Training with gear?

[NorwegianGuy92]

So I just got a bench shirt and a squat suit, and my first meet is on the 5th of October. So I have about 6 weeks.

I'm currently doing the SPBR, and have done that since January.
It's working fine, but I have made some changes with my bench press day as my bench has had little to no progress. I just started doing the 1 x 3, 1-2 x 10 thing IA talked about in a thread. However, what should I do now that I want to implement the bench shirt?

I've thought about doing something like:

1 x 3 ( ramping up to a top set of 3 WITH the shirt)
2 x 10 ( RAW)

Or

1 x 3 ( ramping up to a top set of 3 RAW)
3 x 1 (WITH the shirt)

Or something completely else, board presses? Suggestions? I don't know shit, that's why I'm asking here.

Thank you.

[SFGiantsPBA]

Originally Posted by NorwegianGuy92

So I just got a bench shirt and a squat suit, and my first meet is on the 5th of October. So I have about 6 weeks.

I'm currently doing the SPBR, and have done that since January.
It's working fine, but I have made some changes with my bench press day as my bench has had little to no progress. I just started doing the 1 x 3, 1-2 x 10 thing IA talked about in a thread. However, what should I do now that I want to implement the bench shirt?

I've thought about doing something like:

1 x 3 ( ramping up to a top set of 3 WITH the shirt)
2 x 10 ( RAW)

Or

1 x 3 ( ramping up to a top set of 3 RAW)
3 x 1 (WITH the shirt)

Or something completely else, board presses? Suggestions? I don't know shit, that's why I'm asking here.

Thank you.

Compete raw then after the meet learn the gear 6 weeks is not enough time to learn the gear and learn to handle the heavier weights IMO.

[bonecrusher]

Originally Posted by SFGiantsPBA

Compete raw then after the meet learn the gear 6 weeks is not enough time to learn the gear and learn to handle the heavier weights IMO.

That's what I would have thought as well. I vaguely remember reading a post either here or in general the pre-requisites for one considering equipped powerlifting. Found the post by Rafter below

Originally Posted by Rafter

I have been seeing guys get into PL gear early. When I say early, I mean that they cant even bench 225 raw, squat 315 raw, etc... Its been said that you should hold off until you bench 300, squat 400, dl 500 before you get into gear......

[NorwegianGuy92]

Thanks for the advice! Yeah, that sounds reasonable, you know better than me.
So you don't think I would get anything out of it in 6 workouts? Just to clarify, I'm not talking about adding 50 lbs to my bench in those 6 weeks, but just learning the groove and benching like..10-20 lbs more than my current raw max at least.

[SFGiantsPBA]

Originally Posted by NorwegianGuy92

Thanks for the advice! Yeah, that sounds reasonable, you know better than me.
So you don't think I would get anything out of it in 6 workouts? Just to clarify, I'm not talking about adding 50 lbs to my bench in those 6 weeks, but just learning the groove and benching like..10-20 lbs more than my current raw max at least.

10 to 20 pounds out of a shirt is improper use of a shirt.

I'm saying chances are you may bomb out not being comfortable in gear yet.

I'd rather compete to get a total and then take months to learn the gear.

6 weeks IMO is not enough time to learn a shirt a shirt is a mother fucker to learn.

There is a huge difference in touching in a shirt then there is going to a 3 and 2 board a huge difference as the shirt really starts to bind getting lower then a 2 and you don't want IMO to be touching in a shirt for 6 weeks straight it will tax the shit out of you.

[NorwegianGuy92]

Ok. I did try to touch the first time I used it, and well..I did that, but I really sucked.
But ok, I'll probably just use it a few times before the meet, see how it goes, and then probably compete raw. Thanks for your help

[NorwegianGuy92]

Oh and btw, when the time comes and I'll use the shirt regularly in training, what is a good way of doing it? Is the way I outlined in my first post total shit, should I do something entirely different?

[Halfway]

If you touched on your first time using it the shirt is too loose.

It took me about 6 months to learn the shirt + suit and I'm still a long way from getting full potential, 6 weeks isn't enough

Don't do reps in the shirt.

[SFGiantsPBA]

Originally Posted by Halfway

If you touched on your first time using it the shirt is too loose.

It took me about 6 months to learn the shirt + suit and I'm still a long way from getting full potential, 6 weeks isn't enough

Don't do reps in the shirt.

Reps are fine if done from 2 board and higher but yeah touching in a shirt 1st day not good I bought a loose shirt and still had to break it in and it took quiet some time to learn it then I tightened each sleeve a half inch still being loose and it took me months to learn it again because as it gets tighter it gets harder to use.

I have seen a guy rep touching but he has great experience in a shirt but I have seen nobody on my team rep below a 2 board.

I don't think any of our brothers and sisters at Super Training rep below a 2 board either.

Here is a program I ran for 4 months that put 90 pounds or more on my shirted bench.

Week 1 3 sets of 5 to a 2 board with same weight 80% of max

Week 2 3 sets of 4 to a 2 board with same weight 85% of max

Week 3 3 sets of 3 to a 2 board with same weight 95% of max working the weight up if possible then 1 to the chest as light as possible

Week 4 3 sets of 2 to a 2 board with same weight 100% of max working the weight up if possible then 1 to the chest as light as possible

Week 5 is 2 singles to the chest at max effort

Repeat

It's a modified Mike Womack program that I don't currently do right now as it run it's coarse on me after 4 months and now I'm in a shirt every other week.

This program is excellent for a person new to a shirt as it will get you consistent and confident really fast.

[NorwegianGuy92]

Thanks, I appreciate all the help! I'll definitely give that program a try when the time's right.

Oh btw, it's a single ply shirt, I don't know if that makes any difference at all?