Training with chains?

[stee]

Just wondering, ive been thinking about getting some chains to help mix it up a little.
Just wonder what you guys think of them?

[hangtight08]

i never really understood why they were needed/what they did, maybe for a little extra weight? i would rather add 5-10 lbs, imo

[stee]

they tend to add the weight the further you press or lift the bar. ranging from 40-80lbs.
e.g. if you got 40lbs chains on the bar and the chain is half on the floor when the bar is in the rack.
when you push it from your chest there will be little weight added by the chain on the bar.
the further off the floor the bar goes the more weight is added as the chain ends up suspended by the bar.

just wondering if many here use em an what they think of them if they do

[hardgainer12]

i wouldnt ever use em...but thats just me. i like to record the exact weight i use every workout so i can progress, and with chains u dont really know what ur benching

[stee]

i guess i know where you are comeing from. thats the main reason i havent bothered with them up untill now. i thought a little about it and i guess you can gauge the weight you are lifting both bottom and top end but yeh you dont knwo exactly what it is.

[cmillett]

You can still record your weight ,just weigh the damn things an use simple math.As far as training with them I can tell you from personal exp. that they work,just think for a minute if you train your bench every session with chains you will become accustom to the weight progressively getting heavier the further you press them so when you do max out(with out the chains)your muscle and mind are going to expect the weight to get heavier the further you press,but it won't.Like I said I know this from personal exp.I have been trainng with chains for a few years now,before I started powerlifting.

[stee]

so you saying its worth the investment then i take it lol

[hardgainer12]

well i work out in a damn family fitness center so.....u know the deal.

[stee]

yeah i see where ur coming from now

[Superhuman]

too much of a hasle to me... you could use resistance bands if you want to do it that bad

[cmillett]

If you have them use them its that simple,I bought mine from a local hardware store,that was alot cheaper than buying the one's you get on line,if I need more weight I can add more chains or loop plates on the chains.What is this I here to much of a hasle,if that is a hasle what is weight lifting?there are guys in my local gym that say the same thing and every time I bring MY CHAINS to the gym guess who ask's to use them,you got it.stee if you already have some or are looking to buy them consider the bands also,which ever you choose you can bet either one won't hurt your bench but you can bet your azz that they will better it.

[Headdress]

I know alot of football teams use chains. You can also have a spotter put Resistance at the top for a similar effect

[stee]

If you have them use them its that simple,I bought mine from a local hardware store,that was alot cheaper than buying the one's you get on line,if I need more weight I can add more chains or loop plates on the chains.What is this I here to much of a hasle,if that is a hasle what is weight lifting?there are guys in my local gym that say the same thing and every time I bring MY CHAINS to the gym guess who ask's to use them,you got it.stee if you already have some or are looking to buy them consider the bands also,which ever you choose you can bet either one won't hurt your bench but you can bet your azz that they will better it.

Yeah thats what i thought. I was thingking of just getting them from a hardware store like you said you did.
I cant see the sense in buying them for more of a price if you can make some your self for a fraction of the cost. thts why i thought it cant be a bad ida to get some.
its not like im gonna have some eejit ripping me off then is it.

[net]

we use chains at the high school i coacj football. it is great for explosion exercises such as bench and squat. we got it from difranco.

[Doc.Sust]

they are a bit of hassle and slightly expensive, but i bought hem for my own gym , and use them every now and then. bands are alot cheaper, more mobil,and work alot better since it increase the eccentric movement and adds more resistance to the concentric, . with chins, it doenst really addd to the eccentric, just more resistance to the concentric

[Velkar182]

Bands will make you insanely sore, so in my opinion, you don't want to use them for Max effort benching. Chains are awesome. You can string them up to your bar in a pile for lock outs and you can fold them over a couple of times and put them on your little chain that connects to the bar and they act in a similar way that bands do...as you press the bar gets heavier.

[mkrulic]

I just started using them. I like the idea. Lifting is mostly a head game imo. w/ bench for example, when your at the top of the range of motion you feel the full weight of the chains. this should be a weight that your head is uncomfortable w/. as you start to lower it gets lighter and you get a succesfull completion w/ something that felt heavy. Its all about getting your mind around a feel its uncomfortable w/.

[Doc.Sust]

I just started using them. I like the idea. Lifting is mostly a head game imo. w/ bench for example, when your at the top of the range of motion you feel the full weight of the chains. this should be a weight that your head is uncomfortable w/. as you start to lower it gets lighter and you get a succesfull completion w/ something that felt heavy. Its all about getting your mind around a feel its uncomfortable w/.

that is one benefot of chains, the other would be increasing resistance in the ROM ,getting heavier to acomodate where the strongest part of the press is,increasing upper end strength and lockout

[Squatman51]

how many years should you be training in powerlifting before you use chains? I read an interview with Chuck V and he said he was amazed that high school kids were using bands and they were not for beginners or intermediate lifters and he said to milk the barbell as long as you can for gains....would the same apply to chains???

[Doc.Sust]

how many years should you be training in powerlifting before you use chains? I read an interview with Chuck V and he said he was amazed that high school kids were using bands and they were not for beginners or intermediate lifters and he said to milk the barbell as long as you can for gains....would the same apply to chains???

i dont think there is a real time or ideal age to use or not to use chain, i say, if you have your form down, you can use chains or bands, i do see where chuck is coming from, but i also do see an advatage of using the newer styles of training earlier, it may increase you gains even quicker than anticipated.

[PowerHouse555]

Chains and Bands....I would highly recommend them if you are a serious competitive powerlifter. They greatly help with your speed to put it most simply and depending the gear (shirts & suits) one uses and your biomechenics (grip and stance) can help you even more. If not then save your money. Me personaly I train with them often

[RJstrong]

Chains and Bands....I would highly recommend them if you are a serious competitive powerlifter. They greatly help with your speed to put it most simply and depending the gear (shirts & suits) one uses and your biomechenics (grip and stance) can help you even more. If not then save your money. Me personaly I train with them often

gotta agree here... some of my best gains have been from using chains... and bands for that matter! simply put just a great way of generating better bar speed! I tend to use them for 3 week mini cycles... once you go back to a raw bar, trust me, weights just end up moving faster... a must have for any powerlifting arsenal IMO!

[RJstrong]

i wouldnt ever use em...but thats just me. i like to record the exact weight i use every workout so i can progress, and with chains u dont really know what ur benching

you should be more open minded... your missing a valuable strength tool.

[RJstrong]

i never really understood why they were needed/what they did, maybe for a little extra weight? i would rather add 5-10 lbs, imo

to help you generate more bar speed... it's physics: power = work/time... speed is essential. speed is the most dangerous weapon in any sport and this includes powerlifting.

[Doc.Sust]

to help you generate more bar speed... it's physics: power = work/time... speed is essential. speed is the most dangerous weapon in any sport and this includes powerlifting.

you got that right!

[powerliftmike]

they are a bit of hassle and slightly expensive, but i bought hem for my own gym , and use them every now and then. bands are alot cheaper, more mobil,and work alot better since it increase the eccentric movement and adds more resistance to the concentric, . with chins, it doenst really addd to the eccentric, just more resistance to the concentric

Exactly. I use bands myself. dont mess with chains. not that they are bad or anything, just too much trouble and cost for me, ha. Just dont use bands every week cause they put alot of stress on the CNS and are hard on the joints.

[Kärnfysikern]

I LOVE chains. Close grip bench with chains is just about my all time favorite exercise. I like to deadlift with chains aswell but its a hazzle to get the chains to stay put on the bar.

Heck I love using chains on nosebreakers aswell. Nothing hits my triceps as good as chained nosebreakers.

Unfortunaly I dont have any chains anymore and Im not allowed to bring chains into the gym I train at now

Doc or mike where can I get ahold of bands for a decent price?? I have never tried bands.

[Doc.Sust]

google "woody's bands" or check out www.elitefts.com