Thread: Why press shirted?

In the beginning, the only real function a bench shirt did was protect your shoulders from rotating. As the sport has gotten more lax, the shirts also now aid in what you can actually press. The increase is a direct result of the extreme tightness of the shirt. (It takes me 25 minutes to put mine on by myself, 10 minutes if I have 2 helpers, if that gives you an idea how tight it is.)

Understood...good answer, but besides practicing for competition, is there any training benefit for non competitors?
I know those suckers are tight and I can understand exactly how they work

Also...by that Logic...is there a Singlet or a Uni tard for squatting? Just wondering. Betcha that would feel snug on the nads

I just wear a pair of grey workout shorts and an old faded out Rush (Canadian rock band) t-shirt when I workout,... and a belt. I wasn't aware that the duds we wear during pumping had any benefits..!

Originally Posted by Saturday Fever

In the beginning, the only real function a bench shirt did was protect your shoulders from rotating. As the sport has gotten more lax, the shirts also now aid in what you can actually press. The increase is a direct result of the extreme tightness of the shirt. (It takes me 25 minutes to put mine on by myself, 10 minutes if I have 2 helpers, if that gives you an idea how tight it is.)

Sounds like a T-shirt from the 70's I bought from the salvation army the other day

Erik, there is always a bonus to protecting your shoulders when you bench. But for non-competitive lifters, there's no need. However, if you compete with yourself and want to get as strong as you can, then a shirt may be a good idea to prevent injury.

And yes, there are squat suits that do the same thing for squats. They're an even bigger nightmare and they were never intended to prevent injury, they're all about stacking numbers.

Luke, you'd be surprised. Before bench shirts became the norm, folks would wear the tighest possible shirts, usually polyester (which ironically is one material bench shirts are made of) to aid their lift.

Yeah, I can see where it would really help support the shoulder joints. I have an outrageous tight pair of BIKE compression shorts of some unknown material. And yes, they do support my hip joints. A Bench pressing shirt sounds 'right" to me
However, even with my slight shoulder impingement/bursitis, my fitness goals are more LONG term oriented, so I really don't need something like that because an injury really does not "set me back". Does that make any sense?

I would think that using a "shirt" would prevent you from developing stabilzers, therefore really limit how much weight you could lift w/o one.

I disagree with that supposition. ( I HAVE NO EXPIERENCE). If your max UN shirted is 300, and your max shirted is 400...then its still a max...the same muscles are maxed, just at a higher level of poundage. I am assuming that shirted or un shirted the same muscles are used so it stands to reason that they will be exercised in the same way

So much is still muscle memory, and in your head though. If you are a "shirt" kind've guy, and dont have one handey.... ?!?!?!

The way it was explained to me.... is that a shirt acts as a "spring" of sorts. It's kind've like having a spotter with two fingers on the bar making sure things are going smoothly.

I guess that would make it more like a friction damper though. It makes the whole movement more dynamic, and less static.


<---- Enginerd Enginerd.

Originally Posted by Luke9583

I would think that using a "shirt" would prevent you from developing stabilzers, therefore really limit how much weight you could lift w/o one.

An unshirted 875 presser could likely press a raw 700 or so as an approximation, everyone is different. I remember a guy who was just over a 200 pound difference shirted/unshirted, but it could have been a non-regulation shirt also, I'm not sure.

You wont find a lot of guys pressing a raw 600. One guy I know that can do 585 for 3 wont go over 405 without his shirt so he doesn't get hurt.

Originally Posted by Luke9583

So much is still muscle memory, and in your head though. If you are a "shirt" kind've guy, and dont have one handey.... ?!?!?!

Uhh bro, you dont go to the gym unprepared now do you? When I go I have what I need for the job.

I am the same way...I bench just North of 300 raw, But with my block and tackle I can hit 2450lbs for reps

Originally Posted by Mudge

Uhh bro, you dont go to the gym unprepared now do you? When I go I have what I need for the job.

Well I do have this re-occuring dream of going naked, so I guess it could happen

The shirt does not act as a "spring" as I myself once believed. There is what's referred to as a "pop" off the chest, but it can't be described as a spring. The only place a bench shirt makes the bench "easier" is the first 2" off your chest. After that, you need massive triceps.

Originally Posted by Erik

I am the same way...I bench just North of 300 raw, But with my block and tackle I can hit 2450lbs for reps

It is a bear totin' that stuff to the gym though

http://www.criticalbench.com/bench-press-shirts.htm

Here is a read for the folks.