Good god, spotting can be dangerous

[Enock]

My friend whos last successful 8rep squat was 340, was warming up with 315 as I was spotting. Actually he would have done 315 even if I wans't spotting since it was just a warm up and something he figures he can easily handle, I spotted w/o his asking anyway. Its a damn good thing I did. He tripped on one of his reps, surprised the shit outa me because it wasn't like a slow, I need some assistance kinda failue but boom, he just started falling. I grabbed the bar and FUCKING shit. I weighed 185 at the time (now 180 damn stomach bug from bad eggs) I grabbed the bar as he dropped it and it was sooo fucking heavy, It almost ripped my arms off. Now normally if he starts to fail all I need to do is steady it and mabe lift some to take some of the weight off of him. But I had to grab 315 falling pounds. HOLY FUCK I was actually nervous spotting his next few sets as he continued up to his 340. I wonder how he felt.

Just thought I point out when spotting squats spotters have their limits. True I saved his ass from being crushed, but barely.

We are thinking of getting some chains to attach to the bar and then to the top of the squat rack (theres a pullup bar at the top of the rack) that way if he does fail like that again, no matter what the weight can only drop so far, Because as of right now, basically I can only assist in the weight and help steady him, on a fast trip like that, I just don't have enough weight and strength of my own to counter the bar.

 

[Heather Darling]

Aren't you squatting in a rack or something? If he needs a spot then give it to him but if he trips let him just bail and the rack will take care of it. You're lucky if you didn't get torn up doing what you did.

 

[Imnotdutch]

You could just get somebody else to help spot.....one on each end.

Also, I agree with Heather if he dropped it you should have let him bail out.

My friend whos last successful 8rep squat was 340, was warming up with 315 as I was spotting. Actually he would have done 315 even if I wans't spotting since it was just a warm up and something he figures he can easily handle, I spotted w/o his asking anyway. Its a damn good thing I did. He tripped on one of his reps, surprised the shit outa me because it wasn't like a slow, I need some assistance kinda failue but boom, he just started falling. I grabbed the bar and FUCKING shit. I weighed 185 at the time (now 180 damn stomach bug from bad eggs) I grabbed the bar as he dropped it and it was sooo fucking heavy, It almost ripped my arms off. Now normally if he starts to fail all I need to do is steady it and mabe lift some to take some of the weight off of him. But I had to grab 315 falling pounds. HOLY FUCK I was actually nervous spotting his next few sets as he continued up to his 340. I wonder how he felt.

Just thought I point out when spotting squats spotters have their limits. True I saved his ass from being crushed, but barely.

We are thinking of getting some chains to attach to the bar and then to the top of the squat rack (theres a pullup bar at the top of the rack) that way if he does fail like that again, no matter what the weight can only drop so far, Because as of right now, basically I can only assist in the weight and help steady him, on a fast trip like that, I just don't have enough weight and strength of my own to counter the bar.