I'm using only dumbbells and it's going to kill me soon....

[Deeko]

Eh, while grip muscles are a large factor in deadlift, I wouldn't really call it the 'target'. Most people don't do deadlifts with the intention of strengthening their grip, it's just a necessity of the exercise. And you are right, there can be other parts of your body that aren't ready for the heavy weight, but that doesn't mean this is always the case. And obviously you're right, mass gain is certainly not the only reason to do these exercises - but that's what most people come on here asking about, which is why I brought it up.

As a side note, you ask why I only make an exception for deadlift - I don't, I make an exception for anything where my grip is limiting me. I'll use straps from time to time on dumbbell rows as well (although slowly my grip is catching up there). I'd use them on pullups if I could, too. I make an exception because through all my years of weight training, I simply have not been able to increase my grip at a decent rate, it isn't because I'm doing anything wrong or neglecting, so I supplement my workouts with strap-assisted sets to continue my training uninhibited.

You're right that beginners are better off not using straps. I recommended them in this instance because he is trying to do squats, which in reality are NOT about your grip at all, it just becomes a problem here because he doesn't have access to a barbell.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Just keep doing the exercises that are giving you problems, maybe go against the program for a bit with lighter weight/more reps until the muscles that you are unintentionally straining catch up. One thing I've noticed/remembered since I started lifting again 7 months ago is that there is an adjustment period to dumbell exercises while the various muscles involved become strong enough to control them. Seems as though ramping up the weight rapidly would only aggravate this problem.

I've also run into the weight limitations of the particular dumbells I have. I can fit more weight on them if I use 25lb plates, but that's to unwieldy for anything but single arm rows. The only solution I can see is to get myself a barbell and add a standard bench press to my routine to knock myself down enough to reach failure at a lower weight with dumbells. Right now I'm doing around 5 sets of 10 with a final set of around 15 with 70lb dumbells for dumbell presses. I'm more than a little skeptical about SS anyway since I've always had excellent results making it up as I go along. My routines usually involve much higher reps at somewhat lower weight than SS would indicate but always to failure for any particular exercise.