Thread: Powerlifting Bands

Originally Posted by Double D

I do not and dont plan to buy a bench shirt, so would bands really help if I was going to be a natural bencher? Or would they still be beneficial?

What the heck is a bench shirt?

Bench shirt helps a powerlifter bench more weight. If you do a search on google you will find one right off the bat.

would the bands help you with what?

bench shirt helps you put up more weight (once you learn to use it)

bands help increase resistance.

they do two completely different things so I am not sure what you are asking.

Well P I am asking if I am to compete in the future I wont be using a shirt therefore would training with bands be beneficial? Did I make sense this time?

oh.

yea, you can train with bands and nto have to worry about ever wearing a shirt.

I have used my bands before and I lift raw.

Alright thanks P. I was going to buy some, just wanted to make sure they were still worth it. Hell I never even knew what they were until I got on here, wierd what you dont know about weight lifting even though I have been in it for about a decade. ODD.

ironwoody.com is a great place to buy a package. the intermediate package has a good mix of bands.

Thank you. I will give er a look. For some reason my internet is being pretty shitty, so I will have to take a look at it after I get back to work tommorow. Thanks again.

OOPS, that was the wrong email address.

90 bucks seems like a reasonable price to me.

I've spent little a time looking into these. I don't really understand the values, especiallly with the shirt.

Can you eloborate?

Well I am not real familar with the shirt all I really know about it is it makes it easier to go from your chest to around half way or so. I have never used one though have seen plenty of guys use them. As far as bands go, well they help with your final last half of your bench. Say you are benching 280 and you place bands on with an extra 20 pounds of tension on the end. This means you will be doing 280 for the first half of your rep and 300 for the last half. I think I explained that ok. Understand?

Originally Posted by Double D

Well I am not real familar with the shirt all I really know about it is it makes it easier to go from your chest to around half way or so. I have never used one though have seen plenty of guys use them. As far as bands go, well they help with your final last half of your bench. Say you are benching 280 and you place bands on with an extra 20 pounds of tension on the end. This means you will be doing 280 for the first half of your rep and 300 for the last half. I think I explained that ok. Understand?

The band makes a lot of sense if to break sticking points!

But, from what I understand, the shirt is a rigid device that assists in "powering" the resistance up (a cheat). What function does it serve in making your unassisted bench more powerful? The same? If so how?

Well I cant answer that because I am not sure. I dont know that it does, but doesnt really matter for most powerlifters because most of them compete with a bench shirt.

Originally Posted by JimSnow

The band makes a lot of sense if to break sticking points!

But, from what I understand, the shirt is a rigid device that assists in "powering" the resistance up (a cheat). What function does it serve in making your unassisted bench more powerful? The same? If so how?

A bench shirt enables the lifter to bench more weight. It doesn't make him stronger. I would doubt there would be much carryover to benching raw either, but can't say for sure. Maybe P-funk or CP can help here.

I think accomodating resistance is great, even as a raw lifter. It is probably even more important for a shirted bencher, but that doesn't mean it can't help your raw total. Also, you can do things like reverse band deadlifts and band resisted box squats to help those numbers.

Originally Posted by Triple Threat

A bench shirt enables the lifter to bench more weight. It doesn't make him stronger. I would doubt there would be much carryover to benching raw either, but can't say for sure. Maybe P-funk or CP can help here.

What's the point in this?

I admit that I finally think I understand what a raw lift is (after seeing the term a few times). It's a lift without prosthesis or material aid, right?

Why hold a contest - unless without such aid?


Confused.

Shirts not only allow the lifter to put up more weight, but they also help avoid injury under extreme weight. They can do this because they're so tight they basically keep the joint locked in place... Most Benchers can't even get the bar to their chest with a shirt until they have a fair amount of weight on the bar.

Same thing goes with squat suits and briefs.

On the topic of bands, I've only used them a couple times and it's a very different feel from free weight... Free weights feel a lot more "floaty" after you use bands. They more or less pull the weight towards you. I noticed it put a far amount more pressure on my shoulders than free benching, so most people that use bands cycle them with chains and free weight, the joints can't take a whole lot of that.

Originally Posted by Seanp156

Shirts not only allow the lifter to put up more weight, but they also help avoid injury under extreme weight. They can do this because they're so tight they basically keep the joint locked in place... Most Benchers can't even get the bar to their chest with a shirt until they have a fair amount of weight on the bar.

Same thing goes with squat suits and briefs.

On the topic of bands, I've only used them a couple times and it's a very different feel from free weight... Free weights feel a lot more "floaty" after you use bands. They more or less pull the weight towards you. I noticed it put a far amount more pressure on my shoulders than free benching, so most people that use bands cycle them with chains and free weight, the joints can't take a whole lot of that.

So, the lifts are getting so extreme... they have exceeded the natural limits of bone, tendon, etc. In otherwords, the human skeleton can no longer support such extreme weights? But, as an aid... is this a hedge against injury (muscle growth exceeding skeletal adaptation) for someone that doesn't do a 700BP?

I guess I still don't see the reasoning.

Is that accurate?

Originally Posted by JimSnow

So, the lifts are getting so extreme... they have exceeded the natural limits of bone, tendon, etc. In otherwords, the human skeleton can no longer support such extreme weights? But, as an aid... is this a hedge against injury (muscle growth exceeding skeletal adaptation) for someone that doesn't do a 700BP?

I guess I still don't see the reasoning.

Is that accurate?

I think these gear helps prevent injury to some degree, but in reality it is so they can put up bigger numbers, plain and simple. They don't need triple ply bench suits to prevent injury.

Really though, that question is like saying why are steroids allowed in IFBB bodybuilding competitions? Because people want to see freaks on stage, regardless of the way they got there.

I think CP explained that very well right there.

I have a buddy that constantly uses bands and he is a 500 lbs plus "natural" bench presser. However, be careful because band work really tears down the muscle and you dont want to over do it. Only use the bands for a excercise or two! Also bands are a great way to stun the muscle and change your routine up.

Originally Posted by Stevehibs

I have a buddy that constantly uses bands and he is a 500 lbs plus "natural" bench presser. However, be careful because band work really tears down the muscle and you dont want to over do it. Only use the bands for a excercise or two! Also bands are a great way to stun the muscle and change your routine up.

What weight class is he in and is it raw or equiped?