How to Install Gymnastic Rings at Home or Your Garage Gym

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Where and How to Install Gymnastic Rings at Home?

A lot of popular gyms and training programs utilize gymnastic rings as part of their workout routines.

Gymnastic rings are a great tool to have at your disposal, but most people wouldn’t think about installing them at home.

You may feel tempted to settle for second best by relying on an average pull-up bar.

The only problem with a pull-up bar is that it won’t give you the same results that gymnastic rings will.

Okay, let’s take a look at how to install gymnastic rings at home step by step!

old rings

It may be a little more complicated to install gymnastic rings, but in the end, it’s worth it.

You’ll get more versatility out of this piece of equipment, as gymnastic rings will allow you to target your muscle groups more effectively and focus on each arm individually.

Just don’t forget to use gymnastic grips for a safer workout – they’ll protect your hands and prevent you from slipping.

Find the Best Gymnastic Rings

Good quality gymnastic rings are a must in this situation, therefore you have to make the investment, to achieve the best final result.

Here are some to choose from:

Picture

Best Gymnastic Rings

Our Rating

Available

Black Mountain Products 1200lbs Rated Multi-Use Exercise Gymnastics Rings
  • Set of B.M.P. Multi-use exercise Gymnastic rings
  • Holds a maximum load of 1200lbs
  • Portable and easy set up
  • Extra long Nylon strap: 1in x 15ft
Black Mountain Gymnastics Rings
Black Mountain Products 1200lbs Rated Multi-Use Exercise Gymnastics Rings
  • Set of B.M.P. Multi-use exercise Gymnastic rings
  • Holds a maximum load of 1200lbs
  • Portable and easy set up
  • Extra long Nylon strap: 1in x 15ft
NAYOYA Gymnastic Rings Workout Set with Adjustable Straps for Full Body Strength Training and Bodyweight Crossfit Exercise
  • BEST RATED GYM RINGS ON THE MARKET; Includes 2 Gymnastic Rings with straps and adjusting buckles; The rings are made of textured, grippable PC Plastic (to reduce slippage associated with sweaty hands)which is stronger, more durable and of higher quality material then ABS plastic rings and are capable of supporting up to 2,000 lbs making them the best quality gymnastics rings on the market
  • TAKES 5 MINUTES TO SET UP, USE AND ADJUST providing you with a great home gym substitute
  • UNLIMITED BODY WEIGHT EXERCISES; Ring training is a very mobile and versatile way to engage your muscles and core with exercises such as pullups, pushups, dips, rows, muscle ups for a functional and varied free range of movement; Great for kids to use in the backyard and for avid exercise lovers to use in the gym or anywhere they can safely hang them
  • THE PROPER WAY TO INSTALL THE STRAPS is to go from underneath the buckle and slide the straps in the same direction the arrow on the buckle is pointing to; Note where the arrow points on the buckle for proper installation; Proper installation will ensure that your straps will be secure and non slip
  • DEVELOP the aesthetically pleasing physique of a gymnast while strengthening your core, tendons, joints and accessory muscles
Nayoya Gymnastic Rings
NAYOYA Gymnastic Rings Workout Set with Adjustable Straps for Full Body Strength Training and Bodyweight Crossfit Exercise
  • BEST RATED GYM RINGS ON THE MARKET; Includes 2 Gymnastic Rings with straps and adjusting buckles; The rings are made of textured, grippable PC Plastic (to reduce slippage associated with sweaty hands)which is stronger, more durable and of higher quality material then ABS plastic rings and are capable of supporting up to 2,000 lbs making them the best quality gymnastics rings on the market
  • TAKES 5 MINUTES TO SET UP, USE AND ADJUST providing you with a great home gym substitute
  • UNLIMITED BODY WEIGHT EXERCISES; Ring training is a very mobile and versatile way to engage your muscles and core with exercises such as pullups, pushups, dips, rows, muscle ups for a functional and varied free range of movement; Great for kids to use in the backyard and for avid exercise lovers to use in the gym or anywhere they can safely hang them
  • THE PROPER WAY TO INSTALL THE STRAPS is to go from underneath the buckle and slide the straps in the same direction the arrow on the buckle is pointing to; Note where the arrow points on the buckle for proper installation; Proper installation will ensure that your straps will be secure and non slip
  • DEVELOP the aesthetically pleasing physique of a gymnast while strengthening your core, tendons, joints and accessory muscles
Yes4All Olympic Exercise Gymnastic Rings

Find the Right Spot

You’re going to have to hang your gymnastic rings from the ceiling. You’ll need a flat ceiling that doesn’t have any incline.

The spot you choose should be far away from lighting fixtures or ceiling fans, as disturbing the ceiling around these areas can create electrical problems.

You’ll also need enough room to move on your gymnastic rings.

The area should be free from any obstacles. You want to make sure that you aren’t installing your rings in a place where they’ll get in the way.

Since you’ll be putting wooden planks directly onto your ceiling, it will be difficult to move them from place to place if you change your mind. Make sure the spot you pick is going to work out for long term use.

If the ceiling in the area you’ve chosen has a crawlspace or attic above it, you may choose to mount the rig for the gymnastic rings inside of this space, cutting holes through your ceiling to allow the rings to come through.

This is the best way to make sure the hardware is secured firmly to your joists.

Get Your Tools and Hardware

As far as tools go, having a stud finder will help you locate the best place in the ceiling to mount your boards.

tools

You’ll need a drill with bits, a socket wrench, and a saw if you need to cut your boards to size. You’ll need two 30 inch long 2×6 pieces of wood to serve as mounts for your gymnastic rings.

You’ll want to use lag screws and bolts, because they’re best for gripping wood. Aim to use four per board, making eight in total. Get two carabiners and eye bolts to help hold the carabiners to your planks.

You may want to get nuts and washers that are the same size as your eye bolts, so you can improve the weight distribution across the wood. Traditional washers work well, but locking washers work best.

If you don’t want your nuts and washers to stick out of the wood, you can countersink holes in the planks with forstner bits.

Hang Your Rings

Depending on the area in which you’ve selected to hang your rings, you’ll either need to install it directly onto the sturdy ceiling, or mount them within your attic.

If you have a hollow ceiling, using your attic is the best. If your ceiling is sturdy, you can mount them on the outside.

Ceiling Installation

Install four lag bolts with washers onto each 30 inch long piece of 2×6 wood. In the center of the board, install a carabiner that can hold up to 300 pounds on weight onto an eye bolt.

Install it with a washer and a lag bolt. Predrill your lag bolts so you’ll know where you’re going into the ceiling. If you countersink the holes, line them with hex bolts and washers to keep them flushed.

Use a stud finder to locate the joists in your ceiling. You’ll want to use the joists for support when you’re hanging the boards. Measure and mark your joists.

Drill pilot holes for your lag bolts into the spots you’ve marked at a lightly smaller diameter than your lag bolts. Then, bolt the board to the ceiling.

Once it’s been bolted, you can run the straps of your gymnastic rings through the carabiner and you should be good to go.

In-Attic Installation

Find two adjacent joists in your attic, and use industrial grade tow straps to build the setup for your gymnastic rings.

Secure the staps to each joist with U-Bolts, reinforcing the connection with a staple gun by securing the webbing to the joist. Then, using a drywall saw, cut two small holes for the webbing to be fed through.

If you had to remove plywood to access the joists, replace the plywood you pulled off. Pull the tow straps through the ceiling, and attach heavyweight carabiners to the ends of the tow straps.

Mount your gymnastics rings through the carabiners at the end of the strap.

Test Your Rings

After you’ve installed them, you need to test them to make sure they’re tight enough.

If there’s any slack that shouldn’t be there, or if you hear creaking noises that suggest your mount is unstable, you may need to add further security to your rig.

rings

Test each side individually. Using one arm, pull on the ring as hard as you can. If it seems stable, slowly lift yourself off of your feet.

Each ring should be able to hold more than enough of your total body weight if it’s fully secure.

If you’ve tested both sides and they can each hold your whole body without incident, that’s a sign that they’re safe to use during your workout.

If the rig is unstable, you may need to change the way you’ve bolted it to your joists. This may mean using different, stronger joists than the ones you’ve originally chosen.

If the problem could be with the hardware, switch to longer lag screws and tighten your locking washers.

You may need to add more bolts and washers to improve weight distribution.

Enjoy Your Gymnastics Rings

Once they’re properly installed, it’s time to start working out.

Don’t forget to check on them once in a while to make sure everything is in good shape, and that there are no signs of splintering wood or loosening bolts.