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Benching and chest touching
- Thread starter Eric1987
- Start date
DaveTSI
New member
most of the time when training i stop just short of lockout to avoid pressure on my elbows except on max doubles or singles. I bench very fast and explosive and it is counterproductive to lockout every rep. Not touching your chest is pointless though, they are shortchanging themselves and stroking their egos because they can move more weight like that.
automaticj5
New member
You get a stretch in your outter pecs when you go down to your chest -- your shoulders are involved in the every moment as well.. Full rep for me is barely tap the chest then up to lock out. DB and BB a full rep is a full rep is a full rep -- you will see me at the end of a set only do half reps which I guess is what some of you are saying is a "rep" ill come down to about 5 inches from my chest and return up to get an extra burn when I dont have the energy left at the end of a set.
artificialaspirations
New member
I can do 275-300 for reps partial range of motion haha. Doesn't count. Sometimes I want to help these people so badly but don't want to seem judgemental, pushy or rude. Usually the young kids struggling w/ 135 doing 1/2 reps. I want to tell them to drop to 75-90 and do it the right way. The weight will come quicker this way.
hockeyshot
New member
I don't go all the way down to save my shoulders. I have shoulder problems and this will allow me to still get a good shoulder work out in.
I have shoulder problems so I no longer touch the bar to my chest. I am 175 lbs. and pretty strong on bench but I just can't go down to my chest or my shoulders will really start to hurt.
Every now and then I try to go down to my chest but my shoulders lack the flexibility needed to do a full rep. Nevertheless, I always feel it in my chest and my chest has gotten bigger, stronger, and more developed even though I don't touch the bar to my chest.
Anybody that thinks you HAVE to go all the way down to your chest needs to take an anatomy class. When the bar touches your chest your elbows are below your shoulders, this means your shoulders are now going to move the weight from this position. Your chest really doesn't take over till you hit about 90 degrees in the elbow.
I can get much better range of motion with dumbbells and I can throw up 100's on DB press so I don't think I really don't think I'm short changing my chest by not touching the bar to it.
And I can't stand guys that mug me at the gym while I'm benching because I'm not touching the bar to my chest. Mind your own business, I'm here to workout for myself, not for you.
Every now and then I try to go down to my chest but my shoulders lack the flexibility needed to do a full rep. Nevertheless, I always feel it in my chest and my chest has gotten bigger, stronger, and more developed even though I don't touch the bar to my chest.
Anybody that thinks you HAVE to go all the way down to your chest needs to take an anatomy class. When the bar touches your chest your elbows are below your shoulders, this means your shoulders are now going to move the weight from this position. Your chest really doesn't take over till you hit about 90 degrees in the elbow.
I can get much better range of motion with dumbbells and I can throw up 100's on DB press so I don't think I really don't think I'm short changing my chest by not touching the bar to it.
And I can't stand guys that mug me at the gym while I'm benching because I'm not touching the bar to my chest. Mind your own business, I'm here to workout for myself, not for you.
automaticj5
New member
automaticj5
New member
Btw if you have shoulder problems -- LIKE I DO... I used to not be able to bench because of my shoulders.... MOVE YOUR GRIP IN and you will be fine... even as small as a finger farther in, and waaaallaaaaa --- no shoulder probs... at worst you should be no more than an inch away from your chest.
DaveTSI
New member
Improvise said:
either move your grip in, or learn how to tuck your elbows on your decent rather than flaring them out and touching really high on your chest. This places tremendous strain on the shoulders and is how alot of lifters get hurt. Tucking your elbows and touching your sternum will transfer the majority of the weight off your shoulders and onto your back (yes back), tris and chest. Moving your grip in will make you do this almost automatically(ever notice that your shoulders dont really hurt when doing closegrip bench?), but it can be done using a wide grip also with practice.
And yes if you want to call it a proper benchpress, you do HAVE to touch your chest. Those guys at your gym probably get annoyed with the fact that they have to watch you butcher a basic movement like the benchpress every time they see you do it. And i was using 100's when i was 17 and 160lbs, big deal, if you learned how to benchpress properly, you could move alot more than that. If you can get a full range of motion with DB's, you can do it with the bar. Seriously take my advice and just try it next time your going to bench. Just think on your decent, tuck your elbows in towards your ribcage, flare your lats, and bring the bar to the lowest part of your sternum. TRY IT!
