Shermworks Free-Spotter Review

[Jetigen]

I just wonder if there are any gotchas with it. For example, let's say you're doing a hang clean (I like those), would the rope just go all over the place and get in the way? If so, you just take your free spotted bar out of the way and use another bar for olympic movements? Just trying to figure out the logistics of having the rope spotters.

No, I'd never do explosive exercises with the spotter attached to the bar. To remove the spotted bar from the rack you will need first to undo anchor mini weights, then get the ropes out of the mechanism, remove the spotted bar and move the ropes out of the way. The best way to go though is to have the j-hooks positioned at the maximum height and put the "undisturbed" bar on it.

[Northernmoris]

No, I'd never do explosive exercises with the spotter attached to the bar. To remove the spotted bar from the rack you will need first to undo anchor mini weights, then get the ropes out of the mechanism, remove the spotted bar and move the ropes out of the way. The best way to go though is to have the j-hooks positioned at the maximum height and put the "undisturbed" bar on it.

Sounds like a big waste of time for a big piece of sh!t like the freespotter.

[Keetman]

Sounds like a big waste of time for a big piece of sh!t like the freespotter.

Oh no you di-ant.

[2MoreRepz]

I tink he did...

[Keetman]

I tink he did...

I believe one of the greatest travesties I have ever seen a bb.com mod partake in is eliminating poor Sherm from the boards.

[Stasher1]

The regulars here are just a bunch of bullies.


Poor Sherm.

[tombro]

Lol it's sad because sherm is literally a nice old man, in my minds eye I picture him as the cartoon gipetto from Pinocchio

[bobcat255]

No, I'd never do explosive exercises with the spotter attached to the bar. To remove the spotted bar from the rack you will need first to undo anchor mini weights, then get the ropes out of the mechanism, remove the spotted bar and move the ropes out of the way. The best way to go though is to have the j-hooks positioned at the maximum height and put the "undisturbed" bar on it.

Hrm, that was a bad example....

Here's a better one. Since the bar has to be squeezed, would it be just as easy to do exercises where you're above the bar or below the bar? Let's say benching/squatting vs upright row? Like, would you want to squeeze the bar with your fingertips or??

We need a video review of this thing!!

P.S. If that question doesn't make sense, don't worry, not a big deal. I can use two bars without a problem... just kind of trying to understand the equipment is all.

[Jetigen]

Lol it's sad because sherm is literally a nice old man, in my minds eye I picture him as the cartoon gipetto from Pinocchio

I used to correspond with Sherm back and forth a while back. He was very helpful in answering my questions and making changes. I think his problem is/was that he's from bygone time of 80-90's. His website is literally a dinosaur in coding and styling. His self-promotion is outdated too.

[Jetigen]

Since the bar has to be squeezed, would it be just as easy to do exercises where you're above the bar or below the bar? Let's say benching/squatting vs upright row? Like, would you want to squeeze the bar with your fingertips or??

No, you don't press the rod to the bar with finger tips. You just grab the whole thing like you'd do the bar alone. After a while you don't even notice the rod. You can use the spotter for any barbell exercise in which the bar travels more or less in linear fashion up and down. All three exercises you mentioned are good with the FreeSpotter. In my opinion, it's at its best when squatting outside the rack. Benching is good too, except the spotter use becomes redundant due to presence of safety bars, good for eliminating bar unracking/racking hustle though.

P.S. My rack is in the storage otherwise I'd have done video review for you.

[Stasher1]

No, you don't press the rod to the bar with finger tips. You just grab the whole thing like you'd do the bar alone. After a while you don't even notice the rod. You can use the spotter for any barbell exercise in which the bar travels more or less in linear fashion up and down. All three exercises you mentioned are good with the FreeSpotter. In my opinion, it's at its best when squatting outside the rack. Benching is good too, except the spotter use becomes redundant due to presence of safety bars, good for eliminating bar unracking/racking hustle though.

P.S. My rack is in the storage otherwise I'd have done video review for you.

I've only seen one setup in person, and that's exactly how it was used. The owner had it in his basement, attached to the first floor's joists, all by itself.

[Jetigen]

I've only seen one setup in person, and that's exactly how it was used. The owner had it in his basement, attached to the first floor's joists, all by itself.

When heavy squatting like that Chinese Olympic weightlifter in the video, I think the FreeSpotter is a very good safety mechanism if he goes unconscious.

[Mech6]

When heavy squatting like that Chinese Olympic weightlifter in the video, I think the FreeSpotter is a very good safety mechanism if he goes unconscious.

Man, he's like a machine. So fluid. Is that 260lg? I've done that for singles and it looks like I'm having a seizure compared to this guy.

[bobcat255]

Thanks bro's! I'm definitely going to have a full/half rack. I was considering this option for use with a smith machine (I know, I know)... it would allow me to hang ropes off of a smith machine and do free weights. Just exploring options

[bobcat255]

Man, he's like a machine. So fluid.

You think? I mean, I guess he's an Olympian, but the way his knees were bending in... eek!

[Mech6]

Thanks bro's! I'm definitely going to have a full/half rack. I was considering this option for use with a smith machine (I know, I know)... it would allow me to hang ropes off of a smith machine and do free weights. Just exploring options

You check out that rae crowther half-rack I linked in some other thread?

[bobcat255]

You check out that rae crowther half-rack I linked in some other thread?

No? Will start looking now...

[Mech6]

No? Will start looking now...

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=126624063
page 54
post #1591.

[bobcat255]

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=126624063
page 54
post #1591.

Thanks for the link. I did see that before. Don't remember when.

Are you offering to build that for me?? Hehe, that rack is outside of my price range and those feet stick out way too much for my space. I'm currently leaning towards Dynamic Fitness, Rogue or custom.

[Mech6]

Thanks for the link. I did see that before. Don't remember when.

Are you offering to build that for me?? Hehe, that rack is outside of my price range and those feet stick out way too much for my space. I'm currently leaning towards Dynamic Fitness, Rogue or custom.

I mentionned it because you mentionned you liked Alex's rack, and that RC one is basically the one that inspired me.

[AttyGuy]

Freeballin'? Yes.

Freespottin'? No.

[bobcat255]

I mentionned it because you mentionned you liked Alex's rack, and that RC one is basically the one that inspired me.

Thanks....

EDIT: Got it...



Your 30" spotters - WANT!

[bobcat255]

Freeballin'? Yes.

Freespottin'? No.

Careful when you do those seated squats... you may wish for freespottin' then

[Skidmarx]

Thanks....

EDIT: Got it...



Your 30" spotters - WANT!

That's a badass gym setup

[Northernmoris]

Thanks....

EDIT: Got it...



Your 30" spotters - WANT!

These pictures are the only thing that do this thread justice. Who needs crappy ropes and a hacky salesman when you have a power rack.

[AttyGuy]

These pictures are the only thing that do this thread justice. Who needs crappy ropes and a hacky salesman when you have a power rack.

Plus, you can always freeball when working out at home.

[Skidmarx]

wasn't that sherman idiot banned?

[Northernmoris]

wasn't that sherman idiot banned?

Revival by the clueless.

[thegoldfinger]

Been a lurker here for quite a while, but I have to chime in now. Banning Sherm was the right thing to do. He paid the price for spamming his products, and all his crazy DIY's.

He seemed to always be picking on the "regulars" because he claimed they were picking on the noobs, which they certainly were not. As I remember he even criticized the regulars for bad mouthing his products for the lame reason that they had never seen or tried them out, while people that had bought and used them gave a lot of praise (see early posts in this thread). To me, the regulars are the real experts in workout equipment, and if they crap on a product without ever using it or seeing it in real life, that's fine by me because of their sheer expertise and enormous experience.

It really gives me pleasure to see the regulars, guys like northenmoris, keetman, stasher1, attyguy, skidmarx, ironwill2008, pile it on sherm's memory these last few days. Still missing a few but they'll join in. And to me, Sherm's ultimate insult, so uncalled for, out of line, and nasty, was to characterize these regulars as a "circle-jerk" - Google it.

Banning is not beheading, but unfortunately it's the closest thing the forum rules allow. Sherm got off easy. Cheers.

[KBKB]

Been a lurker here for quite a while, but I have to chime in now. Banning Sherm was the right thing to do. He paid the price for spamming his products, and all his crazy DIY's.

He seemed to always be picking on the "regulars" because he claimed they were picking on the noobs, which they certainly were not. As I remember he even criticized the regulars for bad mouthing his products for the lame reason that they had never seen or tried them out, while people that had bought and used them gave a lot of praise (see early posts in this thread). To me, the regulars are the real experts in workout equipment, and if they crap on a product without ever using it or seeing it in real life, that's fine by me because of their sheer expertise and enormous experience.

It really gives me pleasure to see the regulars, guys like northenmoris, keetman, stasher1, attyguy, skidmarx, ironwill2008, pile it on sherm's memory these last few days. Still missing a few but they'll join in. And to me, Sherm's ultimate insult, so uncalled for, out of line, and nasty, was to characterize these regulars as a "circle-jerk" - Google it.

Banning is not beheading, but unfortunately it's the closest thing the forum rules allow. Sherm got off easy. Cheers.

One post. Joined just this month.

Hmm...