To those who have a slingshot, do you find it worth the investment over doing floor presses? Can’t decide if I want to spend $55 over doing floor presses for free. Thanks
I’m just transitioning training blocks from slingshot to floor press. I’m always sad about this. I like slingshot bench a lot better. The sadness is canceled out by switching rack pulls for pause deadlifts and increased benching. To clarify, I can’t quantify if one is better than the other for me, I would just rather slingshot bench if pressed to choose.
A slingshot bench and a floor press are different movements. Similar, but not the same. Slingshot runs sales all the time, you can save some on that.
What this guy said:
Slingshot is an overload exercise, unlike the floor press.
Get a slingshot reactive if you bench less than 3plates. Once you hit 140kg and above, sell the reactive (I doubt it will be particularly worn down considering how little you used it due to programming), and get a Classic Slingshot (red) or a Titan Ram.
what’s the difference between the reactive and regular sling shot? benching 215 right now working on getting a slingshot
The original allows you another 5% or so over your max versus the reactive. I remember when I grabbed my original it said best for loads over 315, but the most I’ve done on it I think was 285/290 for sets of 4 and it was fine. They aren’t prohibitively expensive so you could go reactive and upgrade in the future.
You can loop an exercise band in a figure eight around your arms and across your chest for a ghetto version if you dont want to part with the $55. The more twists, the more resistance.
Beware if you’re the hairy chested type and enjoy training shirtless however…
get reactive until you can bench 3 plates.
After that, sell it off and buy a classic slingshot or a titan RAM.
I have a slingshot and I love it. It is a great confidence booster as it allows you to lift more than you ever could without it. In addition, it helps to train you to keep your elbows tucked in closer to your body if that is something you struggle with as I do. I have also found it to feel safer than the floor press. A heavy slingshot bench done with a spotter, or in a rack, will always be safer than a heavy floor press which could lead to missing teeth. To be honest $ for $ it is one of the best accessories I have purchased.
I can only bench two plates raw, and the reactive (blue) was sold out in my size most places I looked so I just got the original red one. Don’t think it matters too much, especially if you will get to the point where you’ll want the red anyway? I mean I feel like I’m overloading to the point where it’s cheating but don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing.
When do you guys use it ? After comp bench for a few extra sets or on an alternative day ? I have the blue one but have yet to use it as I am not yet far enough along in my current cycle to use it , I’m only handling 73% this week / 75% next
There is some BBM program that clearly prescribes slingshot bench - so thats when i’d use it.
IIRC is 12wkst?
Yeah that’s why I wanted one