Negative Sets! Good or Bad??

[mmuscle]

Negative Sets. Are they Good or Bad?

Generally Negative sets are performed in the same manner as any other sets, except that for in negative sets the emphasis is placed on controlling the weight as it is (very slowly) lowered. The benefit of performing this type of exercise is said to be that it makes it very difficult to cheat and each exercise is forced to work the intended muscle or muscle group to exhaustion.

I have tried negative sets myself off and on and seen some reasonable results. I also know a few other people that have also seen some benefits from them.

What do you guys think about this type of exercise? Good or Bad????

Cheers!!

mmuscle

http://www.makemuscle.net

[Klinger]

I know a trainer at my Y who swears by negativess and burnouts. I don't particularly like either, but he has helped more than one of his trainees bust plateaus on the bench with these variations.

Physiologically, I don't think I understand how these help overall strength. My best guess is it has to do with adaptation: getting the body used to more weight than it thinks it can handle.

[Lift2Live]

I think they are fine in moderation. Just to change things up and add a few here and there is a great way to further fatigue the muscle(s). I use em a couple times a week in the case(s) that I didn't feel I completely wore out the muscle. It's personal preference though, I am not so sure of how much more they help hypertrophy.

[luke.w]

I use negatives on my overhead work now, I take a weight that I can't press and "jerk" it overhead and do a slow neg. it feels effective right now.

[Vas85]

I don't know how good Negative sets would be, they might have some application, but i think unless you can do sets were you are just doing the Positive part for say a Month, and then do sets were you are just doing the negative for another month, but this is all impossible to do, that would be the only way you would know which is better.

[Gooseneck]

I think negatives are very valuable especially on your heavy lifts like benchpress. I know my max shot up a couple years ago after I started doing them.

[Blaze]

I never throw them into my sets purposely. Usually what will happen is say I'm doing 4x5
and on the last two reps of my fourth set I just can't get the weight up anymore. Well then I'll simply do those last two reps with negative lifts, and perhaps up the weight. That's just what I do anyway

[Cort]

Originally Posted by Blaze

I never throw them into my sets purposely. Usually what will happen is say I'm doing 4x5
and on the last two reps of my fourth set I just can't get the weight up anymore. Well then I'll simply do those last two reps with negative lifts, and perhaps up the weight. That's just what I do anyway

Isn't that just going to failure? Upping the weight after you can't move the lighter weight anymore seems weird though...

[Blaze]

It does seem wierd. And honestly, I've only upped the weight for a negative lift once. But even though it is technically "going to failure", I feel like kicking myself for not getting the desired reps in. So I just do negatives to make me a feel a lil btter

[buff151]

If you can't lift the weight by yourself you should not be lifting it at all.

[Lift2Live]

Originally Posted by buff151

If you can't lift the weight by yourself you should not be lifting it at all.

That is completely silly. A good spotter/lifting partner is not only a safe plan but will make all of your lifts better and you'll bust through weight like nobodys biddness.

[luke.w]

I agree "lift" those methods must be apllied the right way though.

[mmuscle]

Cheers fellas - Again good advise from all!!! :

[Blaze]

Originally Posted by Lift2Live

That is completely silly. A good spotter/lifting partner is not only a safe plan but will make all of your lifts better and you'll bust through weight like nobodys biddness.

That's so true. Without a spotter, no one would progress in weight. Not only would you never work to failure without one, but you'd never max properly either. And if you did, it wuld be exteremly dangerous.

[Todd]

I don't think negative sets are necessary, and that's why I personally do not do them.