I did something really stupid yesterday....

[mtaaron]

As I was lowering the weight on my last rep of my last set of bench pressing, the bar rolled out of my hands and on to my ribs/stomach. Not a good experience. Thankfully, I am fine, just a little sore. I got to thinking though....What would have happened if that son of a b*tch rolled the other way on to my neck? I dont think I would be typing this right now. The moral of this story: Don't get cocky and try to bench more than you can handle. Especially if you train without a spotter. I know some of you have done similar things so please feel free to share them so I dont feel like such an idiot.

....I forgot to mention I was benching 215 lbs...

-Aaron-

[Merk0135]

Originally Posted by mtaaron

As I was lowering the weight on my last rep of my last set of bench pressing, the bar rolled out of my hands and on to my ribs/stomach. Not a good experience. Thankfully, I am fine, just a little sore. I got to thinking though....What would have happened if that son of a b*tch rolled the other way on to my neck? I dont think I would be typing this right now. The moral of this story: Don't get cocky and try to bench more than you can handle. Especially if you train without a spotter. I know some of you have done similar things so please feel free to share them so I dont feel like such an idiot.

....I forgot to mention I was benching 215 lbs...

-Aaron-

How were you holding the bar? Do you wrap your thumbs around the bar? If not then I suggest you do as I don't see the bar rolling out of your hands that way

[RoyceDa59]

Originally Posted by Merk0135

How were you holding the bar? Do you wrap your thumbs around the bar? If not then I suggest you do as I don't see the bar rolling out of your hands that way

I agree, I always wrap my thumbs around the bar just incase it slips

[mtaaron]

I hold the bar with a normal, thumb-wrapped grip. I think it was due to my hands being so sweaty. I don't know though. It's never happened before...thankfully, it wasn't a straight drop from the top of the movement. I was damn near finished and was in the negative about 2" from my chest when it happened.

[NiteHawk]

Not good. You should always use a power rack set for safety or a spotter..

[BiggerGuns=LongerDrives]

YOU ARE TRULY LUCKY MY FRIEND....let me tell you a tragic story

My cousin lifted in High school back the 80's and was a star quarterback for his high school. Well his best friend played too and lifted with him everyday together in the friends garage. They were the best of friends, went everywhere together, my cousin used to pick him up for school in his truck everyday too.

One night they lifted late at night (11 pm or something)
It was bench day and they were pushing heavy sh!t (400 plus)
Well my cousin got tired out quick and decided to cut his workout short, so he quit half way thru and told his friend he was too tired and would just see him in the morning and off he went.

The next morning my cousin came back to pick his friend up, but he wasnt by the curb waiting like normal..It was then that my cousin saw that the garage door was still slightly open and had light beaming out of it. So got out, walked up to the garage and lifted the door up and got the shock of his life!!! There still on the bench was his best friend laying motionless with the bar on his neck.
HE WAS DEAD. Killed by the bar coming down on his neck. He was lifting too heavy and without a spotter and probably dropped the bar or let it come down on his neck and it strangled him to death.
I think he dropped it???

Truly a tragic story, it really ruined my cousins life. He blamed himself for leaving early and not being there for his best bud. He went from being the kid with the brightest future to being one of the towns worst druggies.

Instead of taking one of the football scholarships he had, he instead went to work for his dad and slowly became a big time drug user and now is in prison for 25 years for attempted murder, ID theft, robberies, including passing off bad checks, drug charges and on and on and on..

Tragic story about 2 kids with there whole lifes ahead of them, great kids in school, on the field and off the field. Both lost there life that day in that garage. Very sad story.

Becareful people, life is precious and just like Steve Irwin, we can lose it at the most innocent of times doing something we'd never think would harm us or kill us

[Traps]

Originally Posted by mtaaron

I hold the bar with a normal, thumb-wrapped grip. I think it was due to my hands being so sweaty. I don't know though. It's never happened before...thankfully, it wasn't a straight drop from the top of the movement. I was damn near finished and was in the negative about 2" from my chest when it happened.

I am firmly against using gloves, but when I bench I use napkins to help grip the bar better. They work like a charm

[mtaaron]

BG=LD, Thats horrible man.... I can't imagine what i would feel or do if that happened to me. This is the first time i've come close to hurting myself badly while exercising. Fortunately, I was able to get the weight off of me. I am smart enough to know not use bar clamps so the weights just slid off the bar. I also never exercise when no one is home due to horrific stories like the one you mentioned. I dont know what happened really.......Maybe it was just bad luck and timing put together. When I walked out of the weight room and told my girlfriend what had just happened she laughed at me. I dont think she understood how bad it could have been. I know i'm very fortunate to have not been hurt. I need to find a way to put some bar catches on that bench.......

[mtaaron]

Traps,
That is a great idea. I also have some talcom powder. I think that would help with the moisture problem. I was weary about using gloves because I like to have a good feel of the bar......in my hands, not on my chest.

[Adrian7]

Wow, crazy.

I know that a lot of people are against machines at this forum, but I use a chest press when I work the chest. Sure, it may be a little less effective, but it's safer, and the peace of mind is sometimes worth it.

[warri0r87]

that is a tragic story

Originally Posted by Merk0135

How were you holding the bar? Do you wrap your thumbs around the bar? If not then I suggest you do as I don't see the bar rolling out of your hands that way

as for the grip. personally i can't use the normal grip. i have fvcked up my wrist and using the thumb wrapped around the bar grip just aggrivates it. ive never even come close to having the bar roll off either. and i also wear gloves .

i dont understand how ppl can lift heavy when they dont have a rack or a spotter. but im just cautious i guess .

[Papasmurf]

You know, one time i benched without gloves. I honestly felt like that bar was going to fall out at any second. I use gloves, and i dont wrap my thumbs all the way around, but yeah, without a spotter you REALLY need to be careful on bench. NEVER put clips on the bar if you dont have a spotter, that way you can just tilt the bar if you are losing it.

[warri0r87]

Originally Posted by Papasmurf

You know, one time i benched without gloves. I honestly felt like that bar was going to fall out at any second. I use gloves, and i dont wrap my thumbs all the way around, but yeah, without a spotter you REALLY need to be careful on bench. NEVER put clips on the bar if you dont have a spotter, that way you can just tilt the bar if you are losing it.

i never use clips ne ways. haven't ever really needed it. and i'm not doing lil weights either, although nothing huge for the moment, but yer never liked em .