Is it safe to bench press heavy without a spotter?

[erigni]

I've been doing calisthenics for my upper body for just under 10 years now, but changing life circumstances might force me to weightlift. The bench press is an obvious staple, but I am wary of doing them without a spotter. From what I have heard, it is one of the most dangerous exercises to do at high weights without that backup. Is this true? If it is, is there any way to do them safely without a spotter? Are safety bars or a Smith machine enough?

[radrd]

Properly set rack spotter arms or safety pins can reduce the risk of injury from getting crushed by the weight to virtually zero. I'd use them even if I had a human spotter, but I lift at home without one and have used spotter arms to safely fail many times.

[ChunkBuster]

I prefer incline bench as I train at home.

[air2fakie]

The bench press is an obvious staple, but I am wary of doing them without a spotter. From what I have heard, it is one of the most dangerous exercises to do at high weights without that backup. Is this true?

One spotter for heavy BP isn't going to save you if something goes really wrong. There's also not that many exercises on that list to begin with.

If it is, is there any way to do them safely without a spotter? Are safety bars or a Smith machine enough?

Safety bars are, and working out sensibly. A smith machine without using safety bars is a guillotine, aside from also being a poor way to do BP.

As a side note, the issues in some of your other posts make more sense to me now that you said you only do calisthenics for upper body.

[radrd]

I prefer incline bench as I train at home.

Incline bench isn't much safer unless you use rack safeties. I guess you have a better angle to roll the bar off of you, but I wouldn't depend on that.

Also, don't use collars when you bench. Then you have a chance at shedding plates if you get stuck.

[erigni]

Properly set rack spotter arms or safety pins can reduce the risk of injury from getting crushed by the weight to virtually zero. I'd use them even if I had a human spotter, but I lift at home without one and have used spotter arms to safely fail many times.

Thank you. That's all I needed to hear.

[GeneralSerpant]

Arnold never benched without a spotter.

[erigni]

One spotter for heavy BP isn't going to save you if something goes really wrong. There's also not that many exercises on that list to begin with.



Safety bars are, and working out sensibly. A smith machine without using safety bars is a guillotine, aside from also being a poor way to do BP.

As a side note, the issues in some of your other posts make more sense to me now that you said you only do calisthenics for upper body.

Thanks. I will trust the safety bars.

[erigni]

Arnold never benched without a spotter.

Most bodybuilders I've seen always had one. That's why I asked. But people here are saying that the safety bars are enough, so I'll just use them.

[TolerantLactose]

Unless they're really badly made, spotter arms should be able to support 3+ plates. Set them just below your chest level so that you only need to collapse your arch for the bar to set down.