Band Tension

[Matthew White]

I've got monster minis (dark purple), lights (light purple), and averages (light greenish) from westside barbell. Now I've used the monster minis a few times before. But just for my own knowledge, does anyone know what the average ration is for using these bands for bench, squat, and deadlifting? (I know because of my size the ratios will be a little more but I'm just trying to get an idea of what I'm dealing with) If there is a website that tells these ratios please link.

(I've read all through Louie's articles and come up with hits and misses but no real numbers for all)

[Aaron West]

Here you go:
http://www.elitefts.com/articles/art...aq/default.asp

[Easton Taylor]

Around your waist, not over your head! Wedgie boy!

[Chris Hartschuh]

I found one for doubled bands.

http://rapidshare.com/files/30970747...sions.pdf.html

My gym owner had measured the tension for pulling against bands and for me at 5'6" and about 27" from the floor here's what I had:

Mini Bands: ~190 @ lockout
Monster Mini: ~240 @ lockout
Light Bands: ~300+ @ lockout

[Matthew White]

Chris, that's a pay for site for me to download that. ;( But thanks anyway. However, if your lights are 300+ lockout at 5'6", I can't even imagine what they would be for me, if they even stretch that for. As for the averages,..........not even trying to fathom that amount of difference. I probably couldn't lock out an empty bar with doubled over averages.

Aaron, good lookin out, that's good stuff.

[Craig Pfisterer]

It really depends on how you set up the bands. The stuff from Elitefts is a good place to start but if you want to know specific tensions, you'll need to measure them out yourself. One way is rig up the bands with just the bar and stand on a scale to see how much they are pulling. That's probably not the best option for anyone over 200lbs using crappy weight scales so the other option is to measure the length of the bands at the bottom of the lift and the length at the top of the lift. Then rig the bands in the same set up suspended from something (like a power rack) and see how much weight it takes stretch the bands to those lengths. We're pretty close in height so some of my band tension stuff might be similar to what you'd be using. Say for overhead presses with the bands clinched around a dumbbell on each side:

A pair of minis - 55lbs of tension at top
A pair of monster minis - 100lbs of tension at top
A pair of lights - 140lbs of tension at top

[Chris Hartschuh]

Originally Posted by Matthew White

Chris, that's a pay for site for me to download that. ;( But thanks anyway. However, if your lights are 300+ lockout at 5'6", I can't even imagine what they would be for me, if they even stretch that for. As for the averages,..........not even trying to fathom that amount of difference. I probably couldn't lock out an empty bar with doubled over averages.

Aaron, good lookin out, that's good stuff.

Dang, sorry, I thought it was free. The lights that are 300+ is when they're quaded, which is doubled, then doubled again on a makeshift JumpStretch Deadlift Platform. If they're just choked light Craig said, it's close to what Elite has.

[Matthew White]

Phew, I thought I was a wussbot for a second. ;p I never thought about quading a band, probably should avoid that for working on single ply gear though.

[Chris Hartschuh]

Originally Posted by Matthew White

Phew, I thought I was a wussbot for a second. ;p I never thought about quading a band, probably should avoid that for working on single ply gear though.

Eh, it's not too bad. I usually don't use more than a Monster Mini though when I quad the bands. I pull raw and haven't noticed too much of a problem other than it's hard as hell to stand erect with that much band tension.

[Craig Pfisterer]

Since you're about my height (6'7"), you won't be needing anything over minis for quaded bands on deads as a pair of those suckers will be 315lbs at lockout.