question about legit strongman lifts

[waderow]

I have a question for you guys who do the strongman thing.

These bench shirts. What do they take off the lift. I understand them to offer resistance, but how much.


Lets say a man with a shirt presses 300. What is the equivalent with out the shirt? 225?

[flapjack]

That is a very difficult question to answer. You have many different types of shirts. It takes skill to be able to use each shirt properly as well.

I can bench 300 raw, but I can do 330 with a denim shirt. I don't use the shirt for the strength benifits, I use it for the saftey aspect. I don't need a pec tear, and the shirt allows things to stay tight.

Think of knee wraps. I start using my wraps at about 400 lbs for the squat, not because it will increase my lifts to crazy amounts, but more because I want to be able to walk when i am older. Same as a weight belt...back safety. Yes they offer some help with the weight, but that's not the main reason...at least it shouldn't be.

Do you ride a motor bike? Do you wear a helmet? Could you ride without one? Yes...but if you fall....good luck to you.

[flapjack]

I know that there are a lot of guys out there that use equipment ALL the time...the problem I have with that is that you become reliant on the equipment. Train without it, and use it for safety when you want to find out your one rep max.

I also don't agree with using canvass suits, or duct tape bench shirts...but that's why I just choose not to use them.

It's just like taking gear...either you choose to, or you don't. It's all up to you.

But don't look at someone and think..."he only got that bench because of the shirt". That's just like when guys look at JC, or coleman and say..."all drugs". Those guys train and eat like animals. Drugs or no drugs...they work harder than anybody. Same goes for powerlifters.

[Shortdave]

It's totally dependent on the person and the shirt. Most people will not add anything to their bench press the first time that they put on a shirt, usually their bench will go down because benching with a shirt is a very, very different movement than benching without a shirt.
It also depends on a persons natural weakness in the bench press, if they have trouble locking out, the bench shirt won't help much, but if they have trouble off the chest that is where the shirt is going to give the most assistance.

[flapjack]

I have a question for you guys who do the strongman thing.

These bench shirts. What do they take off the lift. I understand them to offer resistance, but how much.


Lets say a man with a shirt presses 300. What is the equivalent with out the shirt? 225?

One more thing, don't confuse Strongman training with Powerlifting...they are completely different.

[waderow]

To me, if you're too unstable with a lift, you shouldn't be doing it anyways, but I suppose "strongman" or "power lifting" is all about pushing past the boundaries.

So me for example, with a deep, stable and developed 365 bench.... if I put on a shirt, perhaps the added pressure and resistance bonus would put me over 400?

edit. just saw short daves post. might not increase my bench at all

[flapjack]

To me, if you're too unstable with a lift, you shouldn't be doing it anyways, but I suppose "strongman" or "power lifting" is all about pushing past the boundaries.

So me for example, with a deep, stable and developed 365 bench.... if I put on a shirt, perhaps the added pressure and resistance bonus would put me over 400?

edit. just saw short daves post. might not increase my bench at all

Do you compete or plan to compete in powerlifting? If not, I'd say don't waste your money on a $200 bench shirt just to increase your lifts at the gym. (please don't take that the wrong way, I'm not trying to sound like an asshole).

[Shortdave]

The first time I tried a bench shirt I had a 405 raw bench, with the shirt I had to have 365lbs on the bar just to touch my chest, 405 flew up wobbly but fast, and then I got crushed under 455.

Bowlcut brought me a denim shirt when he was down last time and I couldn't quite get 500lbs to touch my chest and I was pulling for all I'm worth, it was just hovering an inch above me.

[flapjack]

Maybe my shirt doesn't fit me properly, cause I've never had a problem getting the weight to touch my chest, no matter what the weight was.

[Shortdave]

Maybe my shirt doesn't fit me properly, cause I've never had a problem getting the weight to touch my chest, no matter what the weight was.

How long does it take you to get into your shirts? It takes me a good 10 minutes to get into mine.

But then again mine are hand me down and aren't made for my body type, but they are still super fun.

[tex]

flapjack...i dont think your shirt fits proper if you only get 30lbs carryover out of double denim......denim is the harshest to touch in and it should feel like the shirt is gonna squeeze the life out of you when your about to touch......your biceps should feel like the shirt is about to torque them right off the bone :) realistically with a single ply poly shirt that is fitted proper you should get 50+lbs of carryover and ive heard of guys getting up to 150-200lbs in carryover with a super tight shirt and excellent form.....double ply guys can get more carryover than that......my training partner competes in single ply contests and he was tellin me about this SHW that was wearing a shirt that was at least 3 sizes too small....the guy had a 500lb raw max but with the shirt soo goddamn tight he was spilling tits and fat out everywhere the guy managed a 900lb press......

[tiramisu]

Will shirted bench help raw bench? Kind of like rack deads help deadlift?

[Shortdave]

Will shirted bench help raw bench? Kind of like rack deads help deadlift?

Not anywhere near as much as board pressing will help

[flapjack]

Yup...board presses are the way to go. Rack presses work too, but they are not as natural feeling.

[dku]

One way to see how well the equipment works is to look at the records.

Off the top of my head the shirted bench is like 1040 or something, and the raw bench is 715. The suited squat is like 200lbs more than the raw squat. I don't think a suit helps more than 50-100lbs on the deadlift record.

[swolegantor]

I have a question for you guys who do the strongman thing.

These bench shirts. What do they take off the lift. I understand them to offer resistance, but how much.


Lets say a man with a shirt presses 300. What is the equivalent with out the shirt? 225?



First off Strongmen don't really ever use bench shirts...

Gene Ryechelek or whatever his name is benches around 600 raw..he benched over 1000 in a shirt.


Thats a rare case of a master technician and a JACKED up shirt.

I know guys who are only getting like 25 pounds out of there single ply...it depends on alot of shit...its a totally different thing really

[swolegantor]

To me, if you're too unstable with a lift, you shouldn't be doing it anyways, but I suppose "strongman" or "power lifting" is all about pushing past the boundaries.

So me for example, with a deep, stable and developed 365 bench.... if I put on a shirt, perhaps the added pressure and resistance bonus would put me over 400?

edit. just saw short daves post. might not increase my bench at all


The problem with a shirt the first time Is usually touching with the and making sure it doesn't fly back towards the uprights and whatnot.


You shouldn't think of it as "increasing your bench" Your bench stays the same its your "shirted bench" that goes up....unless of course training in the shirt helps you raw bench which is entirely possible.

[swolegantor]

Maybe my shirt doesn't fit me properly, cause I've never had a problem getting the weight to touch my chest, no matter what the weight was.

Well from your other thread you are getting 30 pounds out of a multiply denim so I am assuming it fits like a sweater.

[steve_d]

also, if you are wearing the bench shirt for "safety" then the shirt isn't tight enough! Personally, I think the bench shirts nowadays, even single ply (ex. katanas) are anything but a safety precaution. You'll need multiple spotters because you are using weight that you aren't capable of handling otherwise, and if something goes wrong, you'll need the spot FAST...

I had a shirt on not quite low enough on my chest, and on the way down it basically cut off circulation to my head/neck. Basically almost blacked out and luckily my wife was strong enough to take enough of the weight off. 2 minutes later tried it again and the weight flew up as if i was lifting the bar only.

[waderow]

what I am getting at is a tool to increase my bench.

I often train alone at a gym full of **** wads. Guys who load up 225 and do 4" presses with buddy spotter taking 50 pounds himself.

If I had a shirt which would stabilize me further, and help me lift off my chest, I think it would help increase my press as the top 50% as I understand it, will have less shirt influence.

[flapjack]

I you train alone...you won't even get the shirt on.

[flapjack]

Well from your other thread you are getting 30 pounds out of a multiply denim so I am assuming it fits like a sweater.

Either that, or I'm just a shitty bencher. (which has been my weak point for years)

The shirt is tight...very hard to get on. It is tigh across the chest and around the biceps.

[Shortdave]

what I am getting at is a tool to increase my bench.

I often train alone at a gym full of **** wads. Guys who load up 225 and do 4" presses with buddy spotter taking 50 pounds himself.

If I had a shirt which would stabilize me further, and help me lift off my chest, I think it would help increase my press as the top 50% as I understand it, will have less shirt influence.

No. You never use a shirt alone, as Flappy said you wouldn't even be able to get it on.
Also there is going to be very little carryover, you have to think of benching with a shirt and benching raw as two completely separate things with very different techniques.

[tex]

what I am getting at is a tool to increase my bench.

I often train alone at a gym full of **** wads. Guys who load up 225 and do 4" presses with buddy spotter taking 50 pounds himself.

If I had a shirt which would stabilize me further, and help me lift off my chest, I think it would help increase my press as the top 50% as I understand it, will have less shirt influence. shirt training can increase raw total. but you need to work on bottom end raw as well.....floor presses and pin presses can help.....start with the bar on the pins and press up and then relax when you get back to the start.....start next rep......I set the pins right about chest level to work on bottom end and i dont stall at chest level any longer....if i stall its about 6 inches off the chest....so next time around i set pins about 4 inches off my chest and press away til I am murdering the weights.....

[waderow]

shirt training can increase raw total. but you need to work on bottom end raw as well.....floor presses and pin presses can help.....start with the bar on the pins and press up and then relax when you get back to the start.....start next rep......I set the pins right about chest level to work on bottom end and i dont stall at chest level any longer....if i stall its about 6 inches off the chest....so next time around i set pins about 4 inches off my chest and press away til I am murdering the weights.....

lock outs.... i will give them a try.

[tex]

also....how is your form? do you arch much? what about changing up grips? I was benching with my index finger on the rings since i started lifting weights....i have looong arms so this put a lot of stress on my shoulders.....i bench narrow now with my pinkies touching and i can move a lot more weight and it takes stress off my shoulders.....doesnt work for every body-type but it def. helped me out!

[Shortdave]

I will amend my statement as Tex is correct, benching in a shirt CAN increase your raw bench, there are just so many better ways to do it (boards, bands, chains, pins) that it is usually more effort than it is worth to get a shirt and learn how to use it just to bring up your raw bench.

[tex]

bands and chains ftw!! i totally forgot about that!! i need to get some chains together for sure......dave, where in Canada can i get bands?!?!

[Shortdave]

I don't think any of the board sponsors sell any, at least they didn't when I bought mine so I went through Ironwoodyfitness.com and picked up the masters package. Totally worth it, and we just picked up a bunch of chains last week.

GAH!!! I can't wait to be able to train again! Two more months... come on dammit, time should move faster!

[steve_d]

I will amend my statement as Tex is correct, benching in a shirt CAN increase your raw bench, there are just so many better ways to do it (boards, bands, chains, pins) that it is usually more effort than it is worth to get a shirt and learn how to use it just to bring up your raw bench.

If you've already been training a while, and reached a point where your lifts only go up slightly each and every year then I would argue that benching with a shirt will decrease your raw bench. (assuming you use the shirt every workout). Its the same with squatting in suit bottoms. I've used a shirt for perhaps 3 weeks straight leading into a meet and when you take it off, you just feel naked since some of the muscles aren't used and create weak links when you stop using the shirt (or suit bottoms)....

Talk about sore glutes and hamstrings squatting raw after a long time using suit bottoms at minimum.

But when I say decrease, I mean temporary inability for the muscle fibers to fire when needed for a raw bench / squat - which will quickly come right back.

[Diesel_250]

Elitefts has chains and bands but you will get raped on the shipping.

[Shortdave]

Elitefts has chains and bands but you will get raped on the shipping.

For chains just hit up a farm supply store, or a trucking company will sometimes have some sweet deals on chains.

[Diesel_250]

I was going to buy the initial set of chains from Elitefts then go to a trucking company or where ever to get the extra chains.

[Diesel_250]

from what I can tell from the pics on elitefts I will need roughly 29 links of 5/8 chain x 2, 41 links of 3/8 chain x 2 and 4 snap hooks. does that sound about right?

[Shortdave]

We went with 8 6' lengths of 5/8 chain. Honestly I say get the largest chain you can and get 6-8' lengths of it, we were hoping to get 1" but they didn't have any.

[Jeff Vanco]

Guys think if they bench X amount of weight, they'll throw a shirt on and BAM!! another hundred pounds go up. WRONG

[Rhinobolt10]

Dude, you dont need a bench shirt.

Post up your last 10 bench workouts, and a vid or two of your bench form and I can put weight on your bench, and quite a bit of it from that.

If strength is your goal. If youre more looking for muscle size etc than ask Praetorian.

[bobbyorr]

for jump stretch bands in Canada
http://www.performance-training.ca/store/flexbands.html

i go some.. really fast and pretty cheap compared to the USA