5x5 no spoter

[plrpower]

Question for the 5x5 SF guys. Do you squat with out a spoter. I do and am starting to get scared on my friday 5th set of 3. When its just 225 I can walk around with that ahhaha but getting higher what do you guys do for that. Thanks

 

[d3track]

do you squat in a power rack?
set the pins and if you miss, you miss
strip it, set it up and go again
the 4th and 5th sets in week 3-4 will friggin burry you

 

[Guinness5.0]

Just an idea - maybe try bailing out on a light set just to 'show' yourself that it's OK to hit failure. If you know the bars will catch it, you will be less hesitant and likely to improve your performance from lack of inhibition.

 

[d3track]

if you fail on it
hell, at least you had the balls to put a lil effort into it
some of my best workouts were ones were i failed to finish sets

 

[Anthrax Invasion]

Go buy a pair of Stanley Sawhorses at Home Depot. $50 or so, adjustable from 30" to 38" , roughly. Set 'em up on both sides, bail out under the bar and let the sawhores catch 'em if you need to.

I used to do this, but they only support 1000 lbs., and I'm way too hardcore for that now, so I needed to buy myself two moose to place on either side. They're antlers catch the bar perfectly. Highly recommended, but you need a lot of space.

 

[perp69]

Use a power rack. I use it for squats and bench. I have had to bail a few times and it was not a problem. I like it because I don't need a partner or a spotter.

Perp

 

[lifersfc]

I dropped 405 from about 60% of the way up the other day on my last rep. Good thing the power rack's bars were in place. Made a huge noise and I felt a little stupid because I never see anyone squatting over 225, but it wasn't a big deal. Might have left a little bit of a scratch on my shoulders where the knurling was.

Just get in a rack and you'll be fine. This wasn't the first time and it certainly won't be the last. Hell, I saw a video of Ronnie Coleman drop something like 800 off his shoulders and he wasn't even in a rack!

 

[plrpower]

I do use the rack, I guess I was just hesitant about droping the weight. Thanks for the replies.

 

[UrlMighty]

There's no point being in the rack if you're not prepared to lose one every now and again. Make sure you offload the weight before your knees crumple since you can do them damage.

 

[Anthrax Invasion]

I'd worry more about the back than the knees.

 

[Jim Ouini]

I bailed out of a squat last week. I didn't fling it off my back, I just lowerd back down and dumped it on the pins. It wasn't so bad, made a bit o' noise and startled the gym rats but other than that, no biggie.

 

[seizer]

I had to let it drop a couple weeks ago. I was using a different area that didnt have the rack bars. It was cool because of the rubber flooring, but still loud. However, now I have a home gym so I can be as loud and train as hard as I want without looking to strange lol. You just cant help but wanna slap the shit outta some of the peeps who stare too much.

Rack bars are miracles though seriously. Great for breaking mental barriers.

 

[Anthrax Invasion]

I heard a nifty little thing over at BR about how the Russians used to mix kg and lb. plates so people wouldn't really know what they were seeing on the bar. They'd end up setting PRs without realizing how heavy the weight was. An advanced technique though. Throw a newbie under a heavy load that he's not mentally prepped for, and he's fucked.

If people stare, I just stare back. Most people can't keep direct eye contact for long. They look away in frustration, embarrassment, or fear.

 

[perp69]

I heard a nifty little thing over at BR about how the Russians used to mix kg and lb. plates so people wouldn't really know what they were seeing on the bar. They'd end up setting PRs without realizing how heavy the weight was.QUOTE]

You know I have done that a few times without realizing it. Just not paying attention or something and add more weight than I thought. Lifting is a lot more mentally involved than most think. It is mostly getting your mind used to moving the weight and then your muscles say ok body I can do this.

I do this thing where I imagine the weight falling and crushing me. I quess I make myself scared of the weight. Then my adrenaline gets pumping and I go for it. I will be at the water fountain filling my bottle after my lift and my hands will be shaking like I was on clen.

Perp