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Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: chainsaw on March 01, 2009, 09:05:31 AM

Title: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: chainsaw on March 01, 2009, 09:05:31 AM
Many of you seem one way or the other.
I use no thumbs.  It  took me a while but
20 yrs ago luis friatis explained why no
thumbs and worked for me ever since.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: QuakerOats on March 01, 2009, 09:07:20 AM
no thumbs, that method places the bar in a more centered position over the wrists and allows you to push with more power and stability.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: robins on March 01, 2009, 09:07:34 AM
No thumbs.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: MONSTER_TRICEPS on March 01, 2009, 09:10:32 AM
Thumbs.  ;D
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Mars on March 01, 2009, 09:15:56 AM
i prefer no thumbs but for safety measures it might be wise to to it with thumbs.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Meso_z on March 01, 2009, 09:24:47 AM
No thumbs. But in close grip presses i have my thumbs wrapped for safety.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: D_1000 on March 01, 2009, 09:39:43 AM
Prefer no thumbs and always use that if using any kind of a machine.

With a barbell, for safety, thumbs.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: burn2live on March 01, 2009, 09:42:24 AM
Thumbs
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: evandatp on March 01, 2009, 09:53:17 AM
Thumbs, because dropping 135lbs hurts the ego more than just getting stuck under it again & again.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: The Showstoppa on March 01, 2009, 09:53:26 AM
Thumbs
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Bossa on March 01, 2009, 10:02:47 AM
I only use DB's...having said that...no thumbs
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Awesomo on March 01, 2009, 10:30:01 AM
Suicide grip isn't a good idea. Sometimes i switch to it when really trying to get that last rep.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Mars on March 01, 2009, 10:33:01 AM
I only use DB's...having said that...no thumbs

i bench very rarely too, always dumbells.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: MONSTER_TRICEPS on March 01, 2009, 10:36:56 AM
Dumbells are for geeks!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Mars on March 01, 2009, 10:39:42 AM
(http://s5.tinypic.com/291okd5.jpg)
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Figo on March 01, 2009, 10:50:47 AM
(http://www.houseofpain3.com/wlsnews/images/Joe_Luther_low_res_cover.jpg)
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Mars on March 01, 2009, 10:51:17 AM
(http://www.houseofpain3.com/wlsnews/images/Joe_Luther_low_res_cover.jpg)

zonecapone?
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Tapeworm on March 01, 2009, 10:52:58 AM
Dumbells are for geeks!!!!!!!!!

I'm Bill Gates, minus the money and the brains.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: spinnis on March 01, 2009, 11:06:42 AM
No thumbs feels so great, but dangerous
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: freespirit on March 01, 2009, 11:15:51 AM
Thumbs, for safety.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: tleilaxutank on March 01, 2009, 11:48:29 AM
no thumbs
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: affeman on March 01, 2009, 11:49:49 AM
no thumbs, can focus much better on the chest that way.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: affeman on March 01, 2009, 11:52:10 AM
(http://www.flexonline.com/images/fl/209650/5717.jpg)
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: jr on March 01, 2009, 12:12:32 PM
I might try no thumbs after this thread.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: mesmorph78 on March 01, 2009, 12:59:40 PM
Dumbells are for geeks!!!!!!!!!
nope dumbells are waaay harder than barbells for
chest hence why you dont see many guys doing them... if the did their poundage would have to be lowered
as its hader to spot  ::) ahem yank the bar off your training partner
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: affeman on March 01, 2009, 01:07:37 PM
nope dumbells are waaay harder than barbells for
chest hence why you dont see many guys doing them... if the did their poundage would have to be lowered
as its hader to spot  ::) ahem yank the bar off your training partner

I agree for the most part. I usually stick to incline dumbbell press nowadays and flat bench on machines (Hammer strength) most of the time. Flat barbell bench is way overrated, but it's the ego exercise #1 for all the geeks. Too bad none of them ever develops pecs. :-\
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: QuakerOats on March 01, 2009, 01:08:51 PM
I agree for the most part. I usually stick to incline dumbbell press nowadays and flat bench on machines (Hammer strength). Flat barbell bench is way overrated, but it's the ego exercise #1 for all the geeks. Too bad none of them ever develops pecs. :-\
translation= like 90 percent of guys you're not good at flat barbell benching and make excuses for why it's "overrated".
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: affeman on March 01, 2009, 01:10:05 PM
translation= like 90 percent of guys you're not good at flat barbell benching and make excuses for why it's "overrated".

If you think...
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: QuakerOats on March 01, 2009, 01:11:28 PM
If you think...
flat barbell benching is like squatting, it's the hardest chest movement and that's why most people avoid training it intensely.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: spinnis on March 01, 2009, 01:12:04 PM
flat barbell benching is like squatting, it's the hardest chest movement and that's why most people avoid training it intensely.

is has ruined alot of shoulders though
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: affeman on March 01, 2009, 01:12:34 PM
flat barbell benching is like squatting, it's the hardest chest movement and that's why most people avoid training it intensely.

Ask your idol Bob Chick what he thinks about the barbell benchpress. ;)
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: QuakerOats on March 01, 2009, 01:16:30 PM
Ask your idol Bob Chick what he thinks about the barbell benchpress. ;)
he gave it up after YEARS of going heavy and could bench over 500 when he stopped doing them, ask him how much upper body mass he built with them initially.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: chainsaw on March 01, 2009, 01:23:15 PM
no thumbs, that method places the bar in a more centered position over the wrists and allows you to push with more power and stability.

Exactly.  I hear people on here makin jokes about people not using thumbs.  In Venice when I lived there, no serious BBer used thumbs.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: QuakerOats on March 01, 2009, 01:25:17 PM
Exactly.  I hear people on here makin jokes about people not using thumbs.  In Venice when I lived there, no serious BBer used thumbs.
EVERY big bencher i've ever seen in person has used the "suicide" or thumbless grip while benching, like i said it centers the weight more squarely over the wrist and forearm and when you combine it with wrist wraps almost anyone would make a big jump in weight.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Mars on March 01, 2009, 01:50:23 PM
I'm Bill Gates, minus the money and the brains.

loll
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Bobby on March 01, 2009, 02:12:33 PM
thumbs up for no thumbs...on flat and incline and close grip benches 8)

yip yip
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Lion666 on March 01, 2009, 05:39:47 PM
I like to pratice both..... my gym used to call it "monkey grip"
months I go w/o thumbs on presses..... then a few months with thumbs....
same thing with pulls.... thumbs.... then for a few months I just "hook" with the 4 fingers.... and pull... ala jay cutler on his pull downs... minus the straps.....
which by the way.... gonna start employing the starps again.... soon, for a coupla months anyway    :)
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: bigbobs on March 01, 2009, 05:49:05 PM
I knew of a guy who was benching with "no thumbs" (with 225 lbs) and the bar rolled off of his palms and broke his ribs!  The injury lasted a loong time and he was always grabbing his chest feeling pain while breathing.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: The Coach on March 01, 2009, 05:51:21 PM
(http://www.flexonline.com/images/fl/209650/5717.jpg)

Not using thumbs because he's using straps.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: pugalist666 on March 01, 2009, 06:52:05 PM
this is coaches preferd grip
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: marcus on March 02, 2009, 05:11:22 AM
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Meso_z on March 02, 2009, 05:12:39 AM
this is coaches preferd grip

hahaha, what a "sport"!  ::)
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: The Showstoppa on March 02, 2009, 06:28:50 AM
Exactly.  I hear people on here makin jokes about people not using thumbs.  In Venice when I lived there, no serious BBer used thumbs.

I think thats why a lot of people don't use thumbs.  They want to mimmick others, look like they know what they are doing.  Just do whatever feels comfortable for you, who gives a shit one way or the other. 
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: DK II on March 02, 2009, 06:38:37 AM
Thumbs.

Evolution gave us a thumb able to grip stuff. People that bench without thumbs are evolutionary closer to monkeys.
Plus having a 400lbs barbell fall 40cm down on your chest is way more stupid than using a thumb.

I doesn't matter at all in benching, especially not for the recreational bodybuilder.

(http://www.biog1105-1106.org/demos/106/unit08/media/hands.jpg)
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: polychronopolous on March 02, 2009, 06:43:17 AM
this is coaches preferd grip

haha, yeah Coach prefers giving his boyfriend the G.I. Joe Kung-Fu grip
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Method101 on March 02, 2009, 06:51:45 AM
I use thumbs on benching because i'm afraid of dropping the bar on myself, i always do bench press in my gym's powerack aswell because i don't like asking random people to spot me.

But i Don't use thumbs on the lat pulldown/rowing movements where i know that if the handle/bar does slip the weight won't land on me anyway.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Dreadlifter on March 02, 2009, 07:09:04 AM
Thumbs.

Evolution gave us a thumb able to grip stuff. People that bench without thumbs are evolutionary closer to monkeys.
Plus having a 400lbs barbell fall 40cm down on your chest is way more stupid than using a thumb.

I doesn't matter at all in benching, especially not for the recreational bodybuilder.

(http://www.biog1105-1106.org/demos/106/unit08/media/hands.jpg)

lol

Personally i always with thumbs since the day one of my training parters dropped a barbell on his chest him using a thumbless grip when i was spotting him. Too quick for me to catch and he got winded good.

I do use a thumbless grip when doing close grip for triceps, as i feel i've got my hand in a safer position where dropping the bar is less likely.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: CalvinH on March 02, 2009, 07:33:37 AM
No thumbs for me.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: brent2741 on March 02, 2009, 07:50:43 AM
when going heavy i think no thumbs is kind of dangerous :-[
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: The.Giant on March 02, 2009, 07:51:53 AM
Thumbless. It's just way more comfortable.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: affeman on March 02, 2009, 08:02:57 AM
Thumbs.

Evolution gave us a thumb able to grip stuff. People that bench without thumbs are evolutionary closer to monkeys.
Plus having a 400lbs barbell fall 40cm down on your chest is way more stupid than using a thumb.

I doesn't matter at all in benching, especially not for the recreational bodybuilder.

(http://www.biog1105-1106.org/demos/106/unit08/media/hands.jpg)

Have you even tried it without thumbs. I promise you that it makes a difference, of course you feel kinda strange and insecure at first but when you got used to it you won't ever bench with thumbs around the bar again.

I just got the feeling that with thumbs my wrists aren't in a natural position to the chest anymore. I also can focus much better on the chest when the bar lies only on your ball of the hand.

I use the no thumbs grip nowadays on every exercise, also rowing and pull ups. The only exception are dumbbell exercises, where you are obviously flexible and can position your wrists in the perfect angle, and, of course, deadlifts.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Bona on March 02, 2009, 08:46:28 AM

ever since i watched that clip, i've been using thumb grips  :-\
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: The Wizard of Truth on March 02, 2009, 08:49:01 AM
No thumbs on smith machine,thumbs used when using free weights
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: 210 and growing on March 02, 2009, 09:01:21 AM
(http://s5.tinypic.com/291okd5.jpg)

That is one hell of an ass !  :P
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Man of Steel on March 02, 2009, 09:12:27 AM
I switch between thumb and thumbless all the time.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: PJim on March 02, 2009, 09:24:01 AM
No thumbs, but there's a video of the Mentzer brothers explaining the dangers of it somewhere on youtube that causes one of those "shit, yeah" moments in your mind.
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: chainsaw on March 02, 2009, 09:24:47 AM
Have you even tried it without thumbs. I promise you that it makes a difference, of course you feel kinda strange and insecure at first but when you got used to it you won't ever bench with thumbs around the bar again.

I just got the feeling that with thumbs my wrists aren't in a natural position to the chest anymore. I also can focus much better on the chest when the bar lies only on your ball of the hand.

I use the no thumbs grip nowadays on every exercise, also rowing and pull ups. The only exception are dumbbell exercises, where you are obviously flexible and can position your wrists in the perfect angle, and, of course, deadlifts.

I agree 100%
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Meso_z on March 02, 2009, 09:27:29 AM
Jay in the begining of his career in his videos used no-thumb grip, but now he always uses them...  ??? why?
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: local hero on March 02, 2009, 09:47:06 AM
have any of u watched some of the other vid clips that came up at the end of that... some realy dodgy fuckers out there, some of the deadlift clips had me flinching...


im still for thumbless tho........ as do the majority of bbuilders i know...
Title: Re: Thumbs vs no Thumbs benching.
Post by: Bobby on March 02, 2009, 12:03:05 PM
Have you even tried it without thumbs. I promise you that it makes a difference, of course you feel kinda strange and insecure at first but when you got used to it you won't ever bench with thumbs around the bar again.

I just got the feeling that with thumbs my wrists aren't in a natural position to the chest anymore. I also can focus much better on the chest when the bar lies only on your ball of the hand.

I use the no thumbs grip nowadays on every exercise, also rowing and pull ups. The only exception are dumbbell exercises, where you are obviously flexible and can position your wrists in the perfect angle, and, of course, deadlifts.

I agree completely!

However it's kinda weird that when doing db presses you use thumbs (obviously) and it doesn't feel bad like it does with a bar.