Equipment Opinion: Manta Ray & Sting Ray

[vealboy]

I was at Galyan's last night and I saw this thing, the Manta Ray, a device to help make squats less painful. What do you guys and gals think of these?

Manta Ray:
http://www.adfit.com/mantaray/images/Bar-b4-web-large.jpg http://www.adfit.com/images/dougohed.jpg


Sting Ray:
http://www.adfit.com/images/StingStmb.gif http://www.adfit.com/images/stingt-tmb.gif

[MansonOzz]

Read (http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=workout&Number=369104&Foru m=f11,f13&Words=mantaray&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Mai n=369104&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=&daterange =0&newerval=1&newertype=m&olderval=&oldertype=&bod yprev=#Post369104)

these (http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=595440&page=&view=&sb=5&o =&fpart=1&vc=1)

threads (http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=workout&Number=651842&Foru m=f11,f13&Words=mantaray&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Mai n=649559&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=&daterange =0&newerval=1&newertype=m&olderval=&oldertype=&bod yprev=#Post651842)

[vealboy]

Thanks for the threads MO. I read them and I got the idea now. Bar on neck = BAD Bar on traps and shoulders = GOOD. I appreciate you digging up these old threads, I guess I should have searched better before posting. These things reminded me of any sort of miracle device you might see on a late night infomercial, but it seemed to make sense just by looking at them.

[Shred]

I've used it for a while and it is helpfull, plus I no longer get marks across my shoulders.

[Burton]

VealBoy or MansonOzz;

Would either of you guys be willing to sum up these threads for me? Unfortunately, I do not have access yet, so I can't read them. I currently just use a padded sleeve, which seems to be working just fine. But I would like to read what others have to say about the pros and cons.

Thanks in advance,
Burton

[Steel Warrior]

Hellhound raves on about how much he likes the stringray and manta ray lol.
I has used both at my school for squats and the edges always dug into my muscles. The smaller guys seemed to like them though.

[sta63bmx]

If Louie Simmons and the Westside crew are willing to use them, who am I to say no? I wish I had one that would put the bar lower or higher on my back to change the loading. Or a cambered bar would be nice.

[Dean-o]

In my opinion the Mantaray is great as long as you are not going with heavy weight, ie. above about 350-400. The it tends to cause some pain when doing squats.
Dean-o

[vealboy]

[ QUOTE ]
VealBoy or MansonOzz;

Would either of you guys be willing to sum up these threads for me? Unfortunately, I do not have access yet, so I can't read them. I currently just use a padded sleeve, which seems to be working just fine. But I would like to read what others have to say about the pros and cons.

Thanks in advance,
Burton

[/ QUOTE ]

Burton,
Just like in this thread, it seems to be a matter of preference. I have never used it, and don't yet squat as much as I should. Some people like it some don't, maybe you could buy it at like $40(US), keeping in mind what their return policy is. Maybe you could try it and return it if you don't like it /forum/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[HellHound]

[ QUOTE ]
Hellhound raves on about how much he likes the stringray and manta ray lol.
I has used both at my school for squats and the edges always dug into my muscles. The smaller guys seemed to like them though.


[/ QUOTE ]

LOL..ya punk...smaller guys huh ?...I'm a in a nice mood today...tosses the can of WHOOP-A$$ to the side. /forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I dig the Manta Ray over the normal bar because of how I have to place my hands on the weights and bar. with the flexing of my traps it fills up the area. when I hit 315 and then go higher on the bar I have to actually place my hands on the weights not the bar. almost like my hands are outstreached and wrapping around the weights themselfs, for me this takes stress of my roter-cuffs. but I also tend to think that its because of how WIDE my shoulders are for being you know a "LITTLE" guy at 6' and 290 /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif that and I dont get a good feel on the bar unles I wrap my hands over the weights instead of the bar. the Manta Ray will then rock into position on my traps and with the meat of the traps now supporting the weight because they are flexed BOOM, almost perfect to the point of it feeling good. I dont use it forwarm up or anything below 315 but I'm only there at 225 for one set anyways. and look for it on e-bay I picked mine up from there for 20 bucks.

[quadancer]

I have really sensitive traps and tried the manta ray just once when I saw it in a gym...finally I can go for over 400 in the squat since the PAIN in my traps was GONE! I can't wait to find one and put it in my gym bag...(and I'm 200 lbs, 5'11") Hopefully, I can stop using "za gurly macheenz" and do some real squats now!