When is a lift on the bench press valid?

[WalkingBeast]

Hey Everyone! Was just curious to know what all of you think. My question is: When you are benching, what do you consider a legit lift, something that youd post. What I mean is Does the lift have to be 100% untouched by your spotter, spotter's hands near the bar, hands touching the bar etc. What counts as a legit lift for everyone? Was just curious cuz its possible Im too strict haha Maybe not. ThanX everyone

 

[Zander1983]

Since I lift by myself I never have the assistance of a spotter, so that isn't an issue for me.

As long as my ass stays on the bench, the bar touches me at the bottom, and I lock it out, its a legit lift.

 

[Devastation]

when it gets 3 white lights

 

[WalkingBeast]

Since I lift by myself I never have the assistance of a spotter, so that isn't an issue for me.

As long as my ass stays on the bench, the bar touches me at the bottom, and I lock it out, its a legit lift.

Hey Zander! Must be tough to train without a spotter. I couldnt attempt a one rep max without one, if I wanted to be alive for the next set. haha Hows your training been going? Are you back home yet?

 

[WalkingBeast]

when it gets 3 white lights

Hey Devastation! haha Dont think Ill have to worry about that for a while! Maybe Ill compete one day, would be fun. Lots of anxiety Im sure. Do you compete?

 

[Zander1983]

Hey Zander! Must be tough to train without a spotter. I couldnt attempt a one rep max without one, if I wanted to be alive for the next set. haha Hows your training been going? Are you back home yet?

Its not so bad without a spotter. When benching I set the safety bars in the power rack to a level where I can let go of the bar once I blow all the air out of my chest and wriggle away from it. Allows me to touch the bar on my chest before it hits the safeties.

I'm back home and just finished a solid week of WSB style training, up to 188 pounds with a lovely gut I'm going to push my car tomorrow. Can't wait.

 

[bignate73]

the bar pauses at the chest and comes to full lockout, all the while with my ass and shoulders plastered to the bench.

 

[spatts]

Unrack or Accept Hand-off

Demonstrate Control

Descend

Pause on Sternum

Press

Lockout

Demonstrate Control

Rack on Command

....unless you're benching or catching a spill, keep you hands off my bar.

 

[WalkingBeast]

Nice answers Nate and Spatts! What about if your spotter touches the bar in any way? Is it still legit? Thats more what I meant ThanX! =)

 

[spatts]

Your spotter should never touch the bar except to unrack it or catch it. You have to have good communication with your spotters. They should know how you prefer to be handed off to, and how you prefer to be spotted (side spot, hands under the bar, hands over the bar, etc...). As long as they don't touch the bar, then you clearly benched it yourself, and that's ligit.

 

[Zander1983]

spatts, your back is looking lovely. Better than mine, lol.

 

[bignate73]

Pause on Sternum

strenulum?

strenuum?

sternius?

stranuous?

stremnemum?

hehehe.

 

[WalkingBeast]

Your spotter should never touch the bar except to unrack it or catch it. You have to have good communication with your spotters. They should know how you prefer to be handed off to, and how you prefer to be spotted (side spot, hands under the bar, hands over the bar, etc...). As long as they don't touch the bar, then you clearly benched it yourself, and that's ligit.

Cool Just the answer I was looking for, and from someone I respect very much on this board. Thank you

 

[spatts]

strenulum?

strenuum?

sternius?

stranuous?

stremnemum?

hehehe.

I don't get it.

 

[spatts]

Actually, sternum's not correct anyway. Your sternum goes from the top of your rib cage to the xiphoid, so make that "descend to belly."

 

[bignate73]

I don't get it.

am i tired, or did you change your spelling error?

 

[WalkingBeast]

strenulum?

strenuum?

sternius?

stranuous?

stremnemum?

hehehe.

haha Cracking my ass up!
If you wanna see some pure nonsense check out my posts on the spanish board AMIGO hehe!

 

[spatts]

spatts, your back is looking lovely. Better than mine, lol.

Well your pose is different than mine. I'm sure if you did a back double bi you would find yourself looking quite sick.

Thanks, btw.

 

[TheProject]

xiphoid

MAN that's a cool word.

 

[Exodus]

if someone so much as accidentally looses thier balance and 1 finger grazes the bar i wont count it. i dont even like people who rush into the make sure i wont drop it when im benching. i prefer people follow me up and down. but dont stand back and then run in to help, it really throws me off.

X

 

[cheesecake]

....unless you're benching or catching a spill, keep you hands off my bar.

Exactly.

Don't touch my bar unless you see it going the opposite direction that it is supposed to be going.

I can't stand when spotters want to help you through the whole rep.

When I'm asked to spot, I don't help the lifter until they CAN'T get the weight. This may be why I don't get asked to do a lot of spotting.
...chad...

 

[Exodus]

When I'm asked to spot, I don't help the lifter until they CAN'T get the weight. This may be why I don't get asked to do a lot of spotting.
...chad...

yeah i get that all the time....... like "dude, dont you know how to spot.!?!?!?"

and im like "dude, don't you know how to pick a weight you can press on your own, i worked back yesterday i dont need to work it again while you tell your fake little plastic princess barbie sitting next to you how your such a man"

and thats why i dont have many friends in the gym.

X

 

[Becoming]

LOL @ cheesecake and exodus' posts....

exactly, most people don't know what the heck they are doin....

Unless I am crashing and burning (as in not going to, but it is actually happening), stay the F___ away from the damn bar....

 

[Becoming]

Even if you don't train with people (I train alone) sometimes it helps to have regular spots- peeps that work out around the times that you do and that will give you a spot when you need it on a regular basis.... There are a few acquaintances I have that spot me regularly and know what I expect, and I spot for them....

Makes for less mixups and jacked up sets cause of a spot screwing it up and touching the bar or anything....

 

[WalkingBeast]

if someone so much as accidentally looses thier balance and 1 finger grazes the bar i wont count it. i dont even like people who rush into the make sure i wont drop it when im benching. i prefer people follow me up and down. but dont stand back and then run in to help, it really throws me off.

X

Hey Exodus! Know exactly what you mean. I hate that as well. Thats why I never ask anyone to spot me unless its an emergency. But my training partner never cancels and spots exactly as I instruct him, half the time he just knows what to do. So that makes a huge difference.

 

[WalkingBeast]

I totally agree with you guys. =) More feedback is also appreciated.

 

[longarms]

Beast, you should go ahead & throw your hat into the ring sometime. At your weight and bench #s, you should have no problem bringing home some serious hardware your first time out.

Zander, your back looks good, you just don't have that thong thingy going on!

 

[WalkingBeast]

Beast, you should go ahead & throw your hat into the ring sometime. At your weight and bench #s, you should have no problem bringing home some serious hardware your first time out.

Zander, your back looks good, you just don't have that thong thingy going on!

ThanX LongArms! Would love to try it sometime. Ive never paused the weight on my chest before, not sure how much I could lift like that. Id need to learn how to use a bendh shirt also Im sure. And still dont use the PL style of bench. My back is basically flat. Id like to learn the PL style but not sure where to start. Also my squat sucks since I dont do them. hehe ThanX for all the encouragement though!

 

[thebrute]

to be legit...no spotter should be touchin the bar and in competition of course you have to pause it. tb

 

[WalkingBeast]

to be legit...no spotter should be touchin the bar and in competition of course you have to pause it. tb

ThanX Brute! Hopefully Ill get a some-what legit and RAW 405 by the end of the year then!

 

[BigWh1tey]

when you see 3 white lights

 

[thebrute]

oh yea...that too!! LOL. tb

 

[WalkingBeast]

when you see 3 white lights

I usually see little white lights anyway when I lift. So guess that legit