Bench shirt: First timer

blackbeard

New member
well since Dawg never answered my question :) i figured id make a thread..i want a bench shirt im not going to buy it tomorrow but in the next month or two..what do i get ive heard a lot of good things about Metals Viking Pro (double ply poly) also Karins Denim..

I dont know where i hould start single ply, double ply, denim..i know it goes according to your federation but ive never competed but one day would like to do a meet..I guess id rather have the equipment and then find a meet that i would legal to enter..
 
i'm no expert, but i think you should start with a single ply. I'd tell you to find out what meets are in your area first, because its silly to exclude yourself from a particular fed if thats all thats in your area, but since i'm IN your area, i know thats not true. I know that you could probably get to connecticut without much difficulty and I think there are a lot of APA meets there, but i'm not sure what else is around.
I think a lot of lifters actually have two shirts, a beginners shirts they started with and sometimes train in, and then a better one for competitions.
 
that makes sense having 2 shirts .. as well as the meet stuff..i wouldnt mind travelling though especially with someone whos there to encourage me ya know

:)
 
blackbeard said:
that makes sense having 2 shirts .. as well as the meet stuff..i wouldnt mind travelling though especially with someone whos there to encourage me ya know

:)


lol.. you know i'd be there with you- i'm looking forward to it.
and since i wouldn't be allowed in the mens locker room, PB can be there to get your ass in a squat suit. :laugh3:
 
sugarplum said:
lol.. you know i'd be there with you- i'm looking forward to it.
and since i wouldn't be allowed in the mens locker room, PB can be there to get your ass in a squat suit. :laugh3:

ill go one size bigger and get into it myself LOL
:flipoffha
 
blackbeard said:
well since Dawg never answered my question :) i figured id make a thread..i want a bench shirt im not going to buy it tomorrow but in the next month or two..what do i get ive heard a lot of good things about Metals Viking Pro (double ply poly) also Karins Denim..

I dont know where i hould start single ply, double ply, denim..i know it goes according to your federation but ive never competed but one day would like to do a meet..I guess id rather have the equipment and then find a meet that i would legal to enter..
i sent you a pm a long time ago slimeball , your getting old and senile hanging around pullinbig and me has rubbed off . :laugh3:

if your going denim get a karins double denim and just let her know how much your pushing , she can take it up later as your bench #s increase .
if your going poly i would probably go single ply and figure on just calling it your starter shirt but ive never used or been around a metal viking pro so i dont know what to tell you about it . i really like the titan fury which should be legal in almost any fed since its considered a closed back shirt even though the back is stretchy and much more comfortable and easier to get on than a " closed " back shirt .

it really boils down to budget and commitment because a dd karens shirt is incredible imo but its not as cheap as a single ply poly .if you can afford the karins and intend to make a serious run at competition it will be hard to beat .
 
dude i must really be losing it i dont remember the PM LOL maybe it got lost lol
either way i appreciate you telling me again :insane2:

ill look into the titan..im pretty sure the karins DD is cheaper than the metal viking..but like you said the karins would be a better choice

i have no idea what to expect i know shirts are not something you put on and voila you double your bench..my best right now is 360 for a triple raw guess it puts me close to 405 for 1 but i never consider that my max since ive never hit it or attempted (yet)..just looking forward to getting one and working with it and all the frustrations that go with it.. :)
 
blackbeard said:
dude i must really be losing it i dont remember the PM LOL maybe it got lost lol
either way i appreciate you telling me again :insane2:

ill look into the titan..im pretty sure the karins DD is cheaper than the metal viking..but like you said the karins would be a better choice

i have no idea what to expect i know shirts are not something you put on and voila you double your bench..my best right now is 360 for a triple raw guess it puts me close to 405 for 1 but i never consider that my max since ive never hit it or attempted (yet)..just looking forward to getting one and working with it and all the frustrations that go with it.. :)
start pounding those lockouts now , at a meet no one gives a shit how much you bench raw or how weak you are off the bottom with a shirt all the care about is how much you bench in a shirt . if you were considering a metal shirt and it was more expensive than a karins dd i would take the denim no question , karin has been around for a long time and those shirts and her service have proven themselves time and time again , when you have a problem with your shirt shes there to fix/alter it and that counts for something . i wasnt as smart i got talked into a inzer shirt and i regret it but i hope to get a karins shirt soon myself { crawford cut }
 
DADAWG said:
start pounding those lockouts now , at a meet no one gives a shit how much you bench raw or how weak you are off the bottom with a shirt all the care about is how much you bench in a shirt . if you were considering a metal shirt and it was more expensive than a karins dd i would take the denim no question , karin has been around for a long time and those shirts and her service have proven themselves time and time again , when you have a problem with your shirt shes there to fix/alter it and that counts for something . i wasnt as smart i got talked into a inzer shirt and i regret it but i hope to get a karins shirt soon myself { crawford cut }

i know no one cares about raw lol..you dont think the denim will be too strong for me..meaning i maybe able to get x weight off the chest but cant lock it out..

and yes i understand thats why youre telling me to do lockouts lol
 
blackbeard said:
i know no one cares about raw lol..you dont think the denim will be too strong for me..meaning i maybe able to get x weight off the chest but cant lock it out..

and yes i understand thats why youre telling me to do lockouts lol
karin cam make it loose enough for you to handle a weight you can lock out and haveing more speed off the bottom due to the shirts assistance will allow you to lock more than you think . when your lockout improves she can take in the chest plate and allow you to go even heavier . also if you go open back haveing the shirt pulled up high will allow you to get a lighter weight to your chest and you can move the shirt down as the weight goes up .
 
DADAWG said:
karin cam make it loose enough for you to handle a weight you can lock out and haveing more speed off the bottom due to the shirts assistance will allow you to lock more than you think . when your lockout improves she can take in the chest plate and allow you to go even heavier . also if you go open back haveing the shirt pulled up high will allow you to get a lighter weight to your chest and you can move the shirt down as the weight goes up .

good point dawgy..thanks man
i think im sold on the karins i have heard a lot of good stuff
what about the closed neck shirt could it be later to an open back?

http://www.karinsxtremepower.com/catalog.html
 
BB if you get a shirt you gonna have to train with PLers. some one who knws what they are doing. cause if you dont esp in dd you can get your little throat crushed in a flash. the spotters (all three of them) need to be experienced with a shirt as well.
get an open abck for ease of puttingon and taking off. course this will limit the feds you compete in as do drugs but none the less there is something for everyone.
 
blackbeard said:
good point dawgy..thanks man
i think im sold on the karins i have heard a lot of good stuff
what about the closed neck shirt could it be later to an open back?

http://www.karinsxtremepower.com/catalog.html

the collars are made differnt so no. the shirt will more than likely split do2n the middle after its opened up. or at least i have seen several do it.
course if you told karinthis is what you were planin she can make the adjustments in the original design.

get the dd open back. she has a few sesections to choose from there. call her and tell her what you doing and shell help you. and btw her voice is deepers then dougs. marlboros and andros have taken their toll. =0)
 
pullinbig said:
BB if you get a shirt you gonna have to train with PLers. some one who knws what they are doing. cause if you dont esp in dd you can get your little throat crushed in a flash. the spotters (all three of them) need to be experienced with a shirt as well.
get an open abck for ease of puttingon and taking off. course this will limit the feds you compete in as do drugs but none the less there is something for everyone.

thnks PB..yes i know im planning on making a switch to a better gym in a few months..thnks for the tip as well..
ive got a link with most of te feds on it as well as what they allow and dont allow ill link it here for anyone thats interested
http://www.weighttrainersunited.com/fedreference.html
 
blackbeard said:
thnks PB..yes i know im planning on making a switch to a better gym in a few months..thnks for the tip as well..
ive got a link with most of te feds on it as well as what they allow and dont allow ill link it here for anyone thats interested
http://www.weighttrainersunited.com/fedreference.html
dude you have the potential to be respectable in the serious feds like apf,etc. and most of these types of feds are quite lenient with equipment and super supplements .
 
DADAWG said:
dude you have the potential to be respectable in the serious feds like apf,etc. and most of these types of feds are quite lenient with equipment and super supplements .

thanks dawg..it is the goal its definitley something i really wanna do and im gonna work towards :)
 
you got some good advice here (plus what we spoke about today). I have only had experience with what i own (inzer poly velcro back and titat fury stretchy back) but obviously i bench a lot less and have different requirements. i know you watch a lot of videos and that will help you- i think most people get very confused when they look for their first shit- everyone has a favorite and you feel you have an important decision to make. i think any shirt you get will work- all the manufacturers are good.
I think if you have your heart set on one, make sure the meets that are in our area will be ok with that shirt and get it, OR.. consider getting a beginner/cheaper shirt.
thats pretty much what i did and i'm happy with it- i will always have my inzer that i know works and fits and isn't hard to work with or get on, etc.
 
sugarplum said:
you got some good advice here (plus what we spoke about today). I have only had experience with what i own (inzer poly velcro back and titat fury stretchy back) but obviously i bench a lot less and have different requirements. i know you watch a lot of videos and that will help you- i think most people get very confused when they look for their first shit- everyone has a favorite and you feel you have an important decision to make. i think any shirt you get will work- all the manufacturers are good.
I think if you have your heart set on one, make sure the meets that are in our area will be ok with that shirt and get it, OR.. consider getting a beginner/cheaper shirt.
thats pretty much what i did and i'm happy with it- i will always have my inzer that i know works and fits and isn't hard to work with or get on, etc.

thnaks babe cuz youre going to have to put my man boobs in place LOL
..and i agree with ya i appreciate the feedback from Dawg and PB..its the reason i love this board so much..you guys have helped me a ton :bowdown:
 
Bench Shirt 101; or what I’ve learned from Metal Militia.
By Jim Wendler
For EliteFTS.com

It is no secret that Bill Crawford and the Metal Militia are the undisputed kings of the bench press. They have taken the bench shirt to new levels. Not only have they revolutionized how to put the shirt on, but they have learned how to correctly bench with a shirt. The bench shirt is a difficult thing to master and is probably the most frustrating piece of equipment in the powerlifter’s arsenal. I am by no means a master of the bench shirt. In fact, I’m in the same boat as most of you. I can’t count the number conversations that I’ve had with other powerlifters on how to use a shirt and (more importantly) how to use it correctly.

Earlier this year, I had the chance to attend a seminar given at Nazareth Barbell by Mike Miller and Bill Crawford. This was a great experience and I came away with a ton of great information and a new gym PR. Coming home, I was excited to begin teaching myself and others what I’ve learned. Unfortunately, there was a lot of information and a lot to go over and digest. With the help of Bill, Mike, Dave Tate and Bob Youngs, I started trying some of the new techniques. Here is a brief overview on what I learned. Remember that this is second hand information. Some of it may be slightly skewed but this should help you get started.

Putting the Bench Shirt on

1. Put your shirt on and have someone pull the shoulders on as tight and high as possible. Do this one shoulder at a time. The best way to do this is to have your partner pull on the back of the shirt while you lean forward. If the arms of your shirt are tight, it would benefit you to wiggle your arms back and forth. This will help pull the shirt on and place it in the correct position. Your partner may have to brace one of his arms on your middle back to give him better leverage.
2. Now that your shoulders are in the shirt, attach the Velcro straps on the back of the shirt very lightly. You do not want these to be tight. Usually, the bottom two straps are the only ones that are fastened.
3. Put your belt on. It should be loose at this point.
4. Have your partner stand in front of you. With your arms out in front of you, cross them so that the chest plate of your shirt develops “shirt cleavage”.
5. With your arms crossed, have your partner tug on the bottom of your shirt. This will eliminate the “shirt cleavage”.
6. Once the cleavage is gone, your partner should hold the bottom of your shirt taut. At this point, arch your lower and upper back and uncross your arms. The shirt should be very tight in your chest and shoulders. With your partner holding the bottom of your shirt, have someone tightened your belt. This will keep the shirt in place. Make sure the belt is very tight. You will have to suck your stomach in to achieve this.
7. Once the shirt is in position, have your partner adjust the shoulders again. You do not want to pull them as high as they were in the beginning, but just enough to be comfortable. This will vary from person to person and in time, you will know exactly where you want the shirt.

Technique


1. When setting up underneath the bar (setting your upper back, lats and your low back arch), the shirt will have a tendency to ride up and lose position. In order to combat this, set yourself up using an underhand close grip. This will keep your shirt in perfect place. Once your body position is perfect, grab the bar at your competition grip. I personally like to pull myself up (like an underhand pull-up), tuck my feet underneath me, pull my upper back together and push myself into position. This is what I’ve always done, but was reinforced over and over again at Nazareth Barbell by Mike Miller and Bill Crawford. Your upper back should feel spring loaded. If you do this correctly, you will probably be sore the next day.
2. Once you receive your handoff, hold the bar for a second or two. This will accomplish two things. One, it will allow you to start the bar where you want it. Too many times people will rush the descent and thus lose their groove. Two, it will allow you to let the bar sink and reduce the distance the bar has to travel. When you hold the bar, push your shoulder blades/upper back into the bench and push your stomach up. I’ve seen a lifter take more than 3” off his stroke by simply mastering this technique. To learn how to do this, put your shirt on and practice this with light weights. You’ll be surprised at how much this helps.
3. When you begin lowering the bar, do not tuck your elbows in the beginning. Keep your elbows out during the first inch or so. This will help lock your shirt into your triceps. Once the back of your shirt sleeves lock, begin tucking your elbows. This is one that needs to be practiced over and over again. You will develop the feel of when to begin tucking your elbows over time. Again, this is very individualistic.
4. When you are lowering the bar, keep your head on the bench and keep pushing your chest and stomach up as high as possible. This will reduce the distance that you have to push the bar. Having someone yell, “Big stomach!” or something similar will help. Make sure you are keeping your upper back and lats tight and pulled together.
5. Keep tucking your elbows as hard as you can. Once the bar touches your chest/stomach and you receive the press command, drive your feet into the ground and your upper back into the bench.
6. At about ¾ of the way up, begin turning your elbows out. This will ensure for a stronger lockout and a more advantageous pressing position. In order to see how to do this, I highly recommend going to a seminar by Bill Crawford or Mike Miller. Also, the Nazareth Bench Video is a great way to see this technique. This has to be practiced over and over again. You will not get this down on the first try so don’t get frustrated. There is an incredible amount of timing involved.
7. Once you lockout the weight, hold it and wait for the rack command.
8. Some of the key points such as pushing your belly out, tucking your elbows, holding the bar at the top, keeping your head down, etc. are things that need to be coached throughout the lift. This is what training partners are for. They need to be coaching you throughout the entire lift. I also recommend trying these new techniques one at a time. Trying all of these things at once will result in sensory overload.

I realize that it is difficult to “see” some of these things in an article, but you should get an idea of what most of this means. The best way to learn is to get out and do it! Even if you don’t get it right the first time, you may stumble onto something. Again, I highly suggest trying to go to a seminar with Mike Miller and/or Bill Crawford. Call EliteFTS @ 888 854 8806 if you are interested in the Nazareth Barbell Bench Video. Also, I will not answer any question such as, “What does Louie Simmons think of all of this?” If you want to know, ask him yourself. EliteFTS is not a messenger for Louie Simmons. Now go get some chalk on your hands and learn how to bench.
 
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