Underhand grip
Also known as: Supinated grip, Reverse grip
An underhand grip holds an implement with the palms facing up or, when the arms hang, away from the body. The forearms are supinated, so "supinated grip" is the precise anatomical label. "Reverse grip" is common when underhand reverses the exercise's usual overhand position.
Examples include chin-ups, curls, underhand rows, and reverse-grip pulldowns or presses. Supination changes the positions and leverage of the forearm, elbow, and shoulder, but its effect cannot be separated from grip width, elbow path, attachment, and exercise technique. An underhand grip may give the elbow flexors a favorable role in some pulling exercises; it does not isolate one muscle or guarantee greater growth.
One underhand hand combined with one overhand hand forms a mixed grip, most often used for deadlifts. A neutral grip places the palms toward each other, while an overhand grip pronates both forearms. These names describe orientation, not a complete exercise prescription.
Full supination on a straight bar can be uncomfortable or unavailable for some wrists, elbows, or shoulders. Dumbbells, angled handles, or an EZ bar may allow each hand to find a more tolerable position. "More range" is not automatically better if the grip forces another joint away from the intended form.
During a mixed-grip deadlift, the underhand elbow should remain extended rather than actively curling the bar. In other exercises, load and range should still be increased gradually. An underhand grip is neither inherently dangerous nor automatically safer; equipment, control, symptoms, and the consequences of losing the implement all matter. Persistent pain, weakness, or numbness warrants an adjusted setup and, when appropriate, professional assessment.