My view on Denim shirts...

[Screwball]

This is just one man's opinion...

If you aren't benching over 300 lbs. then you shouldn't be using a denim shirt. I feel that 300 lbs. for single-ply denim and 400 lbs. for a double denim are good starting points.

If you can get 200 lbs. to touch your chest in a denim shirt then the shirt isn't tight enough. In order for the shirt to be effective the denim must stretch. The stretch gives you the "pop" off of the chest. My belief is that it takes a minimum amount of weight to stretch the denim effectively in a properly fitted shirt.

I recommend a poly shirt for anyone who benches under 300 lbs.

Agree...? Disagree...?

 

[spatts]

I disagree, but I'm a chick.

 

[Screwball]

It's just that I have never seen anyone use a denim shirt effectively with less than 300 lbs. on the bar...

 

[spatts]

Sometimes it's hard to find people using denim effectively with 500 on the bar! lol

I don't know if it's different for women or not. If I want less to touch I raise the shirt. If I want more to touch I lower the shirt. I see it as just another fabric option. As long as my raw strength continues to go up, I don't really care what kind of numbers I'm getting with assistance (in terms of minimums).

 

[TheProject]

I disagree...

I just swiched from my single ply poly to an open back double denim, and got 30lbs out of the shirt. Not anything phenomenal, but it's a boost.

Also, I've gotten 185 to touch in my shirt by adjusting the groove, and pulling the weight down.

I think a denim is much easier to learn, but that's me.

 

[flapwrlftr]

Completely disagree. After being aroudn the Militia guys I am sure anyone can use a denim shirt. My shirt is a bit too big, but I got 245 to touch in it. The key to touching is technique, not weight on the bar. I can take that same shirt and let my elbows flare out and net get 500 to touch.

I also saw Bill C touch very easily with 495. I that same shirt he went up to 5 weights well over 700 pounds. The key to shirts is knowing how to use it.

 

[Liftbig]

i disagree. for the same reasons spatts and flapwrlftr said. im glad i didnt start on a poly shirt.

 

[IBench900]

This post comes at a very good time screwball.

I decided to get my first shirt 3 weeks ago, it was a Denim, sized incorrectly, I'm sure you all have seen the post, my arms were criss crossed thats how small the chest plate was, My second shirt received yesterday still looked small but I decided to finally take weight in it to understand the Double Denim craze.

The shirt is still too small I took weight in it but couldnt get anything to touch. Yadda yadda yadda I'm sending back for my 3rd try this should be the one considering I'm keen to how they size.

Back to your point, I think anyone can probably use the Denim if they learn the shirt and get it sized correctly. Take an individual with a terrible raw bench but has a phenomenal 3 or 4 or even 5 board press. A Denim would work wonders here.

I think the only limitation on a Denim is the individual wearing it, you'll only take a Denim as far as your triceps will handle locking out weight.

The groove really surprised me, very low on the belly, the shirt makes you feel like your imploding inwards into your chest and the so called "pop" seems to travel right towards the ole face.

All in all despite touching weight and having to send the shirt back a second time, I understand the concept of denim and how it helps and where it stops helping. I'm psyched, in fact at this point although I have not tried it, I say why bother with poly?

Kobe

 

[Screwball]

Spatts,

Have you tested your raw bench max recently? I'm always curious to see how partial rep range work and shirt work carry over to the raw side.


Project,

I didn't know that you were using a denim shirt. I thought you were still working with the Fury. Do you think that your denim shirt PR was do to the shirt or do to the training atmosphere and technique changes? I'm reall interested to see how effective the denim will be for you. I would love to see you busting 300+ up in the next couple of months.

flapwrlftr,

Do you have any lifters on your team that are using a denim shirt at sub 300 weights? My thinking is that it would take a certain minimum to effectively stretch the denim and make it "work" for you. Perhaps, shirt manipulation is the key to using a denim rather than the tightness across the chest plate...? One thing for sure, I need a lot more work in my denim. The MM seminar would probably be an epiphany for me.

 

[flapwrlftr]

flapwrlftr,

Do you have any lifters on your team that are using a denim shirt at sub 300 weights? My thinking is that it would take a certain minimum to effectively stretch the denim and make it "work" for you. Perhaps, shirt manipulation is the key to using a denim rather than the tightness across the chest plate...? One thing for sure, I need a lot more work in my denim. The MM seminar would probably be an epiphany for me. [/B]

All of my lifters use denim including the woman who bench under 200. I don't have any males who bench under 300 anymore. But, when we did, they used DD.

You are thinking stretch across the chest plate foir the shirt to be effective. While that does help, the key is support and spring under the triceps. I highly recommend the MM seminar. It is awesome.

 

[mjaym]

I disagree, I can touch 225 in my shirt. And I think saying denim is only for people who bench over 300 excluding a lot of women, and light powerlifters. If you can touch the weight you want to bench, why not take advantage of denim?

 

[spatts]

I can touch 225 in my shirt too. I have also benched 330 in it, so take that for what it's worth.

Screwball, I train raw. I will occassionally work up in my shirt after training. My raw 1RM goes up every time I test it.

 

[TheProject]

Project,

I didn't know that you were using a denim shirt. I thought you were still working with the Fury. Do you think that your denim shirt PR was do to the shirt or do to the training atmosphere and technique changes? I'm reall interested to see how effective the denim will be for you. I would love to see you busting 300+ up in the next couple of months.

I would say it was due to the shirt. I went up there originally with my poly, and with anything over 225, the shirt just sorta collapsed for me. I got no spring out of it at all.

I'm really curious to see how the MM training and the new shirt will work out for me.

315's the next big target.

 

[pwr_machine]

All my experience has been with single ply poly shirts. As a former USAPL lifter, that's what I was stuck with. I had always had a personal goal to bench 500 in a single ply poly before moving to any other kind of shirt. I'm not saying you need to bench 500 to use a denim, etc. I'm just stating what was my personal goal. However, after watching the amount of weight moved at Nazareth I have decided to change my goals a bit. I'll order a Karin's denim in a few weeks and begin concentrating on a bench meet at the turn of the new year. I'm looking forward to it!

 

[BigWh1tey]

i disagree, the open back denim is a great choice and not dependant on bar weight , all someone need is coaching on technique.

 

[Ish]

That's good stuff pwr_machine. It'll be fun to see what kind of numbers you can put up in a DD.

All my experience has been with single ply poly shirts. As a former USAPL lifter, that's what I was stuck with. I had always had a personal goal to bench 500 in a single ply poly before moving to any other kind of shirt. I'm not saying you need to bench 500 to use a denim, etc. I'm just stating what was my personal goal. However, after watching the amount of weight moved at Nazareth I have decided to change my goals a bit. I'll order a Karin's denim in a few weeks and begin concentrating on a bench meet at the turn of the new year. I'm looking forward to it!

 

[thebrute]

i disagree, the open back denim is a great choice and not dependant on bar weight , all someone need is coaching on technique.

i totally agree!! tb

 

[ESCALADE22]

Disagree.

 

[kingc_79]

I disagree...

I just swiched from my single ply poly to an open back double denim, and got 30lbs out of the shirt. Not anything phenomenal, but it's a boost.

Also, I've gotten 185 to touch in my shirt by adjusting the groove, and pulling the weight down.

I think a denim is much easier to learn, but that's me.

did u mean u got 30lbs out of the shirt or 30lbs more than in the titan? so far i love your old fury. i've gotten about 15lbs or so out of it and hopefully ill get more at the meet sat.

 

[TheProject]

did u mean u got 30lbs out of the shirt or 30lbs more than in the titan? so far i love your old fury. i've gotten about 15lbs or so out of it and hopefully ill get more at the meet sat.

Well, my raw bench is 225, and the most I ever benched in the Titan was 232...did that once, about a year ago.

I took the denim to Naz, and got 255, which I attribute to the shirt.

Kick ass at the meet!

 

[kingc_79]

Well, my raw bench is 225, and the most I ever benched in the Titan was 232...did that once, about a year ago.

I took the denim to Naz, and got 255, which I attribute to the shirt.

Kick ass at the meet!

thanks alot man...i plan to...hopefully ill get alil more out of the shirt on sat...i would love to get 20-30lbs from it....we'll see

 

[Doug K]

Denim Mystery

Screwball.

We have tons of women and lightweight fellas using single and double denims.

All have added #'s to their benches over the poly.

Many are well below your percieved numbers of effectiveness.

What must be remembered here is not one style of shirt, or for that matter even the same cut of the same brand will work for all concerned.

Technique is as large a factor in the success of the lifter as strength.

But ultimitly, if the shirt doesn't allow you to bench where you are effective it is a moot point anyway.

Karin's Site

 

[Liftbig]

welcome back Doug. good work on that 600 down in zanesville, much more to come.....see ya later.

 

[Doug K]

Thanx Tim. Uh Liftbig.....

I think my problem was too much restriction on my cookies.

I think both of us will be seeing nice #'s in the near future!!!!

 

[MULE1]

Disagree Bro....Sub 300 lifters using a denim on my team

Deb 235 raw 300 shirt
janet farone 185 raw 275 shirt 114 body weight
Jenny Burke 145 raw 250 shirt
Bonnie Graube 235 raw 300 shirt
Sandi McCaslin 185 raw 270 shirt

Screwball don't take this as an insult but it's like saying use and get used to crppy equipment before you ghet the good stuff, what does strength level have to do with ones ability to manipulate a shirt....

 

[MULE1]

You are thinking stretch across the chest plate foir the shirt to be effective. While that does help, the key is support and spring under the triceps. I highly recommend the MM seminar. It is awesome. [/B][/QUOTE]

Thank you big fella, We'll be playing in the grand Ball room all month folks, make your reservations now...