benching above the neck/shoulder area

[wolfman87]

has anyone seen or done this? all that's different is you bring the bar down over your shoulders and lower neck instead of the chest. would that work the lats more? i want to try it but i don't want to injure myself either lol.

 

[s8nlilhlpr]

I would say don't do it just based on safety. Never bring the bar near your neck....what happens if you slip and crush your esophagus?

 

[JohnRobHolmes]

Fuck that. If you want to work your lats do deadlift and pullups. Lower the bar to your sternum unless you like shoulder problems.

 

[BiggT]

They're called clavicles, or sometimes ''illegal wides'', depending on your generation I guess.....the flaring of the elbows required to do that is idiotic and results in shoulder issues that give benching (wrongfully) a bad name......tucking the elbows incorporates more lats anyway, and besides the point, do deadlifts, rows and chins if lats are a concern.

 

[blut wump]

Try the movement and ask yourself whether it feels natural or whether you are placing either muscles or joints at a mechanical disadvantage. You can usually tell what your body has evolved to be able to do and which movements are unnatural to it.

If by some strange mischance you find the movement to be natural or pleasant, consider the comments above with regard to safety.

Basically, bodybuilders in their eternal quest for the perfect physique do some truly perverse movements. The chest is split into upper pecs and lower pecs. The idea is to isolate the upper pecs. You can shift the emphasis to them more safely with incline benching.

 

[al420]

I prefer BTN Bench Press.

 

[blut wump]

Between the nads?

 

[wolfman87]

yeah i wasn't sure about it so i was gonna try it with only the bar but i guess i wont even waste my time doing that now.

 

[gjohnson5]

I was about to say I've been doing smith machine incline presses and lowering the bar high on my chest (almost to neck) based on bench positioning. I generally feel more pectoral stimulation this way then I do with normal bar lowering technique. You can keep elbows from flaring while doing this wide grip

Try the movement and ask yourself whether it feels natural or whether you are placing either muscles or joints at a mechanical disadvantage. You can usually tell what your body has evolved to be able to do and which movements are unnatural to it.

If by some strange mischance you find the movement to be natural or pleasant, consider the comments above with regard to safety.

Basically, bodybuilders in their eternal quest for the perfect physique do some truly perverse movements. The chest is split into upper pecs and lower pecs. The idea is to isolate the upper pecs. You can shift the emphasis to them more safely with incline benching.

 

[s8nlilhlpr]

I was about to say I've been doing smith machine incline presses and lowering the bar high on my chest (almost to neck) based on bench positioning. I generally feel more pectoral stimulation this way then I do with normal bar lowering technique. You can keep elbows from flaring while doing this wide grip

why?? why must you use the cursed smith machine???

 

[gjohnson5]

If you're going to lower the bar high on your chest , neck you better have a spot at all time or do this on a smith machine

why?? why must you use the cursed smith machine???

 

[s8nlilhlpr]

OK, thats a good reason then.

 

[JohnRobHolmes]

Seems counterproductive to bench to the neck for "more pectoral stimulation" and then hop on a smith machine to make it easier and safer. Why not just bench in a manner that isnt dangerous for the lifter and his shoulders? Wouldnt my pecs grow more if I used more weight in proper form instead of less weight with bad form? Growing upper pecs should be incline and OHP work, not flaring the elbows on bench IMO.

 

[gjohnson5]

I have had rotator cuff problems benching in the normal means since I was 17... Alot of assumptions in bold....

My shoulders are just fine benching in this manner and my elbows are not flared. Wide grip does not mean flared elbows. Infact with an 7-12 rep range, I haven't had any shoulder problems while benching.

I also want to note that my incline is less then 45 degrees.

Seems counterproductive to bench to the neck for "more pectoral stimulation" and then hop on a smith machine to make it easier and safer. Why not just bench in a manner that isnt dangerous for the lifter and his shoulders? Wouldnt my pecs grow more if I used more weight in proper form instead of less weight with bad form? Growing upper pecs should be incline and OHP work, not flaring the elbows on bench IMO.

 

[JohnRobHolmes]

Per your suggestion of benching ONLY with a spotter or using the smith machine, I made the assumption that the motion is dangerous. Correct me if Im wrong there.

You are correct that wide grip doesnt mean wide elbows. I bench wide and tuck my elbows in. We are talking of bringing the bar to the neck for "more stimulation". Again I dont see the point in bringing the bar to the neck when the weights will have to be lower- simple mechanics dictate that. Might as well do tricep extensions to bulk the tri if you follow the same thought. Screw normal bench, it isnt "stimulating" enough.

 

[gjohnson5]

To each his own.

Craig Titus said he could bench 500lb and not feel anything in his chest until he tore it. until Then he owered his weights and started using hammer strength machines and he said his chest development got better.

Whatever , follow conventional wisdom

 

[H_T_]

who wants big floppy tits anyway?