Spotting

eroo

Just wanted to see what people think about this..

If you're in the gym, and someone asks you to spot them(whether benching, dumbbell press etc).. does it annoy you or are you happy to do it so long as they take into account that your working out too?

The reason I ask is that in my local gym, I have to ask someone to spot me on my 2nd and 3rd(final) sets when I'm benching. I hate doing it.

So if someone asks you between your sets, do you mind?

aoibhebree

Hi eroo,

Can't you ask the people working there? If not it's understandable, so long as you're happy to do the same for them!

eroo

aoibhebree wrote: »

Hi eroo,

Can't you ask the people working there? If not it's understandable, so long as you're happy to do the same for them!

Tbh, the woman there doesn't really get involved! She's sometimes not even in the gym, down at reception. There was a couple of the staff who used to be helpful but they have since left the gym!!

And I would be more than happy, and have done so in the past.:)

MagicMarker

I don't think I'd have a problem, it's only a minute out of your day.

They'd probably rather spot you than be the one to lift a bar off your neck and start giving you mouth to mouth!!

Vamoose Killers

I was in the gym today and the guys spotting were standing on the bench looking down while the person was lifting. Surely this isn't the proper way to spot?

MagicMarker

What would you prefer they do?

Vamoose Killers

Eh, stand back and let you lift?

PeakOutput

i ask people when im benching and iv done it for others its no biggie and people dont seem to mind

i wouldnt ask them to spot me for 5*5 though i tend to only need them on the 4th or 5th sets and i try to ask a different person for each if i can

Noffles

Always ask if I feel like I'll need it, usually look around for someone that will do it properly though... not someone who'll see me fail and struggle before I have to ask for help!

Hanley

Vamoose Killers wrote: »

I was in the gym today and the guys spotting were standing on the bench looking down while the person was lifting. Surely this isn't the proper way to spot?

Vamoose Killers wrote: »

Eh, stand back and let you lift?

And what do they do if you fail or something pops? Just watch the weight fall onto you before they decide to lift it off?

OP, I'm more than happy to spot anyone at any time in the gym. It's not a big deal. You can't train nonstop for 60-90 minutes. You have to take breaks between sets so it's not like you've anything else to be doing!!

slicus ricus

Hanley wrote: »

And what do they do if you fail or something pops? Just watch the weight fall onto you before they decide to lift it off?

OP, I'm more than happy to spot anyone at any time in the gym. It's not a big deal. You can't train nonstop for 60-90 minutes. You have to take breaks between sets so it's not like you've anything else to be doing!!

+1. That's pretty much what i was gonna say! Of course the guy spotting should be standing on the bench! How the f*ck else can they get to you in time if you're failing. I'm more than happy to spot anyone and anyone i ever ask seems more than happy to spot me. Except for one ignorent f*cker i asked in Total Fitness in Sandyford back when I used to train there - apparently he didn't have time! Next thing i looked he was taking a break in between sets. Pure idiot!

cardio,shoot me

when i spot i stand about a foot back and wait for the bar to come back down, before i swoop in and be a hero, i hate when people touch the bar prematurly so i dont touch it either. although that being said when the bar slows or stalls , i will move in closer, but try to stay out of the persons line of vision

BobbyOLeary

I've only needed a spot on the Bench Press, though a few goons have tried to "help me" during a set of shoulder presses.

I don't mind it at all if someone asks me, just like I wouldn't expect anyone else to mind if I asked them. My advice to stop people touching the bar prematurely is to say "I'll tell you when to take the bar". I realise this mightn't work for very heavy work but I've never had a problem telling the person I need help.

Colm_OReilly

How does someone help you with the shoulder press Bobby?

slicus ricus

Colm_OReilly wrote: »

How does someone help you with the shoulder press Bobby?

One would assume by placing their hands under your elbows (from behind you) when you are failing and applying upward pressure if required.

Vamoose Killers

Hanley wrote: »

And what do they do if you fail or something pops? Just watch the weight fall onto you before they decide to lift it off?

OP, I'm more than happy to spot anyone at any time in the gym. It's not a big deal. You can't train nonstop for 60-90 minutes. You have to take breaks between sets so it's not like you've anything else to be doing!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mygns0H6Ok4

hth.

MagicMarker

Vamoose Killers wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mygns0H6Ok4

hth.

I'm sure there's a point to posting that link, but I have no idea what it is?

flogen

This is something I'm still nervous of - feel a bit odd asking people to spot me.

I'm sure for the most part people will happily do it - I just imagine getting funny looks... ideally I can find a friend to work out with and that will solve the problem!

brianthebard

MagicMarker wrote: »

I'm sure there's a point to posting that link, but I have no idea what it is?

troof! The dude I lift with knows this,even though he doesn't know how to spot any other lift-I feel privileged.

flogen wrote: »

This is something I'm still nervous of - feel a bit odd asking people to spot me.

I'm sure for the most part people will happily do it - I just imagine getting funny looks... ideally I can find a friend to work out with and that will solve the problem!

Just ask someone, and make it clear what you wnat from them beforehand. The biggest problem for me when spotting is knowing what the other guy wants. Ordinarily he wants a bit of a help to finish a set or workout. If he knows what to do properly though he just wants help when he's about to die. A lot of people still don't know the difference. if you tell me you don't want me to touch the bar unless it looks like you are about to get crushed then I won't-otherwise I assume you are like 99% of other gym goers and give you a finger or two finger help to finish a set, and you probably thank me. Neither are right, unless everyone is preagreed. Get it?

BobbyOLeary

Colm_OReilly wrote:

How does someone help you with the shoulder press Bobby?

Apparently by pushing the bar up by pushing on one of the collars. Smart guys. Suffice to say they haven't tried it again.

flogen

brianthebard wrote: »

Just ask someone, and make it clear what you wnat from them beforehand. The biggest problem for me when spotting is knowing what the other guy wants. Ordinarily he wants a bit of a help to finish a set or workout. If he knows what to do properly though he just wants help when he's about to die. A lot of people still don't know the difference. if you tell me you don't want me to touch the bar unless it looks like you are about to get crushed then I won't-otherwise I assume you are like 99% of other gym goers and give you a finger or two finger help to finish a set, and you probably thank me. Neither are right, unless everyone is preagreed. Get it?

Makes sense alright, thanks.

My main issue is in feeling intrusive, though, not that I would mind someone asking me.

Just something I need to get over, to be honest.

itsallaboutheL

Slightly off topic

was in the gym this morning doing inline db benching really struggling for a last rep when it magically became slightly lighter..

the dude on the bench next to me had gone behind me to spot without me even asking which i thought was fair sound and unusual when you consider some of the k-nobs in my gym..

nice to be nice

floggg

flogen wrote: »

This is something I'm still nervous of - feel a bit odd asking people to spot me.

I'm sure for the most part people will happily do it - I just imagine getting funny looks... ideally I can find a friend to work out with and that will solve the problem!

Trust me, you feel far stupider when somebody has to rush over to you from the other side of the gym because you happen to find yourself stuck under a heavy bar. I found out the hard way myself this afternoon!

catch88

Not the same as spotting but i do get irked when someone gets up on the treadmill/cross trainer right next to me when there are literally 15 empty ones to choose from, im thinking they want some kind of pace partner. But it puts my stride of having someone next to me b/c i get distracted. So imo they should ask if they want someone to keep pace with them!

floggg

Not sure if this should go in the funny thtings that happen in the gym thread, but was at the gym this evening and saw a guy doing a lat pull down with a spotter. You should have seen the strain on the spotters face as he pushed down, while the guy doing the pull down barely broke a sweat!

Unless i misinterpreted the whole situation, and the spotter was actually trying to work his triceps, and the guy sitting down under the bar was actually spotting him!

kumate_champ07

in the ymca gym in dublin i was down in the sports hall having a water break, i saw a guy upstairs in the gym doing seated shoulder press with the smith machine with a guy SPOTTING him!!! for fuks sake


earlier in the week there was a newbie on the bench(in a diff gym) and he had 2 guys on each end of the bar spotting him, 1 large guy and 1 medium guy. the bar was going up slanted most of the time, what do u do in theses situations but shake your head in disbelief

johnny_knoxvile

Yeah, i would never have a problem spotting for people in the gym between sets.

I did see a situation where a guy was asked to spot for another lad bench pressing. As the person lifting started to stuggle, the spotter grabbed the right hand side of the olympic bar and pulled it up. The bar dipped left, the plates slid off, and the bar pitched to the heavier right side and hit the floor.

The lad bench pressing was lucky not to be hurt bad, he was ok to jump up and go at the spotter, though a few people did step in to stop it getting ugly.

slicus ricus

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

i saw a guy upstairs in the gym doing seated shoulder press with the smith machine with a guy SPOTTING him!!! for fuks sake

What's wrong with that? If you're lifting heavy on that and you fail, you could easily hurt yourself.

Why anyone would want to shoulder press on a smith machine in the first place is beyond me but that's a different debate entirely.

rubadub

I workout at home so simply choose exercises which require no spotters! weighted dips & now weighted pushups in place of bench pressing. Hip belt squats.

Some people have made devices to do it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO_8HrOUBTA

this one looks dodgy though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeTXXcJooMg

kumate_champ07

slicus ricus wrote: »

What's wrong with that? If you're lifting heavy on that and you fail, you could easily hurt yourself.

Why anyone would want to shoulder press on a smith machine in the first place is beyond me but that's a different debate entirely.

youre kidding right?

and i forgot to add the spotter had his hands on the bar for the whole 8reps or so.

slicus ricus

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

youre kidding right?

and i forgot to add the spotter had his hands on the bar for the whole 8reps or so.

No, i'm not kidding. I don't you smith machine myself but I have been asked to spot people on it before. I've also seen other people spotting on it. There must be some level of danger if you fail badly.

brianon

Just on the topic of HOW to spot the bench press.

I tend not to do BP much and have rarely used a spotter. When I did or when I have been spotter I would stand behind the bench and take the bar when either a) they are in trouble or b) ask you to.

Now. The spotting technique I've recently been taught involves three spotters.
One behind the bench and one on either side of bar. The two at the sides are ready to cup(grab) the bar at v.short notice by following the bar up and down with their hands about 4/5 inches away. They will only take the bar when the lead spotter (the spotter behind the bench) tells them to.

This sounds like best practice spotting technique to me. Agreed ? Although real world... not often you'd have 3 spotters.

kumate_champ07

slicus ricus wrote: »

No, i'm not kidding. I don't you smith machine myself but I have been asked to spot people on it before. I've also seen other people spotting on it. There must be some level of danger if you fail badly.

all you gotta do is turn/twist the smith machine bar forward and it hooks onto the frame. one of its primary uses is for people who dont have a spotter

Hanley

I could see the validity in spotting some smith movements, however having your hands on the bar for every rep just stinks of someone who doesnt know what they're doing!!

brianon wrote: »

Just on the topic of HOW to spot the bench press.

I tend not to do BP much and have rarely used a spotter. When I did or when I have been spotter I would stand behind the bench and take the bar when either a) they are in trouble or b) ask you to.

Now. The spotting technique I've recently been taught involves three spotters.
One behind the bench and one on either side of bar. The two at the sides are ready to cup(grab) the bar at v.short notice by following the bar up and down with their hands about 4/5 inches away. They will only take the bar when the lead spotter (the spotter behind the bench) tells them to.

This sounds like best practice spotting technique to me. Agreed ? Although real world... not often you'd have 3 spotters.

If you've a decently strong lift off guy 3 people is pretty unneccessary for raw lifting.... However in a shirt the slightest mis-grove can cause the bar to kick away really badly and unless youve a seriously fast and strong lift off guy you do need the guys on the side.

In comp you HAVE to have 2 on the side, primarily because whoever gives the lift off has to step clear out of the way so the judge can see.

Out of interest, who told you to do the 3 person spot? It's good to see coaches with safety in mind!!

brianon

Hanley wrote: »

I could see the validity in spotting some smith movements, however having your hands on the bar for every rep just stinks of someone who doesnt know what they're doing!!



If you've a decently strong lift off guy 3 people is pretty unneccessary for raw lifting.... However in a shirt the slightest mis-grove can cause the bar to kick away really badly and unless youve a seriously fast and strong lift off guy you do need the guys on the side.

In comp you HAVE to have 2 on the side, primarily because whoever gives the lift off has to step clear out of the way so the judge can see.

Out of interest, who told you to do the 3 person spot? It's good to see coaches with safety in mind!!

Part of a course I am doing (Physical Fitness & Conditioning For Sport) run by Setanta College.

rubadub

I imagine some people are mistaking people assisting with negatives as solely spotters, some might be also spotting while assisting with the negative (i.e. pushing down on the bar to make it harder on the eccentric phase).

Killme00

Spotting for the squat, although hard to describe, is essential to learn for evryone who plans on squatting heavy weights.