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Proper ways to spot

sandysford Posts: 1,139 Joined: 2002/11/18	2005/07/07, 01:45 PM Ok all you guys and gals give us pointers on how to correctly spot a person. It would be a big help to all I am sure. I was at the gym last night and watch a boy almost drop a dumbell on his head because of his spotter. He should have been spotting at the elbows not the weight. He was doing flat bench presses. thanks to all. By the way those two young boys did thank this old lady for showing them the right way to do it.:laugh: -------------- THE NATURAL WAY IS THE ONLY TRUE PATH TO SUCCESS, PRIDE, JOY, HAPPINESS, LONG TERM FULFILLMENT AND SELF-ESTEEM!
ecle5c Posts: 1,312 Joined: 2003/07/10	2005/07/07, 02:43 PM I almost got a 75 lb. dumbbell dropped on my head yesterday also (not the same story as above). I was at the gym and asked for a spot to get the weight up from my chest before starting my reps. The trainer guy (he was new from what I hear) pushed my elbows up instead of grabbing my wrists. The weight hit me in the chest and I have a huge bruise today from it. Needless to say I will never ask him for a spot again, I am just happy that it didn't hit me in the face.
gangstershoes Posts: 641 Joined: 2005/05/27	2005/07/07, 03:55 PM I prefer to spot someone doing a dumbell press with a wrist hover/cuff method. Then when spotting on bench I'll hang my arms out to make sure the weight will not move towards the lifter's head. As they start to struggle I'll keep my hands under the bar about 1-2 inches as it goes up. I don't typically like to spot guys doing squats, because that just looks gay. I'll spot a girl anytime though. :) ecle5c, I've found that if you can't find a good spotter you can bench the dumbells on the bench press and slide your head and upper torso under the lower racked bar for added protection. A bruise to your chest is better than your face.
sandysford Posts: 1,139 Joined: 2002/11/18	2005/07/08, 12:57 AM wow scary stuff, but it does happen, thanks for sharing.:dumbbell: -------------- THE NATURAL WAY IS THE ONLY TRUE PATH TO SUCCESS, PRIDE, JOY, HAPPINESS, LONG TERM FULFILLMENT AND SELF-ESTEEM!
	2005/07/08, 04:16 AM had someone improperly spot me on the squat...guy was holding the bar from behind me...instead of my waist...so as you can imagine...the weight pulled me down and he couldn't do a thing to help me...I think most people don't know how to spot on squats...
zak786 Posts: 183 Joined: 2005/03/25	2005/07/08, 06:56 AM r spotters used for motivational tactics aswell. They can really pump u on.
gangstershoes Posts: 641 Joined: 2005/05/27	2005/07/08, 10:32 AM I spot from rep 1 on the HEAVY dumbells, and on the lighter ones I start spotting towards the end of their set when I see them starting to struggle. The funny part about dumbells when I'm being spotted is that I find that my arm can just give out vs. on a bench it slowly loses strength. When spotting bench, I just protect the head by angling my arms as protection until they start struggling and then hover under the bar waiting for it to stop making progress.
sandysford Posts: 1,139 Joined: 2002/11/18	2005/07/08, 01:25 PM I find that if I begin to spot from the very first lift so I don't get distractred from what the lifter is doing. I also egg him on from the start. Lift all you can lift, PUSHHHHHHHHHHHHH You can do it!!!!!!:cool: -------------- THE NATURAL WAY IS THE ONLY TRUE PATH TO SUCCESS, PRIDE, JOY, HAPPINESS, LONG TERM FULFILLMENT AND SELF-ESTEEM!
gangstershoes Posts: 641 Joined: 2005/05/27	2005/07/08, 02:11 PM sandy you can spot me anytime, but if you lift more than me I'll be PISSED :)
gangstershoes Posts: 641 Joined: 2005/05/27	2005/07/08, 02:17 PM I just finally read your book, I mean profile, sandy. Congrads on getting your life back in order.
sandysford Posts: 1,139 Joined: 2002/11/18	2005/07/09, 01:17 AM Thank you, if you are interested in what I can lift, check out my journal, I really wouldn't want to show any guy up, but it seems I do sometimes at our gym. Ron will walk by and tell the guys, "Don't let her show you up" then he walks off laughing. Anyway, I am sure that you lift more than me and I am a good spotter and thank you also for the compliment.:) -------------- THE NATURAL WAY IS THE ONLY TRUE PATH TO SUCCESS, PRIDE, JOY, HAPPINESS, LONG TERM FULFILLMENT AND SELF-ESTEEM!
	2005/07/09, 01:56 AM spotting the whole way is fine...helping the whole way is not....problem is some people forget the difference....
sandysford Posts: 1,139 Joined: 2002/11/18	2005/07/09, 03:53 AM gangstershoes, It may be a book, Thanks FT for letting me vent:) -------------- THE NATURAL WAY IS THE ONLY TRUE PATH TO SUCCESS, PRIDE, JOY, HAPPINESS, LONG TERM FULFILLMENT AND SELF-ESTEEM!
sandysford Posts: 1,139 Joined: 2002/11/18	2005/07/09, 06:19 AM Got to thinking that profile is 3 years old, time to update it, on with some new news out with the old stuff, I read it, what a sob story:big_smile: -------------- THE NATURAL WAY IS THE ONLY TRUE PATH TO SUCCESS, PRIDE, JOY, HAPPINESS, LONG TERM FULFILLMENT AND SELF-ESTEEM!