Balancing while benching

[Jamie270286]

Hi guys
I tried to start benching with barbell today. (ive bin doing it for a week or two some machine where you only have to lift the weight not balance it yourself.) i found that i couldnt balance the barbell with even the lightest weight. what should i do??

Jamie

[RichLockyer]

Work at it. This is one of the evils of machines. Especially for ectomorphs, we tend to have poorly developed attachment points and the balancing act is a big part of toning the body itself for useful power and not just bulk.

ALWAYS have a spotter when working the bench... never attempt it alone, and have the spotter assist with balance.

[SW]

Jamie: Put a really light weight on (say 25's on each side) and just bench it 10-15 times. Then do it again. Do this for two or three weightlifting sessions 'till you feel comfortable adding weight. Benching can be very dangerous, and it's responsible for the most weightlifting deaths per year. So get your balance down now before progressing and then it's all good buddy. Don't start doing much heavier weights untill you can balance well. You should adapt to it fast.

[Augury]

benching is just like riding a bike.

except without the pedals.
and handlebars
and brakes
and tyres
and gears
oh and obviously you dont go anywhere

actually, thinking about it benching isnt at all like riding a bike.


Jus rep the empty bar with a spotter till you can move it up and down without horizontal wobble problems. I used to imagine i was pushing the bar up an invisible smith machine rail. still do sometimes when its heavy for me to keep form.

Augs

[Y2A]

Sometimes its awkward if you put too LIGHT of a weight on also. If I tried to bench just the bar I would be all over the place.

[completeNewb]

Benching can be very dangerous, and it's responsible for the most weightlifting deaths per year.

How does it happen? Do they get strangled to death? I work out at home and once or twice I've had to unload the plates when I didn't quite have that full rep in me

[MaN BoObES]

im the same way. I can bench 25lbs at home with my small weider set, but at the gym the bars weigh more then what i bench at home without weights. So i feel awkward just doin the bars. Plus i dont know anyone there to spot me or help me.

[RichLockyer]

How does it happen? Do they get strangled to death? I work out at home and once or twice I've had to unload the plates when I didn't quite have that full rep in me

Crushing the throat (or forehead/skull), or dropping on the chest.
Timed "right", it takes only a 40-pound impact to the sternum to stop the heart.

[Jamie270286]

ill just keep practacing with light weights for a while untill i get the balancing right.
cheers for the advice.

Jamie