“Ey Yo, you mind spotting me right quick?”
A phrase you are bound to hear at least once a week, if you lift .. but what makes a good spotter? .. that’s like asking, “what makes a good burger?” .. answer: it depends on what you like
personally .. i want to know that i had to use a spot as a last measure to finish my rep or get through a set without getting hurt .. honestly, i hate asking for a spot .. it means that i believe that i will not be able to do the required amount of reps to finish the set .. apart from that, it takes away from the other persons time at the gym and screws up their rest intervals or holds them up from getting to a newly available dumbbell or bench
with that .. when i do use a spot .. i want him to let me do as many as i can by myself and to only help me when im stuck at the same position for at least a solid second .. the spotter i absolutely dislike .. is having him holding the bar through all 6 (or whatever you do) reps through my set .. if your gonna do that then I would be able to crank out like 12 reps .. thankfully i run into one of those once in a blue moon .. the one that’s most common is the spotter that lets you get through your first few then as soon as he sees you struggling .. he is quick to come in and just pull the bar off over your chest or head .. that doesn’t work either .. i asked for a spot because I believe that i can do them all .. and i might need some help not someone to come and rescue me
thankfully .. i’ve had some amazing spotters .. guys that let you go through your first few then as soon as they see u struggling they encourage you .. tell you, “keep going” .. “all you” .. “keep pushing” .. while not even touching the bar .. and when they see that there is no way you are gonna do it on your own .. they get at the bar .. but barely touch it .. sometimes with just their finger tips .. encouraging you along the way .. during this time you hate the spotter .. you just want the bar back on the hangers but they wont let you off that easy .. they know you have it and they let you get it .. afterward, your muscles are tight and sore .. the feeling of achievement .. that’s a good spotter
i’ve learned from all that .. i’m the guy that if you tell me your shooting for 6 then imma let you do 6 .. and watch over you .. but imma respect your decision and if you said 6 then give me 6 .. i wanna say that i am known for the phrase .. “keep on going .. you got it .. im not gonna help you .. i swear to God that i will let this weight drop on you” .. just like a lifter uses a spotter as a last resort .. a spotter should touch the bar as a last resort .. respect the lifter and let them achieve their goal with little to no help from you
a spotter has a lot of responsibility .. the lifter entrusted you with his goals that he wants to achieve .. and to an extent with his life .. cause if 205 lbs or 225 lbs comes crashing down on your chest .. i am sure that will do more than just crack a few ribs .. the spotter needs to know what they can and cannot help in .. ive had a guy ask me to spot him as he was pushing 225 lbs over his head on the military press .. scared that i would let it drop or it would fall .. when i saw him struggle .. i “yanked the shit outta the weight” .. that’s what i told him .. yes, i was a bad spotter .. i should have just told him that i didnt feel comfortable doing it myself .. apart from a lot of weight .. i had a guy ask for a spot as he was pushing 70 lbs dumbbells in each hand .. not a lot of weight .. but you should know spotter a bar is WAY different than spotting dumbbells .. and i can honestly say that I am a horrible spot when it comes to dumbbells .. where do you work from? the elbows? the wrists? i dont know .. and still dont .. but i tell ppl .. hey im a bad spot with dumbbells .. and ask them where they want me to help from .. don’t get me wrong .. it takes two to tango .. the lifter has a good amount of responsibility as well
the lifter knows how he likes to be spotted .. so tell em .. let them know how you want it .. how many you are going for .. on what rep you plan on needing help .. and if you will need help with a “lift off” .. a lifter cannot expect a spotter to read his mind .. good communication will ensure that you get the most out of your session
In N Out Double Double Fried Onions with Cheese .. that’s what makes a good burger!
Tags: Fitness, Gym, Weight Lifting
