Bench Press Form Faux Pas

[Introspective]

I have been doing reps on bench where i don't touch my chest, most of time i go down to about half a thumb from touching my chest. But sometimes when trying to set pr's i dont always go all the way down. My previous best was 85 kilo for 5 on my last set of 5.
But today i tried 90 and had to re-rack after my 3rd rep and didnt go all the way down.
I use spotter bars because i train on my own and they stop me touching chest with bar.
I guess i will have to put some wood or something under my bench to raise it a bit, only problem is i will really have 2 breath in if ever i need the spotter bars to catch the weight.
After reading this thread i am definatley gonna aim to touch my chest with every rep.
Oh and i voted for Having a spotter who does all the work.

 

[JL_204]

I voted for having a spotter who does all the work. Nothing is worse than having to spot someone after doing a heavy set of BB rows.

This is why I wear my hat really low, blast my MP3 player, and keep a mean look on my face.

 

[DZLS]

this whole thread is good...

i really wish we could have voted for more than 1, cause i don't know if any of those choices annoy me less than any other...

watching people bench is pure comedy for me...

i used to stop above my chest, but have since lowered my weights so i can handle the full ROM... i've even begun using the pause method at the bottom... i have seem great gains in size of my chest since switching to this method 3 months ago...

i NEVER bounced the weight though, that is one thing that drives me nuts, but also the hip ass jump is another...

i don't see a problem with bringing the bar down to the neck, if you do not have access to an incline bench to work the upper portion of the chest...

 

[musketeer]

this whole thread is good...

i don't see a problem with bringing the bar down to the neck, if you do not have access to an incline bench to work the upper portion of the chest...

Thanks man, I'm happy with all of the replies.

About benching to the neck to hit the upper pecs: would you also do bent rows to the neck to hit the upper traps and rear delts more? or maybe lat pulldowns to the knees to get a stronger contraction?

I'm not a kinesiologist, but its bad news mate!

 

[anthrax]

What about guys who put their feet on the bench, usually to "protect their lower back"?
ha ha ah what a joke

 

[blut wump]

Even worse: those who lift their feet off the bench and cross them at the ankles in some perverse travesty of a high-wire act.

 

[Protobuilder]

Hey, have you guys been watching me bench or what??? LoL I love the "feet crossed in the air" thing to isolate the chest. LoL

 

[DZLS]

Thanks man, I'm happy with all of the replies.

About benching to the neck to hit the upper pecs: would you also do bent rows to the neck to hit the upper traps and rear delts more? or maybe lat pulldowns to the knees to get a stronger contraction?

I'm not a kinesiologist, but its bad news mate!

thanks...

i wouldn't use the other examples as good comparisons though... it's a much smaller range change than the drastic ones you mentioned...

anyone that does presses to the neck has to realize they cannot handle the same amount of weight as a regular press... i guess everyone is different, but I've mixed to the neck presses in over a few years, and never bothered my shoulders...


most people honestly just don't know how to bench period... I don't think the bar is supposed to be moved straigh up and down like an engine piston... it should travel more in a backwards "J" arch than anything, IMO...

 

[muscelove]

Arc in the back is the worst. Theres this fat slob who goes to my gym. I guess hes kinda strong but he come in this this huge belt over his fat gut goes to the bench with his fat boyfriend. he puts on 4 plates and yells with his back all the way in the air when hes doin reps with his fat lovers help. Then he gets up and looks around to see whose watchin him. I want to hit him over the head with a plate

 

[Penten]

God we lifted at school last year, the first time for many in the class...it was scary. The teacher knew that me and my friend knew what we were doing so he left us alone but he was telling everyone to put their feet on the bench, and then noted us on the about of weight times the amount of reps. So the guy who benches 10 * 10 is as good as the one who does 1 * 100? Greaaat...So all the pricks doing leg presses with 200kg only bending their knees about 1cm were "the best". I'm proud to say I was among the worst with my very dangerous feet on the floor position...
I voted for not lowering the bar though since a friend of mine was doing 40kg and only actually did one rep...after that he lower it about 10cm and waved it around madly in the air..it was quite frightening actually..