Bench Shirts

[mlong23]

I don't know if this is the correct forum or not. For those of you that powerlift, do you think that is fair to use benching shirts? I know that the guy you are competing against is wearing them so of course you are to, as I know I would if I were competing. But is it right to be allowed to wear it at all. If you can bench 500, but then put on a shirt and do 550, than I think that 50 pounds comes from a shirt. I look at powerlifting as a sport of where one guy lifts as much as he can, but when people use shrits to assist them into doing more I think that goes against the sport. Using knee wraps are ok, due to the fact they help against injury and keep your joints healthy.

Sorry for rambling on about this, but I just wanted to hear it from a powerlifter's side.

 

[trinidad]

I thought this post was going to be about those "I can bench press 200 lbs. " shirts! Remember those?

 

[slobberknocker]

Post in the powerlifting board for more answers. Mostly bb's on the anabolic board. And yes, it is fair, since everyone else is using them. Just like it's fair for a bb to juice, since everyone else is on juice.

 

[Swolenpecs]

Remember the shirts arent just for adding more weight to the lift, they are used to prevent injuries too..pec tears ect...

 

[Parabellum]

Post in the powerlifting board for more answers. Mostly bb's on the anabolic board. And yes, it is fair, since everyone else is using them. Just like it's fair for a bb to juice, since everyone else is on juice.

Exactly!

 

[liquidmuscle]

how can a shirt make you bench more?....i know what kind of shirts you are talking about but honestly how can a shirt make you bench more...thats like putting a 4x4 sticker on my moms car and making it better for off roading?...

 

[slobberknocker]

They're so tight that it usually takes 2 or 3 people to help you get it on, and when you take it off you'll have bruises on your body and some of your hair will have been ripped off. It creates a spring effect and helps with explosion right off the chest, but doesn't do much for your lockout. That's why powerlifters place such a heavy emphasis on tricep training. Look at any world class bench presser and they'll have absolutely massive triceps.

 

[OfimNedu]

They're so tight that it usually takes 2 or 3 people to help you get it on, and when you take it off you'll have bruises on your body and some of your hair will have been ripped off. It creates a spring effect and helps with explosion right off the chest, but doesn't do much for your lockout. That's why powerlifters place such a heavy emphasis on tricep training. Look at any world class bench presser and they'll have absolutely massive triceps.

Agreed. They're not fun to take on and off. I liken it to wearing a belt. It's a safety issue and yes it does help with the lift to an extent by providing compression.

 

[Liftbig]

alright here we go....

first of all bench shirts have been around for many years, since the 80's i beleive. it is legal in competition, altough to different degrees in different federations.

bench shirts can add alot of your bench. i say the "can", that doesnt mean the will. you have to change your training, your approach to the bench press. for me, it really useless to be overly strong in the bottom of the bench press, becuase of the aid of the shirt. so i have to concentrate my time to making the mid range, and more importantly top rage my strongest points. the bench shirt changes the strength curve of the exercise drastically, and you MUST accomadate your training to meet this curve, or you will be and unsuccesful shirt bencher.


slobber, some people where shirts like that, but no one i train with or know does. an incredibly tight bench shirt is going to mess you up. my first bench shirt i used to bench 500 in was very tight, and the shir ti use to bench 600 in is much looser. the key is the technigue, how you wear the shirt, and your training.

 

[Fast Twitch Fiber]

Is it cheating for a baseball player to wear a glove since it makes it easier to catch the ball?

 

[TheMuscleMonster]

I thought this post was going to be about those "I can bench press 200 lbs. " shirts! Remember those?

me too, oh how i hate those shirts

 

[soreback]

It is a safety factor and sport evolution.. Lets see where can we
start and end?

Titanium golf clubs
Titanium tennis rackets
Cleats ( in general)
Fiberglass pole vault
Special track Shoes
Gels and springs in basketball shoes
Aluminum Base ball bats ( not in pros)
swimming caps and now body suits
springs behind the knees of baseball catchers

we could go on and on.. why is it these are acceptable
performance enhancing equipment in other sports
yet powerlifting a lot of people consider it cheating?

 

[Liftbig]

we could go on and on.. why is it these are acceptable
performance enhancing equipment in other sports
yet powerlifting a lot of people consider it cheating?

one word........EGO

 

[ohashi]

All it does is allow you to fully utilize your muscles for the lift. It's fabric that restricts your movement, and nothing more.

 

[babbabuee]

I'd consider it as two different approaches. they should(maybe they do) have a record for bench with/without shirt.

 

[Dial_tone]

I've always thought bench press shirt were gay as a $3 bill, but you gotta stay with the Joneses.

 

[mlong23]

I'd consider it as two different approaches. they should(maybe they do) have a record for bench with/without shirt.

All good comments, but I agree with this one, they should have contests with and with out, but they may do as I do not know much about powerlifting.

I was curious to know if it did help in terms of safety, now I know.

 

[mikea]

yes they do have both with a shirt and raw! The guy whos got the second best bench of all time also has the biggest raw bench of all time!(correct me if im wrong) maybe that will tell you something!

 

[soreback]

HMMM thats convenient. We all here ( I assume) can agree its

ok to take performance ehhancement drugs but feel that

performance enhancement equipment is cheating. Wow now

thats playing both sides of the coin. Yes they do have raw meets

records. And yes the 2nd biggest bench (845 lbs I think---new record is 875 lb) with a double denim is the same guy who benched around 710 lbs Raw (these are competion judged lifts)

p.s when you do your Lat s and lower back work... dont use
your lifting straps................thats cheating

 

[mlong23]

HMMM thats convenient. We all here ( I assume) can agree its

ok to take performance ehhancement drugs but feel that

performance enhancement equipment is cheating. Wow now

thats playing both sides of the coin. Yes they do have raw meets

records. And yes the 2nd biggest bench (845 lbs I think---new record is 875 lb) with a double denim is the same guy who benched around 710 lbs Raw (these are competion judged lifts)

p.s when you do your Lat s and lower back work... dont use
your lifting straps................thats cheating

Personally I don't care about this anymore I just wanted to know what others thought about the whole situation. When I do lats and back at times I will use lifting straps, but I am not in a competition of how strong I am. I am merely trying to lift as much as I can to tax the muscle as hard as I can.