Slamming weights at the gym, opinions?

CoderGal
CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So I go to a crappy cramped university gym that has no bumper plates. And I mean cramped. You cannot walk in a straight line across the weight room. I see some people doing deadlifts, clean and jerks/snatches and throwing (and I mean throwing, not dropping) the non-bumper plates to the ground next to people that are working out. Why? I don't understand. In fact since they're not bumpers I can't understand why they would drop them from above their head either. Can someone explain this to me? I completely understand that they may not afford a gym that has the bumpers and space, but really? Do you have to throw them down the the ground with all your might so you can hear the sound of the plates chipping a few feet away from another person?

Other side: Why are there no bumper plates? Should you just not be aloud to do those lifts if you're a poor student? Also, why is it so crammed?!

Replies

  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    College dudes + heavy things + testosterone + being away from home = moron.

    It's kinda like the Greater Internet F-wad Theory:
    http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Deadlifts, meh, not a huge deal. Anything overhead though, I've never seen anyone use anything but bumper plates.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Yeah, that's lame.

    I sometimes drop from dead lift height but my gym has bumper plates. I'll be sad when I graduate and no longer have free access to them (I also go to a college gym).
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    Deadlifts, meh, not a huge deal. Anything overhead though, I've never seen anyone use anything but bumper plates.
    With deadlifts, shouldn't the drop be controlled?
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    Yeah, that's lame.

    I sometimes drop from dead lift height but my gym has bumper plates. I'll be sad when I graduate and no longer have free access to them (I also go to a college gym).
    It wouldn't be so bad if they weren't in the entrance of the door and nearly dropping them on peoples toes lol. The sad thing is it's not completely their fault they're in the doorway...there's literally no room to move in that place.

    Also, F u and your bumper plate filled gym :tongue: No fair!
  • monty619
    monty619 Posts: 1,308 Member
    Deadlifts, meh, not a huge deal. Anything overhead though, I've never seen anyone use anything but bumper plates.
    With deadlifts, shouldn't the drop be controlled?

    hell no.. shouldnt be dropped either, but def not controlled unless doing romanian deadlifts. its mainly a concentric exercise
  • trenley
    trenley Posts: 35 Member
    Rude and obnoxious!
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Silliness. Shouldn't be allowed. I work out at a university gym and NO ONE does that nonsense.
  • Saaaam42
    Saaaam42 Posts: 154 Member
    Owie, my ears.
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    Deadlifts, meh, not a huge deal. Anything overhead though, I've never seen anyone use anything but bumper plates.
    With deadlifts, shouldn't the drop be controlled?

    hell no.. shouldnt be dropped either, but def not controlled unless doing romanian deadlifts. its mainly a concentric exercise
    Sorry I should correct that a little, I don't mean lowered slowly, I just mean not smashed into the ground like they're a bird trying to land on a pole. Pushing the weight into the ground. I'm sure if you tried to control it to much you'd throw your back out for sure.
  • baptiste565
    baptiste565 Posts: 590 Member
    once i tried to rest 100lbs dumbbells on my knees and gently place them on the floor after seated shoulder press. i had a bruise for a week. now i just drop dem b*tches! sorry
  • gerard54
    gerard54 Posts: 1,107 Member
    Its ok if its heavy...
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Deadlifts, meh, not a huge deal. Anything overhead though, I've never seen anyone use anything but bumper plates.
    With deadlifts, shouldn't the drop be controlled?

    I've read a few things that say the negative on deads is useless and easy to hurt yourself on. I used to always drop but was informed it is still kind of a **** move even with bumpers so I only do it when lifting super heavy.
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    It's really not ok if it's heavy. Not in that gym. In a gym where you can put your hands out and not touch anything and you have bumper plates then cool. But not in this gym. You basically have to squat yourself in the door and splinter cell across the wall to get somewhere. Particularly not with the metal non coated weights. Particularly when they don't look to see if someone is walking in before they decide to do it.


    I almost want to turn to people and say "Could you please stop smashing the weights I'm paying for. I have no option but to pay for the gym membership if I'm going to the university and they keep upping the membership because they have to replace equipment your destroying, and I really can't afford it.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Basically the guys lifting that heavy at your gym need to find a facility at which they can do so safely. If I want to drop after I graduate I'll pay the money for a gym with bumper plates and a Olympic lifting pad.
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    Basically the guys lifting that heavy at your gym need to find a facility at which they can do so safely. If I want to drop after I graduate I'll pay the money for a gym with bumper plates and a Olympic lifting pad.

    That's the other thing though, what if you're in the same situation as me and you have no option but to go there? And why is it that some people don't slam them into the ground...and why can't everyone else here do that lol.
  • RainHoward
    RainHoward Posts: 1,599 Member
    attention
    that is all
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Exactly. If that's the only gym they've got, then they need to modify their routine to not injure themselves or others, or break equipment. Can you talk to someone in charge? Are there monitors are anything?
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    Exactly. If that's the only gym they've got, then they need to modify their routine to not injure themselves or others, or break equipment. Can you talk to someone in charge? Are there monitors are anything?

    hahaha...yes...there are. Honestly I never see a 'monitor' walk into that room. Only the cardio or other 'machine' room. To crammed and dangerous I guess? Some of them are the ones throwing them around. And no, that wouldn't do anything. I mean some people are sweet...but they're not trained, have no idea if what they're doing is good or bad, know nothing about weights, and are not one to approach someone? And the ones who are would likely just look at me and give some kind of snarky remark once I walk away.
  • MusicInMyHeart
    MusicInMyHeart Posts: 179
    I think it's a bit obnoxious. Especially when I hear a grunt with the weights flopping down to the ground. Even with the volume ALL the way up on my headphones I can still hear some of these idiots across the gym.

    I get it. You lift. Congratulations.
  • AnabolicKyle
    AnabolicKyle Posts: 489 Member
    A dead lift

    Is dead weight lifted of the ground. A real dead lift has no controlled drop, once lifted you're done.

    I personally try my best to set the weight down in a controlled manner.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Deadlifts, meh, not a huge deal. Anything overhead though, I've never seen anyone use anything but bumper plates.
    With deadlifts, shouldn't the drop be controlled?

    It's all a matter of opinion. For me, my gym is pretty cramped too (maybe not as much as yours). People commonly drop deadlifts pretty hard there. It doesn't bother me. Truth is, 600lbs of iron plates or bumper plates are still going to flatten your feet. With space constraints in my gym, you generally give the lifter a wide berth when they're doing their lifts. I have seen people get majorly out of control (unintentionally) with an overhead lift and have to toss the bar away to avoid getting injured. That's just part of lifting. When that person is lifting, everyone just stays away from them and gives them space to do their thing. IMO, the non-lifter is the one responsible for their own safety at that point - the lifter can't be worrying about who is walking into their space as they do their lifts.

    Again, all my opinion. Sounds like a crappy situation all around, and dropping iron plates from overhead sounds like a recipe for breakage but if there aren't any bumper plates I guess there's not too many other options either.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Basically the guys lifting that heavy at your gym need to find a facility at which they can do so safely. If I want to drop after I graduate I'll pay the money for a gym with bumper plates and a Olympic lifting pad.

    before i'd agree with this, i'd like to point out that coder gal is the new comer to the gym and seeing things threw a newbies eyes. while i trust she's not spinning tales out of whole cloth, i doubt if i walked into her gym that it would seem the same clamorous free for all to me that it seems to her.

    but then again, the clanking of plates puts me in a good mood and makes me feel at home.
  • sunsnstatheart
    sunsnstatheart Posts: 2,544 Member
    I try my best not to get annoyed with other people in the gym. If someone is truly throwing the weights or not re-racking, then yes, I'd be annoyed. Talking to me through my sets? Extremely annoyed. Other than that, I'm good.
  • baptiste565
    baptiste565 Posts: 590 Member
    each gym has a different personality. u have 2 find one that suits u.

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