Thread: Why do the pros use such bad form?

Like most top athletes they depend 95% on genetics to be great so they can fudge the other stuff if they want.

They probably wont be able to walk by the time they're 50!

B/c they are in front of a camera....they are selling an image lifting HEAVY weight.

also...when you run the type of cycles they run, you can sacrifice some form

Locking out on 400/500 bench presses probably arent the best for joints

because they can

I've noticed this as well... The geared up amature bodybuilders that train at my gym use shitty form, and slam weights a lot...

I get my best gains with heavy weight/sloppy form and I like it!

Originally Posted by Forum Security

I get my best gains with heavy weight/sloppy form and I like it!

Now that is the crux of what I was candidly enquiring about. Can I get better results working out this way? Or is it an individual thing?

Originally Posted by BraveUlysses

Now that is the crux of what I was candidly enquiring about. Can I get better results working out this way? Or is it an individual thing?

To be honest... this works best for me, I cannot speak for others.
For Example, take barbell rows: when I go light weight (say 135lbs) and perfect form, I never get sore or feel any type of improvement in my back....
Now take a heavier weight (205) i get less reps with a much sloppier form but the gains are there and thats the only way that ever worked for me...

Bas Rutten has terrible form in his MMA workout video. (posted on youtube)

They are doing good in spite of their training methods, not because of them. Professional bodybuilding is largely about genetics, drugs, and a shitload of eating. If you want to do it naturally and maintain your health, then tighten up your form. Cheating is just your body compensating for the muscles you are intending to work with other muscles.

Yea this is especially prominent in the movie Pumping Iron.

Originally Posted by CowPimp

They are doing good in spite of their training methods, not because of them. Professional bodybuilding is largely about genetics, drugs, and a shitload of eating. If you want to do it naturally and maintain your health, then tighten up your form. Cheating is just your body compensating for the muscles you are intending to work with other muscles.

I don't know about that, cheating is an accepted technique for advanced lifters/bb's. I believe there is a method to their madness. For example if I can get 6 good reps on curls, why not cheat on the last two and get 8? It's like forced reps. Of course this is only for experienced lifters who "can" cheat, or know how to cheat without hurting themselves.

Bret Favre's back up QB said "Why do I have to do it this way, and Favre doesn't (talking fundamentals)? Coach --> "Because he can, you're not Brett Favre, stick to the book."

Of course they do 'roids, but so do a million other's whom you've never heard of, it's not the roids, it's the work ethic, technique, and of course genetics.

Originally Posted by pengers84

They probably wont be able to walk by the time they're 50!

They will be dead before 50. As for slamming the weights I agree that there are times when form has to take a back seat to moving some poundage and shocking the hell out of your muscles. I don't think you lift that way all the time because it is hard on the body but it definately works. Pros just get away with doing it more because they have better 'recovery' methods.

Originally Posted by kcoleman

Yea this is especially prominent in the movie Pumping Iron.

Arnold is God and every rep he did was perfect.

Originally Posted by EsseQuamVideri

They will be dead before 50. As for slamming the weights I agree that there are times when form has to take a back seat to moving some poundage and shocking the hell out of your muscles. I don't think you lift that way all the time because it is hard on the body but it definately works. Pros just get away with doing it more because they have better 'recovery' methods.

You move more weight because you are using other muscles to assist in the lift or provide momentum...the muscles you are intending to use are not getting any more "shocked" than they would if you used good form.

I log my workouts...and I don't want to fool myself into thinking that I'm making progress when I actually just used shittier form to move more weight or get more reps than the week before. Do you??

Originally Posted by ForemanRules

Arnold is God and every rep he did was perfect.

There were other people less Godlike in that movie. A scene that comes to mind is a guy (not Arnie) doing seated rows.

Originally Posted by PWGriffin

You move more weight because you are using other muscles to assist in the lift or provide momentum...the muscles you are intending to use are not getting any more "shocked" than they would if you used good form.

I log my workouts...and I don't want to fool myself into thinking that I'm making progress when I actually just used shittier form to move more weight or get more reps than the week before. Do you??

I think that perfect form has a way of building up mental walls that are hard to break. I started training when I was 17 and I used only perfect form. I got good muscle gains over the years but my strength gains were no where near as good. When I was 20 I decided to trade some form for power and only then did my strength start to blossom. I am a total advocate of good form, don't get me wrong, but I think that during a 6 week routine you can trade a little form for power (cheating) as long as you you go back to great form for your next routine. You will find during your next routine that you can do great form with more weight, which equates to more muscle in the end.

Originally Posted by Seanp156

I've noticed this as well... The geared up amature bodybuilders that train at my gym use shitty form, and slam weights a lot...

Funny how you said this. Dave Marinelli (Mr. Florida of some years) trains at my gym every day. And while I was doing ATG squats, he and his friend were discussing about the last time they used "free weighted squats." Then he stepped over to the smith machine. He said some other stuff too that indicated that he was telling his clients that thye shouldnt do squats. In fact, Ive never seen him instruct one person on any compound free weight movement. He trains all his clients on machines and such, but it looks to be on a bodybuilder's volume program. Ive come to realize that some trainers just never keep up with the newest techniques, especially those who constantly compete.



Cheating to me is a way to force out 2 reps, like someone had already said. I can also see it as breaking through a plateau. Neither one would be something that should be consistent in programs nor would I list them in my journal, unless noted specifically.

Originally Posted by SJ69

I don't know about that, cheating is an accepted technique for advanced lifters/bb's. I believe there is a method to their madness. For example if I can get 6 good reps on curls, why not cheat on the last two and get 8? It's like forced reps. Of course this is only for experienced lifters who "can" cheat, or know how to cheat without hurting themselves.

Bret Favre's back up QB said "Why do I have to do it this way, and Favre doesn't (talking fundamentals)? Coach --> "Because he can, you're not Brett Favre, stick to the book."

Of course they do 'roids, but so do a million other's whom you've never heard of, it's not the roids, it's the work ethic, technique, and of course genetics.

Actually, a lot of bodybuilders have poor work ethic. You have to consider the amount of juice they are sucking down.

With that said, cheat reps are a valid form of overload. It allows you to do negatives once concentric failure is reached. Nonetheless, it should be used sparingly, only with certain exercises, and have a practical limit. You want to do cheat curls, okay, but if you look like you're trying to do a backflip while culing then it's asking for injury in my opinion.

Originally Posted by CowPimp

Actually, a lot of bodybuilders have poor work ethic. You have to consider the amount of juice they are sucking down.

With that said, cheat reps are a valid form of overload. It allows you to do negatives once concentric failure is reached. Nonetheless, it should be used sparingly, only with certain exercises, and have a practical limit. You want to do cheat curls, okay, but if you look like you're trying to do a backflip while culing then it's asking for injury in my opinion.

God damn!

Originally Posted by AKIRA

Cheating to me is a way to force out 2 reps, like someone had already said. I can also see it as breaking through a plateau. Neither one would be something that should be consistent in programs nor would I list them in my journal, unless noted specifically.

Agreed. I rarely pick a weight/reps that I don't think I can complete. If I do I don't see the harm in cheating the last few reps.

Originally Posted by ForemanRules

Like most top athletes they depend 95% on genetics to be great so they can fudge the other stuff if they want.

Yea, but wont they get much better results if they used good form.