The MANTA RAY! Anyone used this before?

[RyanLRams]

Bodybuilding.com - Nick Nilsson - The 'Manta Ray' For Squats - Training Equipment Review!

I was curious if anyone has used one of these before? My shoulders don't really hurt after doing squats, though I get a nice straight bruise across my shoulder girdle. I was looking into getting something that forced a little better technique and, as I go up in weight, something to better support that bar. The last thing I need is for that heavy to start sliding off my shoulders. In high school, a friend of mine was doing squats and the bar slipped back off his shoulders. He was not fortunate enough to NOT have tried to keep it from rolling off and in the process he broke several fingers. It looked nasty and sounded worse! Fingers aren't meant to bend backwards like that. Anyways, I was just thinking...

[mitchcumstein]

lol @ Bodybuilding.com

[Gill]

Haha, shame on you Ryan! Thats like advertising for hell while you're in heaven!

Anyway, those supports are pretty standard in most gyms I've worked out at. I've never seen one specifically called a Manta Ray and therefore cant make a call on that specific one, but in general, they do help tons by keeping your mind off discomfort.

[dannyboy9]

I would dare to say that there are probably many other products out there that do exactly what the Manta Ray does, but aren't as costly and hyped us as the Manta Ray. I could be wrong though but the idea isn't bad. I fair well with a good ol' towel around the bar maybe one of those velco strap cushion devices.

(I can't remember the proper name for those right now but I'm sure someone will help me out)

[RyanLRams]

LOL. I promise I didn not go to that website in search of anything. I did a google search and that was where I found some decent information.

[BiggerGuns=LongerDrives]

I already have a "Manta-Ray" and it works great for that extra padding under the bar :wink:

[Noir]

Originally Posted by BiggerGuns=LongerDrives

I already have a "Manta-Ray" and it works great for that extra padding under the bar :wink:

Care to sell me one?

[mrtn]

i actually tried something tat looked exaaaaclty the same but i never heard of the manta ray thing!!
those things really do help tho!! i allways use one!!

[NiteHawk]

I bought one several years ago. I used it a couple times but havent since. Too me, it keeps the bar too high on my traps. I prefer to rest the bar lower on my traps and it kind of rests on my delts. Its actually quite comfortable. If you need it, you can always wrap a towel around the bar or a piece of pipe insulation. When I have the bar lower, the movement feels better and I can do more weight this way.

Now I do have the "sting ray" for front squats. I love it! The best piece of equipment Ive bought in a long time. I love front squats and this makes it so easy to do and keeps the form and movement perfect with no bar sliding and no pain. I do keep a towel underneath it when I go heavy because it will dig in the upper arm/side delt area. I recommend the sting ray.

[Renegade68]

Originally Posted by NiteHawk

I bought one several years ago. I used it a couple times but havent since. Too me, it keeps the bar too high on my traps. I prefer to rest the bar lower on my traps and it kind of rests on my delts. Its actually quite comfortable. If you need it, you can always wrap a towel around the bar or a piece of pipe insulation. When I have the bar lower, the movement feels better and I can do more weight this way.

Now I do have the "sting ray" for front squats. I love it! The best piece of equipment Ive bought in a long time. I love front squats and this makes it so easy to do and keeps the form and movement perfect with no bar sliding and no pain. I do keep a towel underneath it when I go heavy because it will dig in the upper arm/side delt area. I recommend the sting ray.

Well - something for front squats would be a good idea. I just go with the bare bar for back squats - no issues, no bruising, etc. Front squats tear my front delts up though......

[Taekwondo Guy]

there was one in my gym that i tried once for kicks and it didnt fit.

i just used the cushion of my traps or at a push for heavy triples i'd use a towel

[khrolix]

Those things make it a lot more uncomfortable if your squatting real heavy weight. There's another variation, its just like a piece of foam--works a lot better IMO.

[Merk0135]

man up and just place the bar between your traps and delts. At first it will feel uncomfortable but after a couple weeks you won't notice anything. The main advantage is that there is no apparatus to throw off your balance. If you're getting those 'red marks' on your shoulder and feel pain then you're setting the bar too high. Equipment like the manta ray set the bar too high and makes for bad technique, thus higher weight more difficult. I don't like padding either, I want to feel the bar, it helps with balance.

[wnxmaximus]

ya it keeps the bar up too high.... thats a super high place on your back, even higher than most olympic squatters. It is especially high for me or anyone else who is into powerlifting. Just experiment with different bar placements. Go lower, or higher, and see which one feels the best. There is a place on your back that feels natural. ALso, as your traps grow larger, there will be a larger area to place the bar.

[lee thompson]

i use a piece of pipe insulator wrapped around the bar,very comfortable.

[ambientdeath]

Originally Posted by lee thompson

i use a piece of pipe insulator wrapped around the bar,very comfortable.

There's piece of pipe insulation at our gym for people who squat with our smith machine to wrap around the bar. I tried it once, the pipe insulation works great.

[waynaferd]

I put my hands a little closer and it seems to push out the shoulder blades a bit and that's where I rest the bar, on the traps.

[upperrq]

i have also used it with okey