bench shirts

[Tiervexx]

this is probably common knowledge to most if not all of you but i am new to this sort of thing, what exactly do bench shirts do?

i am guessing that they make the lift easer because (correct me if i'm wrong), the world record for bench with shirt is 800 but for RAW bench it is 685.

what exactly is the difference between benching with a shirt and without?

 

[natural-mike]

Mendy just hit 700 Raw and I think some guy Henderson hit even higher raw.

 

[benchmonster]

James Henderson hit 711 RAW. Ryan Kennelly hit 800 in an Inzer double denim shirt.

Shirts help you get the bar moving off the chest, which allow you to lift more weight than you could without the shirt. They also have the added benefit of reducing strain on shoulders and pecs which reduce the chance of tears and serious injuries.

B.

 

[circusgirl]

do they allow you to press your back harder into the bench by increasing the friction between you and the bench? Is that where the extra leverage comes from?

 

[DBCooper]

They are very tight and act like a secondary muscle sort of. The front of them is very close from shoulder to shoulder so it takes the load off your chest in the hole. But you have to lock the weight out from about 2/3 up. Take a normal t-shirt and take out half the material down the center vertically and that's what they are but with better material.It pulls your shoulders and chest inwards making it that much more weight that you bench.

 

[princessofdarkness]

this is probably common knowledge to most if not all of you but i am new to this sort of thing, what exactly do bench shirts do?

i am guessing that they make the lift easer because (correct me if i'm wrong), the world record for bench with shirt is 800 but for RAW bench it is 685.

what exactly is the difference between benching with a shirt and without?

i am an elite lifter for my weight class and the one above me and i'll tell you i think shirts and suits suck!!!!! i can squat 100 pounds more, raw, than with that stupid suit on. and my bench? well we won't even go there. i find them hard to breathe in and just a pain in the ass.....for me it's raw or nothing. hehehehe

 

[barbell265]

Prince, obviously, has had a bad experience with a shirt. I am good for a 335 raw, but, with my double ply shirt I am good for a 375-380! The shirt is tight and does leave marks under your arms after using it but they are the difference between first and last place, really.

My shirt won't even come down unless I have 250 or more on the bar. 225 and I have to pull the weight down! The purpose for the shirt is to support the lifters' shoulders chest and back to a degree, but more over the stretching of the material will assist the lifter in pressing out of the hole. Cheater! you say? Well true it does help getting past the first 3-4 inches off the chest but in order to lock out YOU BETTER have the power or you'll look like a damn idiot trying to squirm and grunt your way thru it! ( I know...it pains me to talk about it still so let it be.... )

SHIRTS ALL THE WAY!!

 

[princessofdarkness]

Prince, obviously, has had a bad experience with a shirt. I am good for a 335 raw, but, with my double ply shirt I am good for a 375-380! The shirt is tight and does leave marks under your arms after using it but they are the difference between first and last place, really.

My shirt won't even come down unless I have 250 or more on the bar. 225 and I have to pull the weight down! The purpose for the shirt is to support the lifters' shoulders chest and back to a degree, but more over the stretching of the material will assist the lifter in pressing out of the hole. Cheater! you say? Well true it does help getting past the first 3-4 inches off the chest but in order to lock out YOU BETTER have the power or you'll look like a damn idiot trying to squirm and grunt your way thru it! ( I know...it pains me to talk about it still so let it be.... )

SHIRTS ALL THE WAY!!

ahem.....princess

 

[BigD50]

Remember also that in most meets you have tp pause at the bottom of the lift and trying to do that with your max effort without a shirt would be hard. Equipment is used for saftey and advantage. If you lift in a meet that allows shirts than level the playing field and wear one, if you don't like it go lift in a raw meet.