Who Else Smashes Their Brushes?

I will occasionally watch a YouTube soap review and I've noticed that several of the reviewers - Ruds is one of them - smash their loaded brushes against their faces/heads while lathering.  I mean push that loaded knot right up so that the handle is actually touching the face.  I find that unusual.  I have lots of brushes at various price points and in badger, boar or synthetic (I don't use those much) and I've never felt the need or desire to crush a knot so firmly against my face.  I seem to be able to lather quite well with a more measured contact between brush and face without forcing the bristles to splay out fully  perpendicular to the handle.  I was thinking about this only because someone remarked on another thread that brushes wear out and that was one reason they didn't want to pay big money for one - I think someone had referred to certain brushes as heirlooms.  It occurred to me today while watching a different reviewer (monkey something or other) smash his brush into his face that using a brush in that manner would certainly accelerate any wear and tear that might occur to a brush.  

Does anybody else use the brush smash method of lathering their face and if so, why?

I'm with you on this one. I can't stand watching those youtube videos because I feel like newbies think that's how it should be done. I can't imagine a brush which has been smashed into oblivion having the same longevity as one which has been used with light pressure.
Another thing that doesn't make sense, is why do face smashers care about the hair quality? If you're smashing the brush, you're not even lathering with the tips anymore. You're lathering with the hair shaft instead.

It is quite peculiar, right?

I remember reading somewhere that one should try and use only the top 1/3rd of the brush tips when swirling
over a bowl of soap. And use more water than less....as it reduces the friction on the tips.
I do not mash the brush forcefully into the face but start with a few gentle circular strokes to deposit the lather
from within the knot on to the face....this does create a degree of splaying....then I carry on with vertical or painting strokes.

Ive never tried lathering in a bowl with ridges as I cant help but feel that it increases the chances of wear on the
brush...depending on how forcefully it is done.

Smashing a brush, heirloom or not, against the face seems really stupid.

I'm with you fellas and don't feel the need to mash a brush but I've sure picked up some vintage brushes where the center is worn or broken out of the knot.  I can't help but think that is the early fate of a smashed brush.  That said, I won't go so far as to say it's wrong to do so.  Certainly not as wrong as stroking your razor parallel with the blade edge!  Nope.  I don't mash them though and I really don't swirl except to load.

Interesting to see that in these comments so far, no one is a brush smasher, yet it is very common in shaving videos.

To me, smashing defeats the purpose, as shaveSymptomatic mentioned concerning the hair tips vs. shafts. Also, I would imagine that it’s the quickest way to Doughnut Hole City.

When lathering, I’ll utilize some splay amid painting strokes, but I always limit the splay. I'm sure that if it was intended that we lather using hair shafts, then brushes would be designed quite differently.

No smasher here either, although I do have some synths which which perform better when pushed beyond the 1/3 cited above. Somehow makes sense, it’s a soulless consumer product — apologies to synth fanboys The hairs from an animal, on the other hand, call for more respect and kind treatment. (Yeah, I know, there’s a certain double standard here, given how at least some badgers’ hairs are harvested...)

No smasher here either, although I do have some synths which which perform better when pushed beyond the 1/3 cited above. Somehow makes sense, it’s a soulless consumer product — apologies to synth fanboys The hairs from an animal, on the other hand, call for more respect and kind treatment. (Yeah, I know, there’s a certain double standard here, given how at least some badgers’ hairs are harvested...)

Badgers, esp expensive ones, need to be mollycoddled.....synths not so much.
I love my Muhle STF knot....use it without a care....if the time comes it can be cheaply replaced.
A superb lather bulder.

I have a second generation Simpson CH2 Synthetic Badger. It refuses to splay unless I give it a good coaxing, i.e. smashing. While I don't smash the brush to the point which the handle touches my skin...it's pretty close. I would never do this with my badgers, because it's simply not necessary. Does this make me a "smasher"?