Why does this feel so shit? I'd always thought this has to be a fantastic row variant but my gym got the machine recently and I just hate it. Impossible to grind on and it feels weird in a way I can't put my finger on.Do you guys like it?
I have one in my home gym aka shed. I mention this because I sometimes think I should have got a chest supported t bar instead, but I went with the bench row because I have bumper plates and the t bar rows I could afford had a fairly short sleeve. Also it was cheaper. I like that it supports your chest (but there's other ways of doing that), I like that it's harder to cheat (but also, you can just not cheat), I like that it's probably the best gauge of upper pulling strength (i think if there was an upper pull in powerlifting, it would be this) and of course I like that I can just use my barbell with two collars to distribute the weight. But probably what you don't like about it / impossible to grind on is that it gets harder at the top, whereas if you have a t bar row set up it's heavier at the bottom and easier at the top, which is probably what you want. I'm not a gym science guy but a heavy stretch then an easier contraction makes sense to me. Also, you could use resistance bands to up the resistance at the top if you were so inclined I think the best way to use it is to row with max power so you slam the bar into the bench. then, when you run out of steam, rep out but don't worry about the rom. Maybe do some kelso shrugs too.
>>77555048My gym has a dogshit precor T bar row that is the hardest at the top so it's not that I think. But I think you're right in that the resistance profile is the issue. I don't like movements that are piss easy for 80% of the ROM and then suddenly get hard. When I did the seal row it feels like nothing till I get near the end of the ROM. Since you can't grind it it feels like I do 7 reps that are easy and then on the 8th one I'm suddenly at failure. So I guess it's just a psychological thing in that sense maybe.
>>77555019I dont know what else it does that a decent chest supported row machine can't
>>77555088This might just be me being a pussy, but at least with the chest supported row machine my gym has if you go heavy it is quite a lot of pressure on your torso. With the seal row the weight is more evenly distributed since your entire body almost is in contact with the pad. So it feels less crushing in that sense. But I don't really think it does anything much beyond that. It's also annoying as fuck hitting the bottom of the bench with the bar.
>>77555019i think it's because lats originate on pelvis and there is nothing holding it from tilting forward and the posterior chain is broken that and you're supporting yourself on ribs which are not designed to take such load
>>77555019Are you using a cambered bar?
>>77555019I do this on 45 degrees and with dumbells and it feels ok
