Fadi
...
I can’t remember the last time I had someone spot me in the b/bell bench press. I liked my d/bells and never really gone so heavy in the b/bell press to require a spot from anyone. This brings me to the subject of this thread. I’ve listed seven inappropriate, ugly, and at times needlessly dangerous things that occur when spotting.
1. The spotter pulls the weight up through his line of power which derails your own line of power.
2. The spotter’s perspiration drips right onto your face or worse, in your eyes or mouth.
3. The spotter is not your partner and you’ve had no previous experience with his abilities and demeanour (and vice- versa).
4. The spotter does not know when to shut up and when to speak his words of encouragement.
5. The spotter is a bad judge of the situation at hand. He does your joints a disservice when he falsely believes that he’s actually doing you a favour by not spotting you enough.
6. The opposite of # 5 above but this time, rather than causing you a possible injury, he’s just simply wasting your time (or set), by helping too much.
7. Picking a beautiful and athletic female to spot you; only to let you down due to the lack of her strength, (which was no match for your inflated ego and the too heavy weight you’ve chosen to lift).
These were the ugly sevens I could come up with when it came to the failed art of spotting. It’s an art that has to be learnt or injury and discomfort may be inflicted upon you or by you, (depending whether you’re on the receiving or giving end).
Speaking from an injury point of view, I truly believe that #1 of the above list is the most dangerous of all the ugly 7s. The reason for this is that the damage takes place so subtlety and gradually, that neither the lifter nor the spotter are aware of any misgivings. The flip side to #1 where the spotter is pulling the weight up toward himself rather than following your line of pressing, occurs when the spotter lifts the weight off the bar for you, then lets it go before you're muscles are in the "loaded position".
A loaded position is when your muscles are in their contracted phase as opposed to their totally relaxed phase. Ouch, please have mercy on my shoulder joints!
Ok Ladies and Gentlemen, now it’s over to you. Share your thoughts and experiences here, so as to help us refine the art of spotting for the benefit of all the trainers who use spotters. Thank you.
Fadi.
1. The spotter pulls the weight up through his line of power which derails your own line of power.
2. The spotter’s perspiration drips right onto your face or worse, in your eyes or mouth.
3. The spotter is not your partner and you’ve had no previous experience with his abilities and demeanour (and vice- versa).
4. The spotter does not know when to shut up and when to speak his words of encouragement.
5. The spotter is a bad judge of the situation at hand. He does your joints a disservice when he falsely believes that he’s actually doing you a favour by not spotting you enough.
6. The opposite of # 5 above but this time, rather than causing you a possible injury, he’s just simply wasting your time (or set), by helping too much.
7. Picking a beautiful and athletic female to spot you; only to let you down due to the lack of her strength, (which was no match for your inflated ego and the too heavy weight you’ve chosen to lift).
These were the ugly sevens I could come up with when it came to the failed art of spotting. It’s an art that has to be learnt or injury and discomfort may be inflicted upon you or by you, (depending whether you’re on the receiving or giving end).
Speaking from an injury point of view, I truly believe that #1 of the above list is the most dangerous of all the ugly 7s. The reason for this is that the damage takes place so subtlety and gradually, that neither the lifter nor the spotter are aware of any misgivings. The flip side to #1 where the spotter is pulling the weight up toward himself rather than following your line of pressing, occurs when the spotter lifts the weight off the bar for you, then lets it go before you're muscles are in the "loaded position".
A loaded position is when your muscles are in their contracted phase as opposed to their totally relaxed phase. Ouch, please have mercy on my shoulder joints!
Ok Ladies and Gentlemen, now it’s over to you. Share your thoughts and experiences here, so as to help us refine the art of spotting for the benefit of all the trainers who use spotters. Thank you.
Fadi.
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