Bench handouts get messed up all the time.
Bench handouts get messed up all the time. We’ve all gotten a bad one. We’ve all seen a bad one. Let’s stop the epidemic.
Communicate first
Before you touch the bar, ask the lifter two things.
- Are you counting it down, or am I?
- Do you want a lot of the bar taken out, or just a little?
Get those answered before anything else.
Take about 40 pounds
General rule of thumb: take about 40 pounds of pressure off the bar. Not the whole thing, and not nothing. About 40 pounds, then adjust to what the lifter asked for.
Hold the bar still
While the lifter sets up, hold the bar so it doesn’t roll around in the hooks. They’re getting tight. The bar shouldn’t be moving or sliding around.
Make sure they’re set
Don’t pull it out until they’re ready. Before every handout, make sure the lifter is set, know who’s counting, and know how much weight you’re taking off. Get on the same page
You and the lifter need to be on the same page every time. It’s imperative.
