110716 Spotting the dumbbell bench press

110716 Spotting the dumbbell bench press

It is the duty and responsibility of the coach and the specific task of the designated spotter or spotters, to protect the lifter at all times during the lift, especially if the load is in the upper percentages of their one repetition maximum..

Stupid act number one

A trainer who has their trainees doing a bench press with their feet on the bench is placing that person at risk for an injury. The purpose of the feet being on the floor is to prevent the person from losing their balance and falling off the bench with a load on the bar. Having both feet on the floor contributes to a part of the five-point stance.

The five-point stance is established with both feet on the floor, the buttocks on the bench, the shoulders on the bench and the head on the bench.

Stupid act number two

Trainers standing or kneeling away from the trainee holding onto a clipboard

Any photo of a trainer or a trainer who is standing away from the lifter is in a poor position to spot the exercise. He or she is not anywhere near the area they need to be in order to protect the lifter from harm should they fail in the movement.

The correct position is either with his/her hands on his/her wrists or hovering on the outside of her wrists to prevent the dumbbell from coming back on his/her face if he/she loses the correct bar path while lifting.

Keeping both hands on the wrists is the safest way to spot the dumbbell bench press.

There are so many terrible examples of trainers training someone who has trusted his expertise to keep them safe as they lift showing up on YouTube; it is pathetic with a capital P.

I recommend finding someone who practices intelligent coaching, safe lifting, as well as safe spotting.