Locking out on bench press

[blut wump]

I've seen guys (who are much stronger than I am) not going all the way up to lockout when doing flat bench for reps. Is there some benefit to this or are they just being lazy and saving their triceps?

 

[musketeer]

I lock out on the inclide press, but when flat benching, I only do the bottom half.

It saves your triceps, and also works the chest better beacuse the tension is never let off. The shorter ROM on the reps means that they can be done quicker, so that you can get more reps out before failure. This gives you a better pump.

I tend to do inclines first with heavy weight and then one pump set of 15-30 on the flat bench as above.

 

[H_T_]

not a good habit. don't wanna do 400 for half-reps, seeing as how the top half is the most important.

 

[shamrock11]

I totally agree you don't get to fully flex the muscle unless you get to the top half of the movement.