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View Full Version : Are YOU a good spotter?


Deejay_Spike
07-25-2002, 08:30 AM
When you enter a gym, you'll most likely see guys working out in pairs. one guy doing the exercise, and the other helping/motivating. Let's take a closer look at the latter one.

most people call him the spotter. but does everyone knows what a good spotter must do? or musn't do? from what i've learned, the main task of a spotter is to prevent injury to his partner. this is his MAIN objective. so, make sure that when you attack a heavy set of squats or bench, you have a spotter who can help you when or if he has to.
what's next to do? Motivation. you know what i mean when you feel the adrenaline rush from the motivational shouts from your spotter, may they be "COME ON GIRLIE, PANSYYYYYYY !!!" or "YOU CAN DO IT BIG MAN!!!", sometimes they can really help you make the lift or rep.
all the oher things are accessory, and vary from one training philosophy to another. i'm talking about helping the partner in loading/unloading, performing forced reps, negatives, handing the dumbells etc etc.

now that we somewhat know what a decent spotter must do, let's take a closer look at the bad spotter :

you're going for a heavy set of bench press, and you're looking for a spotter. bommer, there is only one decent looking guy in the gym, so you ask him.

FIRST MISTAKE : the spotter asks nada, nothing, rien, niks.

to be a good spotter, thou should know what you're partner is going to do. estimated reps, weight, handing or not, etc.

okay, now you start your set.

SECOND MISTAKE : the spotter is not paying any attention, he's instead looking at the hot chick, or even worse, chatting with her.

WHEN YOU SPOT, YOU SPOT. AND NOTHING ELSE MATTERS FOR THE MOMENT! if your partner has a problem, it's often too late and he can get baldy hurt. do you want that? i guessed not, so put your dick back where it should.

let's assume for a minute he saw you struggling (oh thank god! or not?). he
A ) immediately grabs the bar, rips it from your hands and puts it back

LET HIM STRUGGLE AT LEAST A BIT! he may make the lift after all. if he doesn't, take the bar and tell him he can't anymore and put it back.

B ) starts shouting " IT'S ALL YOU!!!! IT'S ALL YOU!!!!" when in fact, he's doing bent over rows.

IF YOU HAVE TO HELP, HELP A BIT, take away a few pounds, but don't do it in his place.

Best thing is to pick a spotter that knows you quite well, so that he knows when/what to do. but for many this isn't the case, so let's now take a look look at the good spotter :

-"hey dude, i'm gonna hit the bench for a heavy one, wanna spot me bro'?"

="Yeah sure, how much? how many you think you'll do? okido then. want me to hand it to you?"

(Girl) "hi handsome..."

="can't talk. spotting."

-"god this one's tuff!!"

="GO GO GO GOOO HARDER !!!!!"
-------------A)
-------------="yeah you made it!! perfect!!"

-------------B)
-------------="okay you're exhausted. wanna go trhough some forced reps?"

--------------------------A)
---------------------------"yeah kay"

--------------------------="come on!, i'm not even helping that much!" (actually he isn't. just a bit)

--------------------------B)
---------------------------"No dude i'm dead"

--------------------------="kay then" *takes the bar and puts it back*


i hope you guys learned from it. i know i have to adjust some little details to myself.

mattlant
07-27-2002, 12:01 AM
One more thing to add when being a spotter.

Make sure if you help with a rep to GO IN THE DIRECTION OF THE REP.

For example. If you are spotting on bench press, help with the weight in an UPWARD direction. I have had many people do this but pull back toward the rack instead of UP and it really puts a strain on you.

Matt

ThreSh
08-06-2002, 02:57 AM
Best workouts I ever had in my life was with a personal trainer (a friend). He wouldn't move that damn bar if your life depended on it. he only spoted it from going backwards. Then after you are finally beat to a pulp he scream at you to do 3 more, and his spot was just enuff to keep the bar moving, you still did most the work.


Hes been lifting like for about 2 years. He is the only guy I know who will try a new max on his bench without a spotter and literally take 30seconds get the bar up. He swears at you if you spot him to much to hehe :)

deaduarte88
11-13-2009, 03:00 AM
When you enter a gym, you'll most likely see guys working out in pairs. one guy doing the exercise, and the other helping/motivating. Let's take a closer look at the latter one.

most people call him the spotter. but does everyone knows what a good spotter must do? or musn't do? from what i've learned, the main task of a spotter is to prevent injury to his partner. this is his MAIN objective. so, make sure that when you attack a heavy set of squats or bench, you have a spotter who can help you when or if he has to.
what's next to do? Motivation. you know what i mean when you feel the adrenaline rush from the motivational shouts from your spotter, may they be "COME ON GIRLIE, PANSYYYYYYY !!!" or "YOU CAN DO IT BIG MAN!!!", sometimes they can really help you make the lift or rep.
all the oher things are accessory, and vary from one training philosophy to another. i'm talking about helping the partner in loading/unloading, performing forced reps, negatives, handing the dumbells etc etc.

now that we somewhat know what a decent spotter must do, let's take a closer look at the bad spotter :

you're going for a heavy set of bench press, and you're looking for a spotter. bommer, there is only one decent looking guy in the gym, so you ask him.

FIRST MISTAKE : the spotter asks nada, nothing, rien, niks.

to be a good spotter, thou should know what you're partner is going to do. estimated reps, weight, handing or not, etc.

okay, now you start your set.

SECOND MISTAKE : the spotter is not paying any attention, he's instead looking at the hot chick, or even worse, chatting with her.

WHEN YOU SPOT, YOU SPOT. AND NOTHING ELSE MATTERS FOR THE MOMENT! if your partner has a problem, it's often too late and he can get baldy hurt. do you want that? i guessed not, so put your dick back where it should.

let's assume for a minute he saw you struggling (oh thank god! or not?). he
A ) immediately grabs the bar, rips it from your hands and puts it back

LET HIM STRUGGLE AT LEAST A BIT! he may make the lift after all. if he doesn't, take the bar and tell him he can't anymore and put it back.

B ) starts shouting " IT'S ALL YOU!!!! IT'S ALL YOU!!!!" when in fact, he's doing bent over rows.

IF YOU HAVE TO HELP, HELP A BIT, take away a few pounds, but don't do it in his place.

Best thing is to pick a spotter that knows you quite well, so that he knows when/what to do. but for many this isn't the case, so let's now take a look look at the good spotter :

-"hey dude, i'm gonna hit the bench for a heavy one, wanna spot me bro'?"

="Yeah sure, how much? how many you think you'll do? okido then. want me to hand it to you?"

(Girl) "hi handsome..."

="can't talk. spotting."

-"god this one's tuff!!"

="GO GO GO GOOO HARDER !!!!!"
-------------A)
-------------="yeah you made it!! perfect!!"

-------------B)
-------------="okay you're exhausted. wanna go trhough some forced reps?"

--------------------------A)
---------------------------"yeah kay"

--------------------------="come on!, i'm not even helping that much!" (actually he isn't. just a bit)

--------------------------B)
---------------------------"No dude i'm dead"

--------------------------="kay then" *takes the bar and puts it back*


i hope you guys learned from it. i know i have to adjust some little details to myself.

NOTHING beats a good spotter! i'm in okinawa japan and currently looking for one.. lol but seriously how hard is it to be a good spotter?? THIS post should be up inside every gym across the world!!

arody169
11-24-2009, 09:52 PM
I see more marines live this "bad spotter" routine more than anyone I have ever seen in any gym, period. Of course, I am not on a marine infantry/special forces base...I am on a marine aviation base...

Num3n
11-25-2009, 12:47 AM
best spotter ever right here, serious.

(first video he comes in at about 20 seconds)
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