do you bench press to failure without spotter?

[ryankoch]

i usually go to the gym alone and unless i know someone at the gym do bench without a spotter. i really like to go to failure, but i find myself scared to try and bust out that extra rep because i dont want the bar stuck on my chest and have to wiggle out from under it

[Kylehero]

I'll go to failure on bench if i'm using the smith rack. Otherwise I'll just ask someone if they'll spot me.

[PeterGibbons316]

Ask someone for a spot, or use DBs. You can also just lower the bar to your chest, roll it down to your waist and sit up with it. Practice with a weight you know you can handle if you feel uncomfortable.

[liftingson]

no I dont go to falure on the bench..get a spotter man

[Sprog]

does the gym have a power rack? use it if they do then you have no worries of failing.

[chazzy1864]

Yes.

[TheChadster08]

Kind of a dumb thing to do.



Why would you put yourself in a situation like that?

[chazzy1864]

Kind of a dumb thing to do.



Why would you put yourself in a situation like that?

A situation like what? Where you might not complete a rep?

[Scoundrel]

Kind of a dumb thing to do.



Why would you put yourself in a situation like that?

its a technique. cant push anymre, lower bar to chest, slide bar across body to side, etc.

yes, i do

[TEXASnative]

If you are comfortable, ask someone to spot. Most people won't mind and will actually take it as a compliment. Be careful though...a lot of people do not know how to properly spot and it can be dangerous. Look for a big guy who looks like he knows what he is doing.

[Mvick07]

if u cant get it up all u have to do is push the weight forward and make it land on ur quads as you sit up.

thats what i do, even if im maxing, just let the legs take the impact.

[chazzy1864]

its a technique. cant push anymre, lower bar to chest, slide bar across body to side, etc.

yes, i do

^ This. Either slide sideways or roll it down your torso to your legs then sit up.

[partsbook]

Sure. Just make sure you have the side rails a bit lower than the level of your chest so you can squeeze out when necessary.

[sircharles032]

if u cant get it up all u have to do is push the weight forward and make it land on ur quads as you sit up.

thats what i do, even if im maxing, just let the legs take the impact.

This sounds like it could potentially be horrible advice...

[SuffolkPunch]

Yes - in my power cage. Safety bars are set so that if I arch my back, the bar touches my chest, if I relax my back, the bar touches the safety bars.

[unchained45]

i usually go to the gym alone and unless i know someone at the gym do bench without a spotter. i really like to go to failure, but i find myself scared to try and bust out that extra rep because i dont want the bar stuck on my chest and have to wiggle out from under it

Never do bench presses without a spotter. I've trained with people that have had the bar slip out of their hands, even when warming up. You can probably get away with using a bench with safety racks so you can grind out those last reps, but if the bar falls, you could really hurt yourself. Sometimes I like to push just short of failure and superset another chest exercise, perhaps even from the same angle, flat, incline, decline etc..

[chazzy1864]

Never do bench presses without a spotter. I've trained with people that have had the bar slip out of their hands, even when warming up. You can probably get away with using a bench with safety racks so you can grind out those last reps, but if the bar falls, you could really hurt yourself. Sometimes I like to push just short of failure and superset another chest exercise, perhaps even from the same angle, flat, incline, decline etc..

If the bar slips and falls, a spotter isn't going to stop it from landing on you anyways.

The best you could hope for, is they can pull it off your throat if you are knocked unconscious.

[DJAuto]

No.

[PaulJerome]

It’s a fine line, but I feel I know how many reps to push before that next one has a less than 100% chance of making it. If there’s no one in the gym to spot then I stop there and drop the weight down 40 pounds or so the next set for reps.

I remember being in the gym by myself around five years ago when the bar was stuck on my chest. That roll down your chest and to the right is painful! I am told it's easier when there are no clips on the end.

[ryankoch]

great advice everyone thanks. i was barely able to get my last rep each set thought about asking for a spot on last set but didnt and was ok. the rack has the lower safety hooks as well.

[rjones416]

i've failed many times on bench by myself and all i have to do is tilt the bar to the side so the end of the bar is touching the ground. then i push the other side down to my legs and get up.

[taco1234]

hmm, maybe i should use pegs my next bench workout... else id be playing with iron, weights swinging everywhere, me trying not to get crushed if i fail

[shaneee]

yes, it's simple to slide it to your legs and just stand up

[MB35]

I workout alone at home, so I always have to do it without a spot. If I can't get the last rep out I just slowly lower the bar and hold it on my chest enough so it doesn't crush me then roll the bar down to my waist so I can sit up then just toss it off me.

[Sir_Malak]

Unless I have a trusted spotter for the heavy sets (and I do mean trusted) I will just do it all in a power rack. With a power rack you can do partials, lockouts etc..fairly heavy and easy straight off the rack almost like a paused rep (first one anyway.)

[Protege385]

i usually go to the gym alone and unless i know someone at the gym do bench without a spotter. i really like to go to failure, but i find myself scared to try and bust out that extra rep because i dont want the bar stuck on my chest and have to wiggle out from under it

Haha, sometimes I do. If you fail it doesn't matter, you probably aren't doing enough weight where you'll get hurt.

As long as you aren't failing at the negative portion of the lift and can slowly lower the weight onto your chest, then just calmly ask for a hand from any passerby.

[Mvick07]

This sounds like it could potentially be horrible advice...

it sounds stupid but its the best way i could explain it.

Its perfectly safe the way i do it.

[Ka0s]

No, but I have before. It's not comfortable, I got bruises on my stomach

[Whiteboii3000]

yes, my gym was 2 sets of hooks to rack it on.. if i fail i can muster enough energy to get it on the lower hooks. but i dont put clips on the ends of the bar.. worse case scenario it comes back down on my chest and i tip the bar to the side and all the weights slide off and the other side slams down, lol... just make sure no one is on the sides of you.

[msm00b]

Taking any exercise to failure where the weight is above you is retarded. Ask someone to spot you. If you're the only guy in the gym ... just don't take it to failure.

I'll do weighted dips, curls, triceps pulldowns etc etc etc to failure. If it's in the smith machine I may or may not.

Things like flat bench, decline, incline or seated free weight military press. Nope. It's just not safe.