Post: #1

I'm kind of joking, but my track coach back in high school had us weight training and told us never to use the manta ray for two reasons:
1) Girls like the crease in your back/traps that the bar gives you over time and
2) You look like a bitch when you use it

Now I'm pretty sure #1 is bullshit and both are pretty garbage reasons, but the last time I squatted I said fuck it and used it. If anyone doesn't know what I'm talking about, here's a picture:



An article on bodybuilding.com the other day had some good things to say

Quote: The Manta Ray effectively distributes the entire load of the bar over a much larger area of the body than you get with just the bar alone. It works for the same reason that a person wearing snowshoes can walk easily where a person without snowshoes will sink down into the snow: increased surface area. I've found the unique shape of the Manta Ray to be very well-constructed for this purpose.

The article also goes on to talk about the increase in stability, which allows you to maintain better form and decrease the risk of injury. As someone who had a pretty bad lower back injury from squatting about half a year ago, this might be beneficial. But maybe I'm just not using my core effectively?

Clearly I'm not an expert or else I wouldn't be asking this. But is there any reason to use the manta ray that can't be refuted by saying "no pain, no gain?"

Post: #2

Yes.

Mainly because you can't properly position it on the correct spot. If it's not on the correct spot the form isn't the same.

You also can't feel the bar as well because the weight load spreads out and isn't on your quite as directly.

And your track coach was right. It makes you look like a bitch.

Post: #3

Don't ever use any of the dumb lift assist products out there. If you can't squat without it, you sure as hell can't squat with it.

Nothing against you younggun, this is more of a rant against the inexperienced guys I see around the gym screwing up their lifts.

If you can't squat 225, don't try to swat 225. No product is going to help you.

Fix your form. I'm almost certain every normal guy can squat 135 with good form. If not, those guys can put on 25lb plates and do 95. 10 good reps are better than 3 bad ones.

Moral of the story: you can't buy good form. Put on a comfortable weight and learn your form. Only then can you increase the weight. Pussies use gloves, grip-assists, and whatever this manta ray product is.

Post: #4

I'm old cause I thought...


   

You guys decide which is..

Post: #5

Dont do it brah.

Post: #6

For a moment I thought we were getting an ocean going version of the infamous Zebra thread...

Post: #7

Saw a guy use that thing at my gym the other day... He was squatting under 100 pounds

Post: #8

It looks like some kind of feminine hygiene device. The logo even looks like a uterus.

Post: #9

(06-02-2016 07:54 PM)wi30 Wrote:  Don't ever use any of the dumb lift assist products out there. If you can't squat without it, you sure as hell can't squat with it.

Nothing against you younggun, this is more of a rant against the inexperienced guys I see around the gym screwing up their lifts.

If you can't squat 225, don't try to swat 225. No product is going to help you.

Fix your form. I'm almost certain every normal guy can squat 135 with good form. If not, those guys can put on 25lb plates and do 95. 10 good reps are better than 3 bad ones.

Moral of the story: you can't buy good form. Put on a comfortable weight and learn your form. Only then can you increase the weight. Pussies use gloves, grip-assists, and whatever this manta ray product is.

Thanks for the reply. After reading the first couple replies to this post I went to the gym and squatted 195 with a flat bar, no lift-assist product. I weigh about 165-170 so I obviously still have a long way to go.

There's just so much information on the internet especially about bodybuilding that articles begin to contradict each other constantly. I've been looking for a solution to my lower back problems and I might have found it today. Bringing my hips backwards (hinging they call it) as opposed to bringing them straight down. The motion felt more natural and I can't imagine how much of an idiot I looked like before.

Post: #10

Steve Irwin used one and look how it turned out for him.

Post: #11

Nice work younggun. I had a high school coach tell me that my ass should look I'm about to back up and put the weight rack in it (I was standing between squat racks). I've never forgotten that comment and usually chuckle to my self every time I squat.

Post: #12

Use high-bar form and a belt if you have lower back problems.

If your form is good you should not use your back much. Low bar squats do put more tension on the back...you are likley using that technique.

Only frail newbies or dudes with serious injuries (like a complete reconstruct of something) should use assist products.

Post: #13

I've only used a bar pad one time...when I had a killer sunburn on my shoulders and back and I couldn't put the bar directly on my traps. That was one time. I've never even seen this IUD-thing shown in your post.

Afterwards, I flogged myself for an hour as penance.

Post: #14

(06-04-2016 06:58 AM)kosko Wrote:  Use high-bar form and a belt if you have lower back problems.

If your form is good you should not use your back much. Low bar squats do put more tension on the back...you are likley using that technique.

Only frail newbies or dudes with serious injuries (like a complete reconstruct of something) should use assist products.

^This. And find a primary resource to learn squat technique. There are various styles of squats and you can't always mix and match what one guy says with what another guy says.

Alan Thrall has an introduction to squats which is a good place to start:

Post: #15

I remember one of those things floating around my high school weight room back in the day. Just in terms of stability I thought the bare bar was far superior to the manta ray. The manta ray seemed to wobble a bit when you stacked the weight on.