Need advice on barbell grip

[ellinghad]

Hey guys! I was doing my last set of 5x5 bench press at a gym I haven't lifted at in a long time, and for some reason, there was something wrong with my grip. My wrists weirdly flicked backwards and I nearly dropped 215 lbs on my neck (it hit my chest instead!). I think my wrists bent backwards or something, but at the other gym I lift at this has neve even been a possibility.

It's hard to describe, but there's something weird about the grip. I wear the same gloves, it's a similar bench, and the barbell seems identical, but I have a horrible grip on the barbell. Even on the 3rd and 4th set I felt that unease in holding the bar. It's definitely not the weight either, because I've actually been doing less than usual. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks, God bless, and have a Happy New Year! =)

 

[Guinness5.0]

Ditch the gloves and see what happens.

Whether that's your problem or not, gloves are a bad idea.

 

[Jim Ouini]

I was just gonna say, you lose some of that proprioceptive feedback when you wear gloves. Same thing with cushiony cross training shoes, I hear.

If the bar is too slippery you may want to smuggle in some chalk.

 

[ellinghad]

really? Cause I use gloves to keep my hands baby-soft lol. I guess I'm a wimp! The thing is, I've never had this problem lifting at my gym @ UF and I was lifting even 235 without a second doubt about my wrists at all! Do I need to strengthen my wrists or anything? It's so odd...

 

[fortunatesun]

Just taking a guess here- It may be you had a poor grip on the bar (probably brought about or aggrevated by those gloves) before you even unracked the weights. What I mean is- it's important to grip the bar as hard as possible when you set up. It's one of the more common errors people make. Next time make sure the bar is flat against the largest possible surface area of your hand as you can get it and then grip the bar as hard as possible. Might do the trick.

 

[anotherbutters]

Grab the bar, then try rotating your wrists slightly so that the bar is placed over your wrists rather than across the palms of your hands.

 

[nelmsjer]

Dave Tate (of Westside Barbell) states that, during the bench, you should squeeze the bar hard with your hands and then try and rip the bar apart by spreading it apart. Technically, it's a tip to help activate the triceps, but I think it will help you immensely in this situation. Also, add one more to the "ditch the gloves" group.

 

[blut wump]

I think that'd be biceps rather than triceps but the technique of trying to rip the bar apart helps with stabilizing it.

Like anotherbutters mentions, the bar should be above your forarms. The plane through the bar leading to the floor should pass through both forearms. Think of them as twin pillars supporting the bar and, as such, they should be directly below the bar. If, while you are lifting, you are aware that this isn't so then try to see why the bar has drifted and correct it. If you tend to press with bent wrists then relearn how to bench

and dump the gloves unless your pantyhose are more important to you than pressing the weight

 

[carlsuen]

lol.. is using gloves really an issue? do they REALLY give u that much disadvantage?!?!

 

[blut wump]

They're coming out of the woodwork now.

I really have no idea. I tried some decades ago and didn't like the feel of not being in contact with the bar and never tried them again.