Bench Press Shirts

[big_bad_buff]

Questions

#1 cheating?
#2 will it help shoulder?
#3 more for power lifting? or useful for body building also?



what are your thoughts on the shirts? for those of you who have used them. i have a bad shoulder(rotator cuff)and was wondering if i should get one, and how much this will help my problem. i saw someone use one for the first time in the gym the other day. he needed help getting in the thing, i basically had to hang and bounce on the thing to get it down over him, the thing was so tight, i thought his head was going to turn blue. his was made out of a Jean material, never seen one like his.

anyways, how much will this help my shoulder? it seemed more like a rubber band effect, it took at least 150 pounds to even push his arms down to chest level, will you be able to work your chest effectively, or are these shirts basically made to lift the weight for competition?

links
http://www.monstermuscle.com/bench-shirts.asp

http://secure.cartsvr.net/catalogs/catalog.asp?category=412&prodid=1481616

 

[jeremys]

no, not cheating, not in my mind. everybody can use them, well, everybody can use the same kind in different feds..so how can it be considered cheating?

if you train for PL, you can train with a looser shirt to protect your bad shoulder(s)

i dont think it would be worth the money for a bodybuilder

 

[benchmonster]

they are used for competition. I have denim shirts. they are legal where I lift in competition. You can lift more weight more safely wearing a shirt than without one.

if you have a bum wing, get a loose fitting poly shirt to wear when you bench. will help protect the shoulder.

B.

 

[BodybuildingUniverse]

I personally wouldnt wear one with a bum shoulder unless I was a serious competitor - I think it would mask your injury and allow you to handle more weight than you should be while injured.

as far as cheating, no - like it was said up above - if the PL federation allows a bench shirt you are simply on even ground with all other competitors. NOW, will the bench "feel" like your bench when it allows you to press 70 additional pounds you couldnt push without it? your call.