Thread: Spotter

If I dont have a spotter, I go to failure and hold it an inch off of my chest until some guy helps me. It sucks, but thats what I get for working out alone.

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

If I dont have a spotter, I go to failure and hold it an inch off of my chest until some guy helps me. It sucks, but thats what I get for working out alone.

Why not just ask someone for a spot instead of looking like a fool and depending on people for help like that? One day they wont be there for ya...if you don't think you can handle the weight or want some forced reps/failure then ask someone for a spot....no weight is to light everyone started out there so don't be ashamed to ask someone.

Of course its always good to have a spotter but sometimes they just aren't there. I normally do things by myself and stop at my own failure without having someone help. Then for the days I want to go real heavy I just ask someone in the gym to help me out...one hand washes the other...then I do the same for them.

Originally Posted by DeadBolt

Why not just ask someone for a spot instead of looking like a fool and depending on people for help like that? One day they wont be there for ya...if you don't think you can handle the weight or want some forced reps/failure then ask someone for a spot....no weight is to light everyone started out there so don't be ashamed to ask someone.

I do ask for a spotter when I am on my last few sets, but I find myself having to call for help once or twice per chest day.

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

I do ask for a spotter when I am on my last few sets, but I find myself having to call for help once or twice per chest day.

Your better off asking for a spot twice or so a chest day instead of getting pinned under the weight. I know I would rather spot someone then have to run across the gym to strip the weight off of the bar and ruin my day. After a while of the same person doing it day in and day out we start to leave em there longer and longer until they learn to manage their weight or ask for help.

Originally Posted by DeadBolt

Your better off asking for a spot twice or so a chest day instead of getting pinned under the weight. I know I would rather spot someone then have to run across the gym to strip the weight off of the bar and ruin my day. After a while of the same person doing it day in and day out we start to leave em there longer and longer until they learn to manage their weight or ask for help.

It's only been recent. I switched up my chest day and since then haven't had the spotter I normally had before the switch. I will find a new guy, I have only had three chest days thus far since the switch.

so i am guessing that it is better to have the spotter help you with the last few reps you can't get?

Originally Posted by Myst

so i am guessing that it is better to have the spotter help you with the last few reps you can't get?

Thats only if you are looking for forced reps. I will ussually only do what my body can handle and the spotter is only there to make sure if something goes wrong I don't get hurt....not to lift the weight for me. I could bench alot more if I had somene there guiding the bar up and down pulling half of the load for me all the time...but that wouldn't be real benching now would it?

Originally Posted by DeadBolt

Thats only if you are looking for forced reps. I will ussually only do what my body can handle and the spotter is only there to make sure if something goes wrong I don't get hurt....not to lift the weight for me. I could bench alot more if I had somene there guiding the bar up and down pulling half of the load for me all the time...but that wouldn't be real benching now would it?

That is definitly one of the reasons I hate asking people that don't know how to spot. Some guys will just go up and down with the bar the entire time and then I tell him and he'll still do it.

It's definitly frustrating which is why I often times choose not to use a spotter and just call over one of the trainers when I am in need of help.

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

That is definitly one of the reasons I hate asking people that don't know how to spot. Some guys will just go up and down with the bar the entire time and then I tell him and he'll still do it.

It's definitly frustrating which is why I often times choose not to use a spotter and just call over one of the trainers when I am in need of help.

I lift by myself and hate needing spotters too.... Too often I find myself in a situation in which they simply yank the bar up as soon as I start to falter.

For example - last night I was benching, had 305 on, and on my 7th, I was close to failing, I couldve gotten it up, but no more. My spotter immediately grabbed the bar and racked it. I was a little upset. But, ya gotta deal with it.

i work out at home and sunday i was bench pressing trying to force out just 1 more. i hit a sticking point and my arms would not budge. luckily i got the bar off me without injury but i was stressing for a minute. i love working out alone but having a spotter certainly has its benefits.

Originally Posted by du510

I lift by myself and hate needing spotters too.... Too often I find myself in a situation in which they simply yank the bar up as soon as I start to falter.

For example - last night I was benching, had 305 on, and on my 7th, I was close to failing, I couldve gotten it up, but no more. My spotter immediately grabbed the bar and racked it. I was a little upset. But, ya gotta deal with it.

That is the worst when the guy picks it up at your first signs of trouble. Man does it suck, but your right, you just gotta deal with it.

remember, you dont need to go to failure in order to stimulate hypertrophy. going until you cant go any more shouldnt be your primary goal; rather, focus on squeezing your muscles at the top and having good form

Originally Posted by DimebagDarrell

remember, you dont need to go to failure in order to stimulate hypertrophy. going until you cant go any more shouldnt be your primary goal; rather, focus on squeezing your muscles at the top and having good form

No, we dont need failure. But in my case, I was working with progressive overload, pushing as hard as I could go. If I failed at 2, your explanation would fit my case. But failing after 7 or more isnt a bad thing. IMO.

Yes I wish i had a spotter once in a while just to see what max is. But there no ways my 99 lb wife is going to help me. Shit she runs when i load the bar. but seeings i lift at home that's what i get

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

If I dont have a spotter, I go to failure and hold it an inch off of my chest until some guy helps me. It sucks, but thats what I get for working out alone.

lol i did this the other day

some dude that was spotting me kept giving me WAY TOO MUCH assitance on my last few reps, like if i started to struggle he'd pull up the bar

I was getting freaking MADD at him, told him to leave off the bar till i'm at failiure but he kept doing it

so when he was doing his set, i jumped on and started pumping out the bench press with no spot and i got stuck mid-way through a rep, and he ran over and helped me out! very embarrassing but it was MUCH better than him taking half the weight off for me with a stupid spott!

Spotting is great when done properly, with fingertips on your last couple of reps, but these guys that think your bench is their biceps workout really piss me off!

Originally Posted by young d

lol i did this the other day

some dude that was spotting me kept giving me WAY TOO MUCH assitance on my last few reps, like if i started to struggle he'd pull up the bar

I was getting freaking MADD at him, told him to leave off the bar till i'm at failiure but he kept doing it

so when he was doing his set, i jumped on and started pumping out the bench press with no spot and i got stuck mid-way through a rep, and he ran over and helped me out! very embarrassing but it was MUCH better than him taking half the weight off for me with a stupid spott!

Spotting is great when done properly, with fingertips on your last couple of reps, but these guys that think your bench is their biceps workout really piss me off!

It happens.