Answered by Andrii Lutskevych, Senior 95 kg – Estonia
I would say this: the best technique for people with short fingers is the hook.
Hook is a power-based technique, and it fits perfectly for athletes with short fingers, a small palm, and short forearms. Armwrestlers with this kind of hand structure find it easier to rotate into this move.
Short fingers by themselves don’t offer any advantage in a match—in fact, they can be a weakness. But with the right training approach and proper specialized equipment, like wrist and finger handles, you can turn your weak points into strong ones. This applies to all athletes, regardless of technique or build.
The armwrestlers I’ve faced who had short fingers all had very strong biceps and forearms. They could hold their angles very well—both in defense and offense—and were extremely durable.
A great representative and example is Rustam Babaev—a multiple-time World and European Champion and winner of the professional Zloty Tur tournament. He’s an athlete who proved to the whole world that even with short fingers and a small palm, you can become one of the strongest in armwrestling.