A bench press shirt is a specialized garment worn during powerlifting competitions to protect the shoulders and chest and increase the amount of weight that can be lifted. The shirt stores energy as it stretches during the lowering of the bar, which is released when the lifter presses the bar back up. Different types of bench shirts are allowed in competitions, but they are not necessary for everyday weightlifting. It is important to seek expert training and use a spotter when performing bench presses.
A bench press shirt, or bench shirt as it is commonly called, is a specialized type of shirt frequently worn in the bench press portion of powerlifting competitions. The bench press is an exercise in which the lifter lies on their back and lowers a barbell until it touches their chest, then attempts to press it back to arm’s length. Bench shirts not only help protect the shoulders and chest from the weight of the barbell during the exercise, they also make it possible for the lifter to lift significantly more weight than they could without wearing the shirt.
The first bench shirts, first produced in the 1980s, were worn primarily for protection, but have evolved into highly sophisticated garments that most weightlifters now wear for the explicit purpose of increasing the amount of weight. that they can lift At the heart of bench shirt physics is the concept of stored energy. The typical bench shirt is very tight and is sewn in such a way that it stretches even tighter over the chest as the bar is lowered in a bench press. This can make it very difficult, and even uncomfortable, for the lifter to lower the bar, but the payoff comes immediately afterward, when the lifter presses the bar back within arm’s reach. All of the energy stored by the shirt as it is stretched during the lowering of the bar is released and added to the lifter’s force, increasing the force being applied to the bar, making it possible for the lifter to lift a heavier weight. otherwise it would be possible.
Bank shirts are generally made of polyester, denim, or canvas. They can be built with one, two or more layers of material, with additional layers generally intended to provide more lifting power. Some bench shirts are closed in the back, and others are held together with straps or even left open completely. Personal preference often plays a role in which shirt a lifter will choose, but different weightlifting federations also place restrictions on what types of shirts are allowed in their competitions.
The bench shirt is now a staple among professional weightlifters, but it’s not a must-have for the everyday athlete or fitness enthusiast. Those interested in weightlifting training should seek expert training in lifting techniques and use a bench shirt only after mastering the lift without one. It is also important for the lifter to keep in mind that wearing a bench shirt can give an inaccurate estimate of one’s true strength, and consequently less weight should be used if not wearing a bench shirt. Also, bench presses, with or without a bench shirt, should always be done with a spotter, a person who is behind the bench ready to help in case the lifter cannot fully press the bar under his own power. he.
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