how close should your grip be on close grip bench?

[audiophyle]

http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/exercise3/closegripbenchpress.htm

this link says 3-6 inches, is that about right?

 

[Backlash]

I make it so my thumbs just barely touch if I extend them towards each other. I think you lose too much control without really hitting the tris much more if you go too close.

 

[leatherface]

I think mine are a good 10 inches apart actually.

 

[from zero]

As close as you feel comfortable. I put 2 fingers on the smooth.

 

[louden_swain]

I like to use the EZ bar to perform this exercise.

I use the inner portion 10 inches.

 

[RottenWillow]

As long as you keep your elbows in, and hands are far enough apart to avoid wrist pain and maintain control of the bar I personally dont think it matters too much.

 

[bigguns15]

About one hand width closer on each side than my normal bench. My normal bench is ring finger on the rings.

 

[FatRat]

I don’t think there is a major difference between grips between maybe 12 to 6 inches apart in terms of hitting the tris. Obviously your own specific shoulder width will be a factor here, and you are best to try things out and see how it feels for you.

Two factors to bare in mind are the stress on your wrists and balancing the bar. Both of these are alleviated with a grip to the wider end of the above range.

 

[makedah]

I just keep my elbows tucked in. Never paid attention to how close my thumbs were.

 

[bignate73]

as close as you can go that keeps your wrists straight while your elbows are tucked. generally speaking, you could go as narrow as your hands will go if you were to put your fists to your sides at the bottom position of your bench.

i see too many guys doing these with their wrists super cocked and elbows flaring. to each his own, but its asking for wrist problems.

 

[pwr_machine]

About one hand width closer on each side than my normal bench. My normal bench is ring finger on the rings.

I'm with you on that one.

 

[Liftbig]

imo it depends on your build. a long armed persons close grip should be wider than a short armed persons close grip. for me i take a thumbs length away from the smooth part.

 

[bds20002002]

as long as your wrists stay straight doring the movemnt. bend, no good!!!!!!!! unless your using the ezcurl with 25's on each side. then you might as well go home. lol

 

[louden_swain]

I just keep my elbows tucked in. Never paid attention to how close my thumbs were.

That makes perfect sense to me!

 

[gymtime]

As long as you keep your elbows in, and hands are far enough apart to avoid wrist pain and maintain control of the bar I personally dont think it matters too much.

Agreed. I think as long as you're somewhere inside shoulder width, and you keep the elbows in tight, you're ok. In fact, I'd even go so far as to say that if your grip is too close, you could be risking injury to your wrists.

 

[Serea]

I think I go 12 inches. Where the grip part of the bar starts again. Not sure what that's called.

 

[ffknight84]

I use index finger touching the smooth...

 

[MeatHead57]

it all depends on were your cofortable @ sum people like me like it right at the rough part in the middle some lik eit thumb length from it it just depends find what you like!!

 

[Lee]

i do shoulder width, is this too wide enough?

 

[Zander1983]

Mine is about shoulder width. Just outside the smooth of my bar (not sure how that compares to ther bars).

Check out the difference between my bench and close-grip bench here: http://members.optushome.com.au/bsanti/21-7-03.WMV (Ignore the sound, its just an AM sports radio show!!! )

 

[louden_swain]

Shoulder width is fine. . .as long as the elbows stay tucked in.