Why do people raise their heads when they bench press?

**davtown** · 03-28-2007, 05:41 AM

I see it so often... either Flat BB Bench or Flat DB Bench (I don't really see it on incline). Some people, on every single rep, raise their heads WAY off the bench on the negative portion of the lift, like they're getting teabagged by Spaceclown or something.
When I first started noticing this, I checked my own form and saw that I was not doing this. I tried mimicking it with medium weights and I couldn't figure out why people do it. I still can't figure it out.
Any thoughts?

**romanaz** · 03-28-2007, 05:48 AM

I do it because it lets me sit on my shoulderblades and not so much on my head. That and doesn't tucking the chin put the spine in a neutral position? Watch PL videos, I think most tuck their chins in.

**romanaz** · 03-28-2007, 05:50 AM

hear the guy in the background "chin up chin up"

**Succio** · 03-28-2007, 06:05 AM

that dude looks like a bum

**romanaz** · 03-28-2007, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Succio

that dude looks like a bum

a bum who can bench 800lbs+

**bubba g** · 03-28-2007, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by romanaz

a bum who can bench 800lbs+

that shirt is doing 300 of it...lol

I know it takes skill, and those guys are strong as hell, but to me shirted seems pointless... If you can't bench the weight without the shirt, then you can't bench the weight.

You can't even get the bar to lower with less than 300 or more pounds with some of those shirts...

I am far far more impressed with a 600 raw bench press, than an 800 shirted...

That is just my opinion.. Nothing wrong with it.. they are all on a level playing field using the shirt.

**romanaz** · 03-28-2007, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubba g

that shirt is doing 300 of it...lol

I know it takes skill, and those guys are strong as hell, but to me shirted seems pointless... If you can't bench the weight without the shirt, then you can't bench the weight.

You can't even get the bar to lower with less than 300 or more pounds with some of those shirts...

I am far far more impressed with a 600 raw bench press, than an 800 shirted...

That is just my opinion.. Nothing wrong with it.. they are all on a level playing field using the shirt.

probably closer to 200lb carryover. That guy probably has one hell of a raw bench as well.

:-D

**bubba g** · 03-28-2007, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by romanaz

probably closer to 200lb carryover. That guy probably has one hell of a raw bench as well.

:-D

I'm sure he does....

**davtown** · 03-28-2007, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by romanaz

I do it because it lets me sit on my shoulderblades and not so much on my head. That and doesn't tucking the chin put the spine in a neutral position? Watch PL videos, I think most tuck their chins in.

Interesting....
If by 'neutral position' you mean straight, then yes it does. My perspective of neutral for the neck is having measurable lordosis (anterior curvature) in the cervical spine, like when you're standing with good posture.
I'm gonna have to do some more analytical thinking to figure out why exactly that position lets people lift more.

**bigDman** · 03-28-2007, 10:06 AM

well the head comes off when wearing a shirt because towards the bttom you have to pull down and things get tight so the head comes off the bench. If you are not wearing a shirt your head should stay on the bench

Jordan×core · 03-28-2007, 12:31 PM

I've seen a few people at my gym who always lift their head even without a shirt.

**Ikaika** · 03-28-2007, 01:18 PM

I see it too, but the guys I see doing it are checking themselves out in the mirror when they do it. Retards.

**DJSTARER** · 03-28-2007, 02:15 PM

thats a good Q dav. I got flagged for it in my last Comp on my second lift, but never realized I was doing it.

Bubba, I happen to agree with you on the shirt subject. If it was up to me, everyone would lift raw.

**boyscouT** · 03-29-2007, 01:00 AM

that guy needs to cut... like now lol

**romanaz** · 03-29-2007, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boyscouT

that guy needs to cut... like now lol

then his shirt won't fit him and he can't bench 881 no more!!

03-28-2007, 05:41 AM	#1
davtown OM NOM NOM NOM Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 2,346 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 128	Why do people raise their heads when they bench press? I see it so often... either Flat BB Bench or Flat DB Bench (I don't really see it on incline). Some people, on every single rep, raise their heads WAY off the bench on the negative portion of the lift, like they're getting teabagged by Spaceclown or something. When I first started noticing this, I checked my own form and saw that I was not doing this. I tried mimicking it with medium weights and I couldn't figure out why people do it. I still can't figure it out. Any thoughts? __________________ --Training Journal-- current/goal D: 350/380 S: 280/300 B: 235/260

03-28-2007, 06:05 AM	#4
Succio IronMass Sponsor Join Date: May 2006 Location: beastville Posts: 1,938 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 95	that dude looks like a bum __________________ SUPPLEMENTS.NET REP

03-28-2007, 10:06 AM	#10
bigDman is missing heavy pulls Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,611 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 186	well the head comes off when wearing a shirt because towards the bttom you have to pull down and things get tight so the head comes off the bench. If you are not wearing a shirt your head should stay on the bench __________________ COME CHECK OUT MY JOURNAL

03-28-2007, 12:31 PM	#11
Jordan×core Pro Stature Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 851 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 31	I've seen a few people at my gym who always lift their head even without a shirt. __________________ How did I fail women studies? I love bitches. If there is no enemy there is no fight...if there is no fight there is no victor...if there is no victor there is no crown.....now we have a enemy we have a fight and we will win the crown.

03-28-2007, 01:18 PM	#12
Ikaika resident degen Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,793 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 214	I see it too, but the guys I see doing it are checking themselves out in the mirror when they do it. Retards. __________________ No supplement can make up for the lack of a strong work ethic.

03-28-2007, 02:15 PM	#13
DJSTARER eating more folate... Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: State College, PA Posts: 3,979 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 113	thats a good Q dav. I got flagged for it in my last Comp on my second lift, but never realized I was doing it. Bubba, I happen to agree with you on the shirt subject. If it was up to me, everyone would lift raw. __________________ My philosophies on training: "Extreme training yields extreme results" "Just because you can, does not mean you should" "The best program is the one you are not doing" Penn State Powerlifting-181 lb weightclass PGA Professional of America Current Stats: 474 Squat 601 Deadlift 320 Bench Goals for next training cycle: 500lbs squat and a total over 1400 in competition

03-29-2007, 01:00 AM	#14
boyscouT IronMass Sponsor Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 458 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 37	that guy needs to cut... like now lol

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