Mark Bell's Slingshot

[Wunderpus]

Friends, I come to you as a humbled and devastated man... My flat bench is largely stagnant... My incline is actually STRONGER than my flat now... Flat DB's are SLOWLY increasing in weight, but my gym only has 140's...

Anywho, I saw a guy using this slingshot contraption yesterday on the bench. I've seen it used before, but truth be told, always by people who looked like amateurs wanting cool gadgets... He was the exception, I know he's a very intelligent and successful lifter and competitor...

Who has used this thing? Thoughts on it? Mark Bell is a respectable guy, I am curious to see what you guys think!

https://www.howmuchyabench.net/

 

[ickyrica]

Get one dude.

@Perrin Aybara
@RodgerThat @insaiyan93

 

[Wunderpus]

Get one dude.

@Perrin Aybara
@RodgerThat @insaiyan93

I'm ready... Just awaiting a bit more feedback! Protein and lifting gear soon-to-be en route!

 

[JC456]

IME it's decent for:

• Keeping you in a power groove, meaning elbows tight and locked in.
• Overloading the movement. Useful if you have stability issues under heavy weight.
• Simply for variation. Done as an assistance lift in its own right. Usually circa 10%+, always paused.
• Rehab.

It's not the be all and all, or even essential but it's fine. I have the original, the blue and the black. Can't even remember the last time I used them.

 

[EazyDuzIt]

I own one - imo it’s worth it, really helps strengthen the bottom half of the bench and even helps “critique form” since the shit is so tight.. also allows you to use heavier weight and make yourself comfortable with bigger numbers.. if used correctly, can be a good tool to help increase your bench.

 

[Wunderpus]

Thanks guys, it'll be here thursday

 

[Perrin Aybara]

Using it in my routine helped me finally hit 405lbs earlier this year. At that time I was doing slingshot bench for 5x5 or 5x3 on Monday, then comp bench and one arm dumbbell press on Wednesday with high rep bodyweight dips on Saturday. I like that you can use heavier loads through a full ROM. Makes the heavier weight less shocking to you.

The yellow one would probably suit you better than the red one. I have the yellow.

 

[JC456]

I think even Sheiko has worked the Slingshot into some of his recent cycles. So that should speak volumes.

 

[Wunderpus]

Using it in my routine helped me finally hit 405lbs earlier this year. At that time I was doing slingshot bench for 5x5 or 5x3 on Monday, then comp bench and one arm dumbbell press on Wednesday with high rep bodyweight dips on Saturday. I like that you can use heavier loads through a full ROM. Makes the heavier weight less shocking to you.

The yellow one would probably suit you better than the red one. I have the yellow.

Shit, I bought the red. If it doesn't fit, I'll send it back... I went with Amazon for this reason.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

I think even Sheiko has worked the Slingshot into some of his recent cycles. So that should speak volumes.

It fits in with any routine that would use bands, chains, board press, etc. Easier to set up for that any of those, too.

Shit, I bought the red. If it doesn't fit, I'll send it back... I went with Amazon for this reason.

Looks like the red one is pretty close to the yellow, the yellow just adds 5% more. I think we have similar bodyweight and flat bench numbers is why I was saying it. The yellow claims 10-20% and red 10-15%. I really like Slingshot products, but I find their claims are on the high side when it comes to that. 10% is about what I get out of the yellow one.

Just make sure it's snug and check out the video on how to put it on.

 

[Dw725]

We got one and I started using it Monday **edit: Sunday**

All I can really say right now , is I feel good about it.

I worked up to 425 for an easy rep and I'm mainly liking how it's gonna help get comfortable handling that kind of weight.

I can't explain it, but I've been stuck at 395 for a year and I know it's some sort of mental block that has prevented me from benching 405. I know I've had it in the tank for a while now, but my mind fucks with me when that bar starts bending.

 

[Docd187123]

If I am dreaming, please let me sleep and don't wake me up. Wunder posting in the powerlifting forum????? I think my most erotic dream has cum true

 

[Wunderpus]

If I am dreaming, please let me sleep and don't wake me up. Wunder posting in the powerlifting forum????? I think my most erotic dream has cum true

Brah, worse yet, I've been doing a push, pull & legs split lately... Obviously somewhat routed in PL'ing, with some more hypertrophy related exercises too. I'm trying to increase overall strength before going back to a hypertrophy (mostly) themed program.... Ideally heavier weight + more reps will yield more muscle tissue... Weeeee shall see. I'm actually enjoying it, I feel like things like RPE and shit are a whole new world for me.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

We got one and I started using it Monday **edit: Sunday**

All I can really say right now , is I feel good about it.

I worked up to 425 for an easy rep and I'm mainly liking how it's gonna help get comfortable handling that kind of weight.

I can't explain it, but I've been stuck at 395 for a year and I know it's some sort of mental block that has prevented me from benching 405. I know I've had it in the tank for a while now, but my mind fucks with me when that bar starts bending.

That was my experience with it. I'd been stuck around 370 for a year and soon after hitting a slingshot single with 405 and doing reps around 365 with it I hit 405 raw. Definitely a mental aspect to heavy singles. If you unrack it and you're thinking, "holy fuck" you're pretty well screwed. Handle it with the slingshot a few times and it's not so shocking.

 

[insaiyan93]

Only used mine once so far, and i think everything has been covered but just my observations..

It allows you to handle more weight definitely.
Gives you some extra "pop" from the bottom half of the lift but the top part is still mostly using your own strength so it isn't doing all the work, just allowing younto overload a bit.

The interesting thing for me was the effect on my body for my sets of tempo bench after slingshot bench. Having my body used to holding that much weight and then going into my regular bench it made my back down sets feel much lighter than they actually were so the 185 i was using felt a lot closer to 155.

 

[DocGreen]

We have one at our PL gym. And I think one for doing squats too

 

[ickyrica]

Great tool for the French press, just ask @Seven Dog lol

 

[franchise24]

Great tool to be used as an accessory to your regular bench or any variation. Especially close grip to grow those Tris, especially if you bench with what some would consider closer than normal grip.

If you have huge arms the yellow sling shot which I believe is the full boar will be a little easier to get on since the sleeves or holes are angled.

 

[Evom1]

I have the blue one, and I'd definitely recommend going heavier. I'm a bodybuilder, not a powerlifter but the idea for me was to push a bit past failure and it helps me do that. I'll use it for the last 1-2 sets and I'll usually get a couple extra reps with it. For reference I think one time I got 315x5 raw, then with the blue sling shot got it for 6 or 7. So for a powerlifter red or yellow for sure

 

[Wunderpus]

I'll keep you guys updated with the sizing and my results from it... I am curious for sure.