Simple exercises for strengthening your grip?

[f13ldy]

Recently in the gym my grip of my right hand is slowly weakening to a point where it is uncomfortable to make a fist and as such holding weights is pretty hard. Most of the pain is coming from my little finger.

I know that in the family there is a hereditary problem (my father and his father suffered in their mid 50s, I'm 29) of the tendons for the pinky giving up and leaving the finger in a pistol grip position unable to move unless it is operated on.

Are there simple forearm exercises than can increase my strength (bearing in mind I might be onto a losing battle anyway)? I have a powerball, maybe time to dig this out again...

[Morba]

Plate pinches, plate drop and catches, static holds

[ShadownINja]

Could try one of those grip strength trainers:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0...

Or the hinged thing with the spring.

They (the cheap ones, at least) are not great for power but good for rehab stuff.

[Morba]

If your gonna do grips then it might be worth picking up a captains of crush trainer and no1 gripper