Stupid Questions Thread

[5hout]

]Having given bent over rows the ole college try I've decided I hate them. I'm thinking of taking some time this weekend and building or retrofitting a bench in my garage to do rows off a bench. From googling I've seen that people do variations of this.

1: Is the back angle particularly important? i.e. does doing this parallel to the ground (vs a 45 degree angle) matter? To me it seems that I should match the ideal angle of a bent over row, so maybe 5-10% grade.

2: When construction such a contraption does anyone think there is an un-met need for front shoulder support? (i.e. front bench 100 in attached image).

3: Should I include some form of leg support 110a, 110b (in the alternative embodiment shown in 110b it is understood the length of the bench is sufficient to enable an average person to have the nipples touching one end and the knees somewhere within a few inches of the support)? In the alternative I could retrofit a reverse hyper onto this in the spring

[Testiclaw]

...just get a small cambered bar and use a bench.

[5hout]

I did not realize those existed, will have to measure things and see if that will work with my crap weider bench (replacement budgeted for next winter).

However, this all worked out. The prospect of this project motivated me to reorganize my lifting are and my bench is now level (before the right side was 1/3rd of an inch higher +/- a bit). I now have a DL platform. Before I DL'd out of my squat rack. Required either squatting off the DL platform, only ran to half a foot from under the pins so the front half of the foot was off the platform or shimmed with a random piece of wood (very fun at 365+). My DL bar lived rolled to the back of the squat rack loaded to 135 (don't fall!), now it has it's own space. And a piece of stout wood is fixed between the framing, preventing a lifter that falls backwards landing on rusty nails sticking out of the wall. It's practically a real setup now!

[AlanMackey]

...just get a small cambered bar and use a bench.

No need. Check this out:

[Testiclaw]

...just get a small cambered bar and use a bench.

No need. Check this out:

Ooooooh, I like this.

[5hout]

Those are very cool, and help cut-down on large equipment proliferation

[Wilhelm]

How exactly...?

Those look like they would fit the sleeves, but maybe not be able to pass over the collars.
Snatch grip chest supported rows?

Or am i completely not getting something?

If they were on the bar itself, might need to use some cloth to keep the knurl from wearing them out.

[mbasic]

...just get a small cambered bar and use a bench.

No need. Check this out:

I'll have to think about it more, but that ^ only solves half the problem.

Sure helps a straight bar clear the bottom of the bench.
But the not the plates being on the ground.....you're gonna start off in a "half-rowed" position.
Unless you the the bench up on some pretty high blocks/bumper plate stacks.

[5hout]

I'll have to think about it more, but that ^ only solves half the problem.

Sure helps a straight bar clear the bottom of the bench.
But the not the plates being on the ground.....you're gonna start off in a "half-rowed" position.
Unless you the the bench up on some pretty high blocks/bumper plate stacks.

Mostly agree, however my 1 piece weider bench would be annoying to row off of, so going to hop up onto a woodshop bench I built and use these or something similar. No angle to it, but the bench is narrow (I think, if not I'll be quickly trimming it to work) for these to combo with it perfectly. It's also about waist-ish high off the ground.

[mbasic]

How exactly...?

Those look like they would fit the sleeves, but maybe not be able to pass over the collars.
Snatch grip chest supported rows?

Or am i completely not getting something?

If they were on the bar itself, might need to use some cloth to keep the knurl from wearing them out.

i think they're in two halves and the strap cinches them together around the bar shaft....

[AlanMackey]

...just get a small cambered bar and use a bench.

No need. Check this out:

I'll have to think about it more, but that ^ only solves half the problem.

Sure helps a straight bar clear the bottom of the bench.
But the not the plates being on the ground.....you're gonna start off in a "half-rowed" position.
Unless you the the bench up on some pretty high blocks/bumper plate stacks.

True that.

But, how about using the contraption I recommended while doing incline bench (chest supported) rows. It's a nice blend of shrugs and rows.

[mbasic]

But, how about using the contraption I recommended while doing incline bench (chest supported) rows. It's a nice blend of shrugs and rows.

n=1; I have my son do these ^ but with a dumbbell in each hand for the bench clearance problem. I like.
I didn't like how he was doing a one-armed dumbbell row thing (knee & off-hand resting on the bench).
I like these: can't cheat as far as dipping down to meet the weight ... but you can actively arch your back a bit.

that cartoon figure has a great ass

[exape]

I would focus on horizontal row variations and curl variations if I the goal was a big back with big arms over any kind of vertical pull, to be honest.

I've found that seated rows feel like hell on my shoulders unless I use a super low weight that feels like I'm doing nothing. And barbell rows deteriorate into a Rip-like row at the end of workouts. Which row variation do you think is most effective for buidling a big back?

[Testiclaw]

I would focus on horizontal row variations and curl variations if I the goal was a big back with big arms over any kind of vertical pull, to be honest.

I've found that seated rows feel like hell on my shoulders unless I use a super low weight that feels like I'm doing nothing. And barbell rows deteriorate into a Rip-like row at the end of workouts. Which row variation do you think is most effective for buidling a big back?

Heavy one-arm DB rows with some cheating.

Strict incline DB rows prone on a bench, ending every set with kelso shrugs.

[ChasingCurls69]

What are kelso shrugs?

[AlanMackey]

Do any of you like Kirk (Karwoski) rows?

[Testiclaw]

What are kelso shrugs?

Any shrug that isn't done standing up/vertical.

So if you're doing incline DB rows, prone on a bench, you finish with shrugs pinching the shoulders back rather than elevating them up.

[hoyeahtop]

Just a question out of curiosity:

What’s the biggest dumbbell you’ve ever rowed?

Also what’s the biggest dumbbell you’ve ever goblet squatted?

[AlanMackey]

Just a question out of curiosity:

What’s the biggest dumbbell you’ve ever rowed?

40 kg. dumbbell.

Also what’s the biggest dumbbell you’ve ever goblet squatted?

Not dumbbell. but I front squatted a pair of 48 KBs. Hard as fuck.

[Testiclaw]

Just a question out of curiosity:

What’s the biggest dumbbell you’ve ever rowed?

Also what’s the biggest dumbbell you’ve ever goblet squatted?

Heaviest DB rows were 175lbs, but it was a lot of "full body quiver".

Heaviest "good" ones were 115's, no straps.

I don't think I've ever goblet squatted more than 50lbs...never used it as anything other than a warm-up thingy.