Can you use a standard barbell in a power rack? I'm just wondering if a standard barbell is wide enough, when loaded with plates, to make use of the saftety spotter. Also, how exactly does the safety spotter work? I'm having a hard time conceptualizing how it could protect you in the event of failure without hindering your range of motion during a normal workout.

I didn't see any replies to this, so I though I'd give it a whack.

Using John's photos of his power rack for discussion

http://johnstonefitness.com/html/homegym.html

specifically this photo

http://johnstonefitness.com/html/rack_front.html

In this photo, the barbell is resting on supports high up. These supports are just there so you can lift-off the bar from a high position (similar to how you would off a more ordinary bench). The important bars (I'll call them catch bars, I don't know the technical term) look like long pins on this particular rack and run from the front of it to the back (they are shiny silver and are angled such that they are going INTO the picture).

You can see that if you were to drop that barbell right now, it would fall until it was caught by those two catch bars. This is how power racks keep you safe.

If you were benching, you would set the catch bars to some height above your chest. Now no matter how you fail to bench the weight, the bar will be stopped before it sits on you. So you have full range of motion since you are not intentionally lowering the weight enough to crush yourself.

Being trapped under a heavy bar can be anything from unconfortable and embarassing to outright deadly. That's why you always want a human spotter available. By providing sturdy metal supports that don't get distracted or get tired, a power rack adds a significant amount of safety to your workout.

For exercises like squats, you would set the catch bars to just lower than you intend to go down to while squatting. Again, if you cannot lift the weight back up -- you can just keep going down and get out from under the weight safely.

In both cases the rack allows you to push yourself without having the concern of being stuck and not being able to move the weight off of you.

While I have read of people using standard weight bars in a power rack, you will need a standard bar that is long enough that it will go over the catch bars on both sides by a comfortable margin -- this way even if you twist a little when you fail during an exercise there will still be plenty of bar landing on the catch bars.

Olympic bars (the ones I've seen) tend to be 7' or more long. Not all standard bars are this long. Olympic bars also often have fatter diameter grips, which can make them not feel so much like they are cutting through your hands (providing your hands are large enough to use them comfortably).

When I was a kid I had a cheap very wobbly bench and cheap weights and I remember getting caught under the bar just once (my mom wasn't going to spot me, so I was benching alone -- very unsafe!). I had to roll the bar down my chest to my legs so I could sit up and get it off me. Hurt my stomach a bit from the pressure. Fortunately, I wasn't able to bench too much at the time so I didn't kill myself.

I personally think power racks are the way to go -- even if you have a human spotter they still provide an extra measure of protection.

If you don't have a spotter they are a safety oriented essential.

...and that's my thoughts on it

Whoa, thanks for taking the time to write all of that out, MYOB :)

So, considering a standard barbell in a rack isn't such a great combo, how about getting rid of the rack? ;)

I'm thinking if I get a couple of these squat stands with the safety spotter attachments, I could position them close enough together for a standard barbell.

Squat stands
http://www.imageshack.us/files1/NL-SSR.jpg

Safety spotter attachment
http://www.imageshack.us/files1/NL-ASPO.jpg

Safety spotter attachment

:eek:
I already have a walk-in squat machine and was wondering if you could tell me where you found the spotter attachments and how much they cost? I did a search and I could only come up with the Tuff Stuff brand, which is around $130. If those other ones are also over $100, then it might be best to invest in a power rack. Thanks.

:eek:
I already have a walk-in squat machine and was wondering if you could tell me where you found the spotter attachments and how much they cost? I did a search and I could only come up with the Tuff Stuff brand, which is around $130. If those other ones are also over $100, then it might be best to invest in a power rack. Thanks.
www.nlfit.com

They don't have prices listed, but you can find places selling their stuff on the net.