Table of Contents
Parallel Set
A parallel set positions the gripper so the inner faces or centerlines of the handles are approximately parallel before the final one-handed close. It is narrower than a credit-card set and usually wider than a deep set.
Mash Monster terminology
In GripBoard history, Mash Monster Set or MMS became closely associated with a set no deeper than parallel. The name refers to the rules of the Mash Monster system, not to every training close that happens to begin near parallel.
Because handle shapes and camera angles differ, “parallel” is not a universal millimeter value. An official attempt must follow the organizer's visual standard, gauge or referee instructions.
Technique
The non-closing hand normally seats the palm-side handle and brings the moving handle inward. Once the permitted starting position is established, the setting hand releases and the closing hand finishes the sweep.
Parallel-set training is popular because it allows consistent hand placement while retaining a meaningful final sweep. It is also useful for comparing grippers when the same athlete and setup are used.
Documentation
Film perpendicular enough to the handles that the starting position can be judged. State whether “parallel” is a training description or a specific rule such as MMS.