Why do some people feel the need to throw down a barbell?

SusanB148

For you people that do heavy lifting, why do some people feel the need to overload their barbell, then throw it down on the floor after attempting a lift?

I belong to a YMCA and a privately owned gym, and neither would allow that kind of behavior.

But I see it all the time on YouTube videos.

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mrdexter1

They ve managed to bend the dumbells at my gym...

Its always the attention seeking numb nutts that have an "invisible" male member on their foreheads

Lysander666

Well it is because of how heavy it is. See, when done lifting a heavy weight the lifter has very little strength left in their grip and to avoid injury or dropping it on something or someone it is easier to just throw it down in a safe place.

If you have enough strength and control left to set it down gently then you must not have lifted hard enough. You can do better than that.

No, it's because they're being an attention-seeking pillock.

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BrianSharpe

For you people that do heavy lifting, why do some people feel the need to overload their barbell, then throw it down on the floor after attempting a lift?

I belong to a YMCA and a privately owned gym, and neither would allow that kind of behavior.

But I see it all the time on YouTube videos.

Have you ever pushed yourself to the absolute limits? Asking this is pretty much the same as "Why do I see videos of triathletes crossing the finish line on hands and knees?"

and you also now know why you're unlikely to see a power lifter at the Y.

jaedwa1

My weight coach only let's me drop weights when I break form to avoid injury...as in cases when I'm trying to max and can't properly finish the lift. I dropped my weights once after a good lift and he got pissed at my poor etiquette. He said if I was strong enough to lift it, I was strong enough to set it down.

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jaedwa1

It is true. Of course Olympiads are not weak, that just a silly statement. Throwing at a competition is one thing...throwing in a crowded gym, is just poor manners.

Yogi_Carl

It is true. Of course Olympiads are not weak, that just a silly statement. Throwing at a competition is one thing...throwing in a crowded gym, is just poor manners.

- not to mention dangerous and unneccesary after every set. Just posturing in most cases.

jaysonhijinx

While I don't "throw" a loaded bar down after a lift, I will "drop" it especially on things like heavy power cleans or maxed out deadlifts.

My gym has no problem with people dropping weights in a controlled manner (such as dropping a loaded bar after a deadlift straight down), but throwing them down is a different story as it can be dangerous if people are working out close by.

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HeidiMightyRawr

Depends on the lift. In Oly lifts (and gyms that cater for this) you drop the weight from the top- as someone else mentioned in most cases it's the best way to do it without risking hurting yourself. I can understand how this would not be so great in a commercial gym though, depending on the type of flooring, and the plates they have (bumper plates or normal ones) Most gyms that I've seen just have regular plates and aren't that well catered for Oly lifting, so if I was very into that it would make sense for me to find a gym that does.

In terms of other lifts, I wouldn't really say it should be done on every lift/set - I've seen lots of dumbells at my old gym damaged from people just throwing them down afterwards! However, occasionally you can't help it. It usually comes when you're grip fails, such as at the top of a max lift deadlift. I've done it before although if I can help it, I'll lower it down properly.

fullofquirks

While I don't "throw" a loaded bar down after a lift, I will "drop" it especially on things like heavy power cleans or maxed out deadlifts.

^^^ This, after my 5th deadlift, there ain't no setting it down gently.

jaysonhijinx

While I don't "throw" a loaded bar down after a lift, I will "drop" it especially on things like heavy power cleans or maxed out deadlifts.

^^^ This, after my 5th deadlift, there ain't no setting it down gently.

Exactly! Or after hitting a PR 1RM I'm gonna drop that weight but it's from just above the knees in a controlled straight down motion. Actually *throwing* any weight is stupid and potentially dangerous to people and property.

Yogi_Carl

I forgot this is the Internet. I have to be exact and precise. Yes, throwing down is wrong. Controlled dropping is what I mean. From hear on and forever, when i say throwing, as it relates to loaded barbells, I mean controlled intentional dropping.

There. Everyone happy?

I'm happy!

shutupandlift13

You do realize that bumper plates are meant to be dropped? And lifting platforms are built to have certain types of plates dropped on them? Failure is actually a really important part of reaching your maximum in lifting and pretty frequent in Olympic lifting as well as powerlifting. If your gym doesn't have a problem with their most likely droppable equipment being dropped, then just turn your headphones up and mind your own business. Its a gym, not a library.

I have yet to see anyone reach a super heavy weight on a lift and even have the energy left to "throw" the barbell, I'm betting the OP is referring to dropping the bar.

ken_hogan

Well it is because of how heavy it is. See, when done lifting a heavy weight the lifter has very little strength left in their grip and to avoid injury or dropping it on something or someone it is easier to just throw it down in a safe place.

If you have enough strength and control left to set it down gently then you must not have lifted hard enough. You can do better than that.

No, it's because they're being an attention-seeking pillock.

Yeah, that is pretty much what I was thinking also lol!

6spdeg

it does mess up the dumbbells.. loaded barbell i can understand.. dumbbell drops are the dumbbells doing them.

causes the dumbbells to bend. causes them to become loose which causes injuries.

the rubber is a JUST IN CASE.. not on purpose to not damage floors.

shutupandlift13

Well it is because of how heavy it is. See, when done lifting a heavy weight the lifter has very little strength left in their grip and to avoid injury or dropping it on something or someone it is easier to just throw it down in a safe place.

If you have enough strength and control left to set it down gently then you must not have lifted hard enough. You can do better than that.

No, it's because they're being an attention-seeking pillock.

Yeah, that is pretty much what I was thinking also lol!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td0UnkFQp44

The girl at 0:57 is CLEARLY being an "attention-seeking piillock".

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nz_deevaa

Well it is because of how heavy it is. See, when done lifting a heavy weight the lifter has very little strength left in their grip and to avoid injury or dropping it on something or someone it is easier to just throw it down in a safe place.

If you have enough strength and control left to set it down gently then you must not have lifted hard enough. You can do better than that.

No, it's because they're being an attention-seeking pillock.

Yeah, that is pretty much what I was thinking also lol!

Here's a picture of me being an attention-seeking pillock ... You can see I'm doing it on purpose, not trying to keep hold of the bar at all.

CrankMeUp

While I don't "throw" a loaded bar down after a lift, I will "drop" it especially on things like heavy power cleans or maxed out deadlifts.

^^^ This, after my 5th deadlift, there ain't no setting it down gently.

yep.

siany01

Dude at my gym was throwing his dumbbells around this morning, once or twice fine but by the 8th or 9th time I was pretty fed up of hearing the crash. My gym is not set up for dropping weights like that and they bang really loudly on wooden flooring

lilcassers

I am a heavy lifter. You're basically pushing yourself soooo hard to a limit that when that final set is over, it's easier to throw it down then to set it down nicely, LOL.

BeachIron

This is almost too much fun to watch. Non-lifters with an opinion about how lifters should lift.. lol

ttippie2000

There are some weight lifters who slam down weights. They are called boneheads. However, there are also a couple of exceptions that are worth noting.

First, when doing very heavy squats or deadlift singles you can experience a similar kind of near black out that fighter pilots experience. Or as we say in powerlifting , sometimes it takes a few seconds for your spirit to re-enter your body. It comes from tightening your core muscles to the point where you have the stability to support the lift, but one side effect is that blood is forced into your head. Under those conditions, reasonable safety precautions, such as a platform or power rack should be used, and the lifter should get a bit of slack if the return is not controlled because of dizziness.

Second, advanced power lifters learn to initiate their muscles very quickly at the bottom of a lift. Otherwise you'll never have enough speed to lock it out at the top. Neuromuscular coordination training of this type involves a brief break between the eccentric and concentric phases of a lift, after which you explode into it with all your muscle motor units. Done correctly, this is a disciplined motion and will not occur with sufficient force to be considered a slam. However, there is room for error and misperception, especially among people that think they know what they're doing, but don't.

Third, an Olympic lifters returning a near max weight from an overhead will have difficulty controlling the descent, almost by definition. They should be using a platform specifically made for those kind of stresses if they're going heavy. If that's not available, you can reduce the stresses with the kind of rubber mats they use for horse stalls.

DancingDreams1234

They are heavy! The person lifter has put much of their strength into lifting and to prevent hurting themselves it's better for them just to throw it down. I see no harm as long as when they are throwing it down that they are not deliberately trying to damage something or someone.

lilcassers

They are heavy! The person lifter has put much of their strength into lifting and to prevent hurting themselves it's better for them just to throw it down. I see no harm as long as when they are throwing it down that they are not deliberately trying to damage something or someone.

This.

LoudmouthLee

At Crossfit, we are trained to throw down weights in certain situations, and I don't feel like a tool when I do.

ChaseAlder

I prefer to throw mine like a javelin after each lift. Maybe I'm not lifting heavy enough?