A weight lifting support shirt, comprising:
- a chest support portion comprising a material and configured to extend across a chest portion of a lifter from a first end to a second end of the chest support portion;
- a first arm support portion extending from the first end of the chest support portion;
- a second arm support portion extending from the second end of the chest support portion, wherein the first arm support portion is configured to accommodate and support a first upper arm of the lifter and the second arm support portion is configured to accommodate and support a second upper arm of the lifter;
- a neck relief portion attached to an upper boundary of the chest support portion, wherein the neck relief portion connects the first arm support portion to the second arm support portion, wherein the neck relief portion comprises a first elastic material configured to stretch and to store energy when a weight is lowered by the lifter, and wherein the first elastic material is configured to release the stored energy and return to an unstretched state when the weight is raised by the lifter while performing a workout with the weight;
- a torso support portion in communication with and extending below the chest support portion;
- a first lateral extension extending from the first arm support portion and a first lateral side of the torso support portion;
- a second lateral extension extending from the second arm support portion and a second lateral side of the torso support portion, wherein the first lateral extension is configured to wrap around a first shoulder and a back of the lifter, and wherein the second lateral extension is configured to wrap around a second shoulder and the back of the lifter;
- a grid plate disposed about a center of the chest support portion, wherein the grid plate is configured to resist stretching of the material of the chest support portion when the weight is lowered by the lifter and to store energy of the weight when the weight is lowered, and to rebound the stored energy into the chest portion and arms of the lifter when the weight is lifted by the lifter during the workout, wherein the grid plate comprises a figure eight stitching, and wherein the figure eight stitching is configured to further direct load and energy received from multiple angles during the workout, towards a center of the weight lifting support shirt.