[Mydivorcegift]

Originally Posted by RGRCamaro

I see your point. Just me personally, while it might help keep better "form" your muscles are also being handicapped by a device, so therefore while you are maintaining better "Form" your supplemental muscles and joints are not being strengthed at the same rate as your main movers are, in this case, your chest is growing at a faster rate than your shoulders, back, and elbows as a result of those muscles/joints being aided.

This is not a problem if you plan on wearing a bench shirt EVERY lift, but if you try to lift without one, you will notice much more instability at higher lifts.

I am not familiar with Hidekai, but, I can assure you that he could have lifted just as long without a bench shirt, granted he did not sacrifice his form too much when going heavier.

This is a generality though, guys like Ronnie Coleman at 300lb contest weights are going to have bad joints no matter what just from the sheer weight they carry.

Now, if you do lift with a bench shirt, then remember to focus on the supplementals without one also, then you SHOULD be fine. I would just rather my entire body grow at the same rate simulataneously without handicapping.

Have you ever lifted "in gear" for any period of time? Meaning years? I take it from your first two paragraphs the answer is no. I have....for over 20 years. And those that have still grow (this too as you would say is a generality....Hidekai lifted in the 123lb weight class his entire career but he'd be an exception not a rule)....I've gone from the 132lb weight class to the 198lb weight class over those years.