Hi guys, Im using size 46 single ply F6 in training now, now this shirt is very lose i weigh 94kg now, i wore this at over 100kg where at the time needed 170kg just to touch to chest, even then the shirt still wasnt super tight on me.
Now I can still lift reasonable amount of weight, I touch easy with 140, and worked to 160 for a comfortable double, the 180kg for 3 to 3 board. My best in a tight shirt was 180 for 3 to 3 board, and 185kg to chest. Now the lose shirt has taught me a lot more, I know metal militia say lose shirts can do this.
I noticed when I bring the bar very fast which I can do in a lose shirt, the bar comes up fast too, in a very tight shirt I take too long on the descent, but when I get a tighter shirt I now know bringing the bar down fast as possible is the best way to lift more weight in comp.
Mike, do you feel there are disadvantages with using a lose shirt? for example, you cant handle as much weight, or you cannot handle more weight to a 3 board in the shirt, because you have less of a spring at the bottom.?
p.s. anyone can answer the question :)
-- Edited by jamwithtupac on Sunday 2nd of August 2009 12:59:00 PM
I've used large shirts for the past 2 years. I am in the 110k class and I wore a stock 50, even throughout the IPF Bench Worlds. In that time I went from 518 to 640 (in training). A looser shirt does teach you alot about pressing and touching lighter weights (which are extremely important when training your equipped bench).
I do not feel that there are many disadvantages to using a looser shirt. They are great for training in...touching lighter weights...and keeping around for when you go up a weight class.
I remember when I first started powerlifting. I got the competition fit shirts. For my first 4 contests, I didn't get 10lbs out of them. Then I decided that if I wasn't going to get any carryover, I might as well be comfortable doing it, so I went up a size or two. Sure enough, my equipped bench press went up. I was able to stay more tight than I was in the smaller shirt.
I am just now going through the process of training in a 48 instead of a 50 and with all that practice in looser shirts, I am able to handle/control weights well enough in the 48.
I wouldn't worry about what you can three board in a shirt. Just worry about touch a lighter weight lower and lower to your chest. If you can't touch, just push the weight back up. You are better off trying to go full range.
A tighter shirt won't guarantee that you'll be able to lift more either. You still have to lock the weights out.
