bend you’re gripping incorrectly. I mean if you feel like you need them I don’t see any harm in using them but I would still rather learn to grip correctly.