Thoughts on using a belt for Bench Press?

[BoaBite]

A lot of YouTube Bench max PR videos I see the lifter has a weightlifting belt on.

What are your thoughts guys? Are they worth the investment? Do they really make a difference?

Also if anyone that sees this is a powerlifting competitor, are they allowed to be used on the platform?

Thanks misc fam

[golli1982]

It helps give you a tighter feeling on the bench

[Immichaelski]

I personally don’t like belts. I feel I’m athletic enough to adjust to any pain I feel but when I’m in a belt I can’t. It forces all of the pressure to my groin area and I don’t like that. I use to have a lift job where we go miles into the air. Didn’t wear a belt then either. Felt restricted and if I fell I’d lose my balls. Rather feel free. To each their own though

[PhDPepper1111]

Every Federation that I know of allows them on bench. Almost every competitive powerlifter I've seen/know uses one for very heavy bench. I think for lighter bench its good to work on bracing without it, but it does help most with bracing for heavy lifts. I do use one when I go heavy and I feel it helps to push against the belt. For hypertrophy/bodybuilding it's probably less useful. Of course there are folks that don't use them - the 'purists' that think they're too tough to use them, and folks that it just doesn't work for (like Immichael above).

[FitnessEqui8]

A lot of YouTube Bench max PR videos I see the lifter has a weightlifting belt on.

What are your thoughts guys? Are they worth the investment? Do they really make a difference?

Also if anyone that sees this is a powerlifting competitor, are they allowed to be used on the platform?

Thanks misc fam

It helps to keep you safe and gives a good grip.