people without spotters

[ozzyman]

This made me laugh a bit when i saw it..... these two guys were in the gym the other day obviously they were workout partners.... but instead of doin stuff together they kinda did there own thing... IE one would do flat bench while the other did incline... They were much bigger than me so i didnt think anything about it when they werent using a spotter with only 35's on the bar doing incline bench.... Next thing i know the guy is just sitting under the weight and can't move..... I was in the middle of my shoulder presses when i saw it in the mirror.... The weight just kinda dropped and sat there..... he was obviously struggling so i walked over and helped him out..... He came up with some lame excuse "I really must have messed up my breathing on that one"..... hopefully someone else finds this somewhat funny...

[BigNic]

I always think its funny when people use weight to heavy and just have to lay it n their chest. that look on their face that justs says "Oh ****" is priceless

[snowster900]

where was his friend while all of this was going on ?

[Stephen Riddington]

The guy's friend is a jerk. If I see a friend of mine enter the gym, usually we spot each other when neccessary.

[ozzyman]

where was his friend while all of this was going on ?

Doing flat bench just didnt notice i guess..... i know when i work out with someone we spot eachother and rest while spotting....

[icanrace]

omg, that is nuts

[Canadian Crippler]

The other day I was doing a lighter set of flies than usual, and my right elbow kept bending at the bottom of the rep thus making me drop the DBs. It was very weird, and something that has never happened to me before. Everyone around thought I was trying to be cool by lifting more than I could handle, but that obviosuly wasn't the case.

Just thought I'd say that so people don't just assume that the persons being an ego lifter.

[ozzyman]

you make a good point..... however after i helped this guy get the weight off he rested and went at it again.... i was watching and he almost failed on the 6th rep..... they hadn;t been in the gym for more than 15 minutes so it couldnt have been from other previous lifts...... i mean you'd think after the first time he'd realize either lower the weight or get a spotter right?

[fabio]

i got one . me and my friend where working out and two guys where on the bench doing 225 so the guy is doing his reps and he drops one side on the plates and the whole gym looked at him people where asking if he was ok . he got so red in his face it was funny and hell i was like wtf he had a spotter too. so its not like he was doing it by him self. anyways after that him and his friend just left the gym.

[Adam]

I've 'saved' too many people benching while i work out.
One week i had 3 seperate insidences. I was doing speed sets, take a fountain break, come back and someones on my bench wiggleing like a worm on a fish hook.

[getfit]

I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY PEOPLE DON'T ASK FOR SPOTS!

i always have a spot when i'm going heavier!

leave your ego at the door!

[ozzyman]

:withstupi were there to get big and strong not get hurt and be stupid

[Bruise Brubaker]

I never use a spotter. A few times while benching I've called for someone because the weight was on my chest, but the worst that could happen is having to find an orignal way to drop the weight. I use a bench which has like 3 places at different heights to rack the bars, so usually if I fail I can still push up to my sticking point where it fits with the height of one of the racking places. I hate having a spotter.

[Gyno Rhino]

I also hate having a spotter. It's rare to find someone that can actually spot a lift correctly.

Most folks offer WAY too much help, and they keep their damned hands on the bar 99% of the time. Either that, or the second you struggle a bit with the lift they jerk it off of you and help you rack it. Or the WORST kind are the guys that think they know how to have you workout better than you do - they'll yell "Go for another one, man!" when you're ready to stop.

I hate spots.

[nejar462]

I've seen someone who easily maxes 350 warming up with 190 and having it fall on him and not being able to get it up. His hand slipped up, sometimes things go wrong.

[Manveet]

I never use a spotter. A few times while benching I've called for someone because the weight was on my chest, but the worst that could happen is having to find an orignal way to drop the weight. I use a bench which has like 3 places at different heights to rack the bars, so usually if I fail I can still push up to my sticking point where it fits with the height of one of the racking places. I hate having a spotter.

The bench press station at my gym has the same thing. Which has been a good thing for me every now and again

[Manveet]

I also hate having a spotter. It's rare to find someone that can actually spot a lift correctly.

Most folks offer WAY too much help, and they keep their damned hands on the bar 99% of the time. Either that, or the second you struggle a bit with the lift they jerk it off of you and help you rack it. Or the WORST kind are the guys that think they know how to have you workout better than you do - they'll yell "Go for another one, man!" when you're ready to stop.

I hate spots.

Ya, for some reason every spotter I've ever had thinks that you should be going to absolute failure on every lift, otherwise you don't know what you're doing

[Nights]

I also hate having a spotter. It's rare to find someone that can actually spot a lift correctly.

Normally after asking someone for a spot, I tell them how I want it. Your right on it being hard to find someone that doesn't help too much, or lifts it off the first moment you struggle. Normally a "Going for this many. If it goes down to my chest, or I give you a nod, give me a hand, otherwise no help" works. I hate people that ask me for a spot and then expect me to lift it for them. Once again, I tell them what I do, and they can say "fine" or realize the fact that they should be using less weight.

[ozzyman]

I always make sure my spotters know that until the weight stops and starts going back down no help.... that means i don't want to see they're hands anywhere near the bar. And i always tell them to make me work for that last rep...... don't just yank it up..... what good does that do me? right?

[SW]

Yeah, pretty funny but also quite common. I feel you guys on the lousy spotter thing. It sucks ass to have someone pull the bar away from you. I was maxing out last year and one guy on my left had his hand under the part of the bar sticking out from the plates, so when I went down it hit his hand. It was all I could do to stay on the bench. Pulled my back doing it. Needless to say, I failed that lift.


Also 1 day last year a friend of mine was squatting in a rack and had a freshman spotter behind him, a weak one at that. He's the common spotter here that thinks that standing above someone is what spotting is. So when my friend started going backwards and down with the bar on his shoulders, the kid just looked startled and kinda pushed him. Luckily I was getting a drink and took the 2 step over and pushed them both onto the rack. I've seen some 7th graders almost get guillotined on the bench because of their poor form and poor spotters. I try to teach them, but I don't have the time.

[Kiaran]

Spotters I hate:

- As*hole spotters that act like you owe them bigtime for taking the time to help you. (they usually don't say a word, and don't even act like they are going to help you out)
- The son-b*tch that thinks a nice hard yank on the bar as soon as you slow down is a good spot
- The sh*thead who lifts the weight off the rack for you without asking if you would like a liftoff
- The moron that tries to pump you up like they're your old highschool coach or some sh*t...wtf?
- The other sh*thead who isn't paying attention as you fail
- And finally the bast4rd that doesn't know what a spot means and lifts for you on every single rep...usually you have to tell him to take his hands off the bar before you get up and slap the b*tch.

[Den Fisher]

I also hate having a spotter. It's rare to find someone that can actually spot a lift correctly.

Most folks offer WAY too much help, and they keep their damned hands on the bar 99% of the time. Either that, or the second you struggle a bit with the lift they jerk it off of you and help you rack it. Or the WORST kind are the guys that think they know how to have you workout better than you do - they'll yell "Go for another one, man!" when you're ready to stop.

I hate spots.

I agree 100%

I'll be there doing BP's.. and when I get to like my 6th rep they start helping me push it up.. I can do it myself.. it's just not gonna be as fast going up as my first few were! >:O

And they just screw everything up! Constantly screaming in my face "YO MAN BREATHE BREATHE YOU GONNA BUST VEIN IN YOUR FOREHEAD D00D BUT KEEP GOING MAN YOU DO IT MAN!"

EDIT: I also remember one time I got in the gym late some months ago, it was just me and this other guy.. I don't think he knew english too well (Indonesian I think) I asked him for a spot, so we went over.. and I get situated on my bench, then he puts his hands where mine are supose.. so then I scootch them out of the way with mine, so he then decided to lock his hands in the middle of the bar, and I had 135 on at the time, and got around my 7th rep and it's going down, and I can't get it up, so then he starts trying to lift up.. but can't.. and my chest is getting smashed.. and so without any help from him.. I manage to roll the bar off my chest.. but I can't blame that guy too much, he was shy and had no clue how to spot.