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Scot Mendelson Talks About Geared Lifting


dlewis8589

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I competed at the regional and state level in the bench press for a few years. I didn't got much out of my shirt. Tried a few. My best raw bench was 190 KG. My best equiped was actualy at a competition, where i got 220 KG. If i could still bench today i would only go raw. In my opinion the strongest man should win, not the one how knows his equipment best. By the way powerlifting isn't very big in Germany.

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I've never benched in a shirt but just using a slingshot gave me a 15-20% increase in my bench.

Probably depends on where your weakness is, if it's off the chest then you'd get more out of gear vs.say if your lockout is weak.

I know lifters who bench around 400 raw and 600+ multiply after a couple of weeks of getting used to gear.

One thing that I think is great about the geared benching (again even slinghot/ram/catapult etc counts) is it feels easier on the shoulders while you're moving more weight "hitting" your body with a weight you won't be able to handle otherwise.

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I have more of a problem with the multi geared lifters, it just is kind of ridiculous at that point. The way the IPF does the single ply gear that is something that looks a little interesting to try though. Also the multi geared lifters generally squat really high or don't tough/pause the bench or lockout often. It just looks sloppy compared to the IPF. (I'm talking mostly SPF which is into the multi geared)

I'm glad the IPF does raw lifting now though and that will still be my favorite type of powerlifting. There is probably more technique in the geared lifting like he said but I still prefer to see the strongest man win not just the man who has mastered the equipment. I watch olympic lifting to watch masters of technique who are also very strong.

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I agree that the form multiply gear users use most often is pretty bad. A few weeks after I joined the board I saw a 1300lb squat on youtube, and no doubt brother is strong, but his form was literally a generic bad half squat. Same with bench, I don't understand why in multiply gear the rules change from paused to T&G, pretty big difference. But I think the thing that made the most sense to was when he explained the feeling of lifting huge numbers in gear. I mean, If the only thing keeping a 1000lb barbel from crushing me was my arms and a tight shirt, that would be a really exhilarating experience. And I bet benching 600lbs raw would not be as intense. But I think more important though is to understand that geared powerlifting is just a discipline like every other, and its not as simple as "put this shirt on and your lifts will raise 300lbs."

Its still probably not something i'll ever be into, but it was thought provoking none the less

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Geared lifting is just a completely different sport.

It was probably invented because maximum human potential has long been reached in powerlifting.

Some numbers:

Raw bench press

1972 jim williams presses 675lbs (he did 720lbs in training with credible witnesses)

2013 eric spoto presses 722lbs

So that's a 47lbs increase in 41 years. An average of a little over a pound a year. Or really no progress at all if you count the training lift by jim williams.

Geared bench press

1985 ted arcidi presses 705lbs

2013 paul meeker presses 1102lbs

That's almost a 400lbs increase or an average of 14lbs a year.

So it seems lifters haven't really become stronger since the 70's. The huge progress being made in geared lifting is all because the gear keeps on getting better and the lifters learn how to use the gear better.

So the gear makes a sport where there is really very little progress to be made alive and exciting again. (For some people)

That being said I personally much rather see how strong someone really is than watch someone who is really good or scientific with his gear.

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