nice thread, a firm handshake is a very good thing to have. theres a major difference between squeezing and trying to prove to the other guy that you have a stronger grip and a firm handshake. by a firm handshake, you should get the point across that you are confident and have personal power. it's always a good thing to have a bit of muscle and grip strength though, but the idea is to not try and break the other guy's fingers. one thing i hate is when people wrap their pinky around the bottom of my hand like they're trying to fucking hang on to my hand to save themselves from the edge of a cliff. in the end, its all about how you carry yourself, and a firm/manly handshake is part of that.