Should I get grips? (GYMNASTICS)?

I'm a level 5 gymnast and I'm about to go to level 6. We've been working on some harder skills in gymnastics like kips, back hip circles, and other skills that require you to rotate your hands around the bar. Lately I've been getting rips on my thumbs and hands. I thought the callouses that developed where supposed to prevent that but I guess not cause they just rip after a while. A couple other girls use grips on my team but not everyone so should I get grips ? Also I have a big meet coming up so if I get them should I wait to break them in until after the meet or just break them in right away? For right now I'm just putting a band-aid and tape over my rips.Thanks in advance for reading and/or answering my question :)
Answer:

It sounds like you're getting to that part where you probably want to invest in a pair of grips. They help quite a bit in kips and giants. My advice is to NOT get grips during the competition season, as they do take a while to get used to. Some gymnasts don't get used to them at all and do not use grips altogether. What you could do for now is borrow one of your teammate's grips and try them, see how they feel. Start using grips during the "off" season, when you are not competing. Don't forget to consult your coach, too. Good luck at your meet! :)

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