Doing a bench press with that much weight without a regular grip is just plain stupid, I bet he used a regular grip the next time he benched .

Been there done that Eric:biglaugh:

I used to train on my own in my fathers garage where I had a decent gym with mostly free weights. On more than one occasion I was benching and couldn’t make the last rep ive had anything up to about 270 Ilbs come down on me a few times. I used to drop the right side end of the bar down and slide to the other side when the bar rested on the ground and the right side of the bench. I did hurt my side doing it once. It used to scare the hell out of me. looking back I must have been mad. Don’t be trying it out anyone.

Yeah, I know it happens to people a lot. It's just weird cuz I've never had that particular thing occur. Not that I haven't failed just that the bar doesn't crash down. I am always able to support the weight on the descent. But I can understand these sudden failures and I've certainly had them happen on other things...at least I'm pretty sure I have. If I remember correctly though I have had an occasion in the distant past where one side of my body failed but that was with a much lighter weight and I still sort of lowered it under control. Maybe not having a spotter for so long has taught me to really know what I am cabable of on any given day more.

Of course I have the safety catches.

The way I use the catches, in case anyone is wondering, is a little tricky. They are set so that they are JUST below the level of my chest when it is puffed out in a proper bench press position. You do not want the bar to actually lower onto the catches like a pin press as that alters the movement I find. So they are just below. If I fail my body relaxes and I can slide out from under the weight. Technically it is possilbe for the bar to drop onto my chest but it can't drop onto it very hard or deep.

I know what your saying Eric I could always bring it down under some control. Ive never seen it happen like that before nor do I want to.
I have seen guys use a thumbless grip like that when Benching personally I cant see what difference it would make I reckon we have thumbs for a reason:biglaugh:

I mentioned it to a guy in the gym once and he looked at me like I was a total dick. I haven't said anything again to anyone else. I was even as polite as possible about it. I dunno, people don't want to hear what they are doing is wrong...especially from someone they dont know.

IronWorker

Those are some scary ass vids. Personally, I have never used a suicide grip and now I definitely never will. :)

My chest hurts just watching those. I used to use a suicide grip, but in the last year I've done nothing but regular. I feel like having a regular grip helps train grip strength while your benching, were suicide does not ... just my 2 cents.

I think that its whatever you learn with is what is going to feel more comfortable. So for all you newbs out there, use a normal grip! I feel there is no advantage to using the suicide grip that would make it worth using. And to all those guys who have trained with the suicide grip for years....well I guess you could try to switch over but otherwise BE CAREFUL!

IronWorker

I agree. I think if you have gotten use to your grip after years of using it, and especially if you are now supporting mondo pounds, it could be really hard to make a switch. I think there is, however, something to be said by the power transfer of actually gripping the bar tightly with a full grip.