Spot me Breh!

So today I was at the gym and some guy offered to spot me for benches and deadlifts. With benching I felt like all I needed was some help just lowering the bar from the rack. But this guy does more than that. From what I could tell, he kept his hands on the bar the whole time!!! I honestly felt like I was being helped too much and he was like "I wasn't doing any work". So do these reps count?!? Because it would be nice to think I benched 125 today lol.
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Replies

  • I always give explicit instructions on how I want to be spotted. Sometimes they listen, other times they do not. Gym perils.

    Does it count? Depends if you were assisted at all or if you, despite hands on the bar, locked out or not by yourself.
  • dwolfe1985
    dwolfe1985 Posts: 100 Member
    Yep always let them know exactly what you want doing as there can be alot of variation from person to person. Some people want lift offs, some want help with forced reps and others like me only want help if im going to get stuck under the bar.
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    I'm explicitly clear with my spotters about how I expect to be spotted. For example a few weeks ago, I grabbed a spot and told them that I was doing triples, this was my 9th triple and my bar speed on the third rep was slowing down significantly. I got exactly what I needed - a perfect lift off and a reminder to reset and retighten my back before starting the last rep.

    When I'm spotting, I'm pretty hands off until I see your bat speed decreasing where I'll verbally prompt you through until it's clear I need to help just a bit (or completely take the bar as case may be)
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Tell the person goes many reps you think you'll be able to do and exactly how you wish for them to spot you. They still don't do exactly what you want but it will be much better.

    WTF is a spot on a deadlift?
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    So did you get a second date with him?
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    how do you spot someone on a deadlift???????????
  • yusaku02
    yusaku02 Posts: 3,472 Member
    next time you use a spotter be clear about what you want. I tell my spotters not to touch the bar unless I verbally ask for help. It doesn't matter if it looks like I've stalled on the lift, I'm still trying to push through it.
    I always give explicit instructions on how I want to be spotted. Sometimes they listen, other times they do not. Gym perils.

    Does it count? Depends if you were assisted at all or if you, despite hands on the bar, locked out or not by yourself.
    RIP Lemmy
  • giantrobot_powerlifting
    giantrobot_powerlifting Posts: 2,598 Member
    edited December 2015
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    how do you spot someone on a deadlift???????????
    The spotter positions under the bar and pushes up the bar with their hands, but has to move quick before the bar hits to the floor.

    (I kid.)
    yusaku02 wrote: »
    RIP Lemmy
    Musically he excelled and was a great guy -- very cordial to his fans.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    how do you spot someone on a deadlift???????????

    Prolly looks similar to those movie scenes where a man shows a woman how to golf or shoot pool


    golfin.jpg
  • _incogNEATo_
    _incogNEATo_ Posts: 4,537 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    how do you spot someone on a deadlift???????????

    Duh...

    https://youtu.be/9qrWXp35K3I
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    edited December 2015
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    how do you spot someone on a deadlift???????????

    Duh...

    Oh GAWD! I totally forgot about this from instagram earlier this year!!


    https://youtu.be/pz2i49Ir9Hw




    Best part was how proud she was when she posted that mess and then reading all of the comments.
  • _incogNEATo_
    _incogNEATo_ Posts: 4,537 Member
    DavPul wrote: »
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    how do you spot someone on a deadlift???????????

    Duh...

    Oh GAWD! I totally forgot about this from instagram earlier this year!!


    https://youtu.be/pz2i49Ir9Hw




    Best part was how proud she was when she posted that mess and then reading all of the comments.

    I couldn't decide which one to post... epic spot.
  • No words....
  • ovidnine
    ovidnine Posts: 314 Member
    I.....wow. That's a new one by me.
  • juliewatkin
    juliewatkin Posts: 764 Member
    I could have used a deadlift back spotter on this one. This has happened to me on more than one occasion and I've seen others do the same. Nothing beats doing it at a world championship though :smile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOvbeShIY7s
  • I'm sorry Julie, I smiled at that one. :)
  • juliewatkin
    juliewatkin Posts: 764 Member
    I'm sorry Julie, I smiled at that one. :)

    That's okay. I still watch it to entertain myself. I've seen enough lifts go sideways on a number of people not to get bent out of shape about it.
  • I'm sorry Julie, I smiled at that one. :)

    That's okay. I still watch it to entertain myself. I've seen enough lifts go sideways on a number of people not to get bent out of shape about it.

    That's MY biggest fear on platform. First meet, second lift, farted so loud you could hear it over the all the people watching and announcer on the PA.

    Whoops.
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    I'm sorry Julie, I smiled at that one. :)

    That's okay. I still watch it to entertain myself. I've seen enough lifts go sideways on a number of people not to get bent out of shape about it.

    That's MY biggest fear on platform. First meet, second lift, farted so loud you could hear it over the all the people watching and announcer on the PA.

    Whoops.

    Things happen on deads on the platform. Don't think I'm ever going to forget watching some of the puking and peeing that I've seen.
  • I'm sorry Julie, I smiled at that one. :)

    That's okay. I still watch it to entertain myself. I've seen enough lifts go sideways on a number of people not to get bent out of shape about it.

    That's MY biggest fear on platform. First meet, second lift, farted so loud you could hear it over the all the people watching and announcer on the PA.

    Whoops.

    Things happen on deads on the platform. Don't think I'm ever going to forget watching some of the puking and peeing that I've seen.
    Puking I get, but peeing?
  • maranarasauce93
    maranarasauce93 Posts: 293 Member
    edited December 2015
    So today I was at the gym and some guy offered to spot me for benches and deadlifts. With benching I felt like all I needed was some help just lowering the bar from the rack. But this guy does more than that. From what I could tell, he kept his hands on the bar the whole time!!! I honestly felt like I was being helped too much and he was like "I wasn't doing any work". So do these reps count?!? Because it would be nice to think I benched 125 today lol.

    I meant squat NOT deadlift!! I'm an adult I can pick my weight up off the ground haha. Side note: how the *kitten* do you spot for a front squat? I mean they're easier to bail out of but how does this work so I don't get yelled at at a globo for dropping weights?

  • maranarasauce93
    maranarasauce93 Posts: 293 Member
    I meant to saw spot for 1 rm squat not deadlift hahaha whoops!!
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    I'm sorry Julie, I smiled at that one. :)

    That's okay. I still watch it to entertain myself. I've seen enough lifts go sideways on a number of people not to get bent out of shape about it.

    That's MY biggest fear on platform. First meet, second lift, farted so loud you could hear it over the all the people watching and announcer on the PA.

    Whoops.

    Things happen on deads on the platform. Don't think I'm ever going to forget watching some of the puking and peeing that I've seen.
    Puking I get, but peeing?

    I think it's a chick thing.
  • maranarasauce93
    maranarasauce93 Posts: 293 Member
    While not lifting related, I've heard of runners peeing themselves during marathons. Crazy things can happen under immense pressure.... And when you CAN'T take a bathroom break.
  • FrankWhite27330
    FrankWhite27330 Posts: 316 Member
    edited December 2015
    Squat in a rack. No spot needed or used
  • maranarasauce93
    maranarasauce93 Posts: 293 Member
    Squat in a rack. No spot needed or used

    Not if you are going to a 1RM. Then I am guaranteed to need a spotter, especially at a globo with signs all over the place that say "please don't drop the weights."
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    jofjltncb6 wrote: »
    I'm sorry Julie, I smiled at that one. :)

    That's okay. I still watch it to entertain myself. I've seen enough lifts go sideways on a number of people not to get bent out of shape about it.

    That's MY biggest fear on platform. First meet, second lift, farted so loud you could hear it over the all the people watching and announcer on the PA.

    Whoops.

    Things happen on deads on the platform. Don't think I'm ever going to forget watching some of the puking and peeing that I've seen.
    Puking I get, but peeing?

    I think it's a chick thing.

    It is. My girlfriends friend competes and I went to a meet in atl and all the chicks were talking about wearing diapers during deads because peeing..
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Squat in a rack. No spot needed or used

    Not if you are going to a 1RM. Then I am guaranteed to need a spotter, especially at a globo with signs all over the place that say "please don't drop the weights."

    That means don't drop it on the floor. Dropping a weight down onto the safety bars is the WHOLE POINT of having a power rack/squat rack.
  • DawnEmbers
    DawnEmbers Posts: 2,451 Member
    Having a spotter on squats, even for 1rm, will depend on personal preference and equipment. Many gyms have signs every where that say don't drop the weights (not that everyone follows the advice of the signs). I do my tests without a spotter as I find having someone right up behind me to be far too uncomfortable and distracting. I just squat in either the power cage or squat rack where there are safeties. I failed at 200 last time I tested and the weights didn't drop to the floor as the safety part of the rack caught the bar. If equipment with the safeties in place isn't available, then it might be a different story as to how you would need to bail or need a spotter to handle it when unable to complete a lift.
  • maranarasauce93
    maranarasauce93 Posts: 293 Member
    DawnEmbers wrote: »
    Having a spotter on squats, even for 1rm, will depend on personal preference and equipment. Many gyms have signs every where that say don't drop the weights (not that everyone follows the advice of the signs). I do my tests without a spotter as I find having someone right up behind me to be far too uncomfortable and distracting. I just squat in either the power cage or squat rack where there are safeties. I failed at 200 last time I tested and the weights didn't drop to the floor as the safety part of the rack caught the bar. If equipment with the safeties in place isn't available, then it might be a different story as to how you would need to bail or need a spotter to handle it when unable to complete a lift.

    I feel like that makes sense. I just feel bad because even though I used the squat rack and dropped the bar on the safeties when I failed a rep, people still stared at me and shook their heads. I was like "wtf am I doing wrong?!?" Plus I'm not used to being in a squat rack. There is something so comforting about having space to squat and the safeties--while there to help you drop the bar safely-- make me feel like I am not going to make the lift.