Is this considered close grip?

[Bonkme2]

These were posted by mekannik in the video thread:
06.07.24 close grip bench
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8zDQgr_ZaM

06.07.30 close grip bench
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TInmDdSQX4


When I do some close grip pressing, my hands are overlapping on the unknurled part of the bar...way closer than his are. Am I too close?

 

[SgtSlaughter]

There's no "concrete" answer.

It really depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

The closer your hands the more focused the pressing is on the triceps as far as I know.

 

[Bonkme2]

There's no "concrete" answer.

It really depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

The closer your hands the more focused the pressing is on the triceps as far as I know.

Thanks.
I've never been big on bench pressing, and my entire focus in doing those is tricep strength.

I guess a better question is does there come a point where I can be too close? Let's say my hands were touching at the center...would I hit my triceps that much harder than with his grip? Or would the benefit be negligible?

My only real issue here is that as my hands get closer, it becomes harder to balance the bar with heavier weight. So I'm trying to strike a balance between the two: work my triceps as hard as possible without losing control of the bar.

 

[ErikZ]

What I do is meet both thumbs up at the center of the bar and then place the thumbs back to the proper position (i.e. holding the bar) WITHOUT moving my hands. This way I know I am at the "correct" distance between both hands.
Sarge is correct, the closer the grip, the more the triceps work.

 

[Tweakle]

too close will chew up your wrists, make you weaker and not do anything to target the triceps.

To find a close grip that works, stick your hands straight out in front of you.. that should be a good starting place.

 

[perp69]

For me that looks about as close grip as I will do. Impressive.

Perp

 

[bignate73]

too close will chew up your wrists, make you weaker and not do anything to target the triceps.

To find a close grip that works, stick your hands straight out in front of you.. that should be a good starting place.

ditto on this.

straight off the shoulders is a neutral wrist close grip.

 

[blut wump]

I usually hold the bar such that my thumbs just butt into the clear part of the bar. I've never felt that any closer together gives any more benefit and it knocks the heck out of my wrists. Keep your elbows well tucked in.

 

[Jim Ouini]

My grip is about the same as mekanniks, like the guys said I basically just stick my arms straight out (although they may creep out a bit as the weight gets heavier )

 

[BiggT]

Tweakle is right on.....guys doing close-grips with their hands touching together need to be bitch slapped.

Mekkanik used a perfect close-grip in my opinion.......thats how I close grip, and also my 'regular' bench grip actually isn't very much wider than that.