Do you touch the bar to your chest when you bench?

[b fold the truth]

sounds like an excuse from someone who cant bench alot the correct way

if you dont touch your chest it isnt a real benchpress, unless you are physically unable to do it because of severe pain or limited mobility then you absolutely should touch.

Seriously you have to be my brother from another mother.

I have monkey arms, even for 6'2" and 290 +. I've injured both shoulders before.

Having "bad shoulders" isn't an excuse NOT to bench press or to NOT touch your chest on the Bench Press. It is a REASON to spend extra time 3-7x a week working on your rotator cuffs!!!!!

Why do people just ACCEPT an injury?

 

[Strongbow]

I always have, but people have told me that it's bad for your shoulders and will cause problems down the line. thoughts/experiences?

No touch, No Bench, No excuse. If your arms are to long or your shoulders hurt you should find a substitute for bench pressing. Its the same as squatting going down short of parallel it dont count IMO

 

[SaiBoT]

Well talking about shoulders pain, if I take the bar close to my upper abs I don't feel any discomfort at all and can lift more, but it may take some time to get used to that motion for someone who it's used to take it to the middle chest.

 

[the_alcatraz]

Well talking about shoulders pain, if I take the bar close to my upper abs I don't feel any discomfort at all and can lift more, but it may take some time to get used to that motion for someone who it's used to take it to the middle chest.

you can def. lift more if you touch the bar to your upper abs and arch your back, tuck in your shoulders.

 

[SaiBoT]

you can def. lift more if you touch the bar to your upper abs and arch your back, tuck in your shoulders.

It took me a few months to get used to this position though, in the beginning my forearms weren't too happy about it

 

[b fold the truth]

Shoulders should be tucked anyways...even if you aren't concerned with weight...or if you are doing inclines, declines, dbells, or a machine.

 

[Blane]

I have found this is the best bench tecnique!!!

yes thats how i do it!!!!

and i bech every day. twice a day.