spotting

[nova1970sb]

reading a different thread on here led me to what i think is a good question.
i work out with my room mate during the week, on bench press he tries to do the same amount as weight as i do, and he struggles on the last 2 sets, doing a 5x5 workout. would he be better off putting less weight on the bar, or getting a little assistance from me on his last 2 reps? does it matter, or would there be better gains without help at all?

 

[Gazhole]

He should check his ego and reduce the weight. Failing on the last rep of the last set is fine, but failing too much and too often increases chance of overreaching, and injury.

He'll get way more benefit from successfully completing 5 sets of 5 on a challenging weight and gradually increasing it than he will from having you do most of the work on those last two sets.

A spotter should be there to give you moral support, and to bail you out if you fail and would otherwise get injured. What they should NOT be doing is lifting the weight for you. Forced reps are a legitimate technique, but should be used only by experienced lifters, and even then used sparingly.

I don't know where this team lifting thing started, but i had to actually tell a spotter not so long back "don't touch the bar unless i tell you" because on the last set he assisted me on reps that i would have been able to complete myself to such an extent that i was barely doing anything. I know the bar had slowed down, but jesus - i was going for a 5 rep max attempt, it's heavy!

 

[sassy69]

I agree - a spotter is there to get you thru the last rep or two of a set you know you're pushing it on. Not your last two sets. IMO at most a couple fingers on the bar or on your elbows (NOT YOUR WRISTS!!!!!) on DB press is all you need from a spotter - not a full on lift. Just enough to get you past the fail point on 1-2 reps. No more. And the way you know you're doing it right is that on your next or the following workout you should be able to get that weight for those reps up yourself. I've done w/ incline DB presses up to 80 lb. I cap out here because I can't kick them up by myself w/o a spotter. I don't usually have a spotter so when I do, I use them. And the next time I train w/o a spotter I can do it myself.

 

[nova1970sb]

good to know, thanks for the input guys

 

[Gazhole]

This is turning into a rant, but it's just as bad when its the other way around and you're spotting somebody who has clearly reached muscular failure yet insists on "2 more!!!!!!!!" then gets shitty with you when you rack it and refuse to upright row for them.

Sorry, but the set is fucking done if your spotter is breaking a sweat.

 

[cheappinz]

yeah if he's having trouble with the last 2 SETS not reps, its not right for you to be helping him with every rep. I typically need help on my last 2-3 reps only..and it shouldn't be a huge help, just a tiny little bit of help and guidance. you are supposed to let the person do the work...

 

[bigdavetom]

i never had a spotter rest more dnt be too eager cos that messes it up too n if you havent worked up to the weight n just bang big weight on you wont gain nothing

 

[MDR]

Lower the weight, for sure.