Questions tagged [bench-press]
An exercise where the athlete lays with their back flat on a bench (or other surface) - that is either parallel to the ground, or at an angle - and their feet on the floor, while lifting a weight (or set of weights) from their chest straight up (perpendicular to the floor).
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Stronglifts - Why is my bench press/row progress lagging behind?
I have been following the Stronglifts program since February of this year, so I've been at it about 6 months. I had tried the program before, but I had been away from it for some time, so I started ...
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How much will I be able to bench press?
We recently purchased a family gym membership, as our daughter has gotten into weight lifting to help her with sports. I told her I would go to the gym with her tomorrow night, and I'm nervous about ...
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Is bench press with dumbbells less effective?
Is bench press with dumbbells less effective than bench press with barbell, if so why?
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How do I bench press safely without a spotter?
What do smart lifters do when they're working out alone and want to do benchpresses?
I have a busy schedule, and it isn't practical for me to have a regular weightlifting partner. I've usually ...
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Bench Pressing vs. Push-ups
Does bench pressing work out the same muscles as push-ups?
If not, What's the difference?
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In a bench press, are there any tricks for determining which muscles are the weakest?
Is there some trick to determine which of the three basic muscles is the weakest in a bench press? I'm referring to the pectorals, shoulders and triceps.
I have been working my chest with dumbbell ...
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Do Different Bench Press Variants Build Muscle Differently?
I once read somewhere (though not somewhere very reputable) that the incline bench press will build more muscle in the upper chest, while the flat bench press will build more muscle in the lower chest....
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Recurring muscle pull in Upper-back/Neck when doing overhead press/bench press - form advice
When I was doing a 5x5 based workout a year or so ago, I had issues when trying to push the weight on the overhead press. Even though the weight felt comfortable in the sense that I could do at least ...
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Bench Press Form Check
I've been working on my technique for the barbell bench press. I used to do a pretty flat bench press but I've recently tried to use the technique taught by Scot Mendelson. Namely, the setting onto ...
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Bench press grip width?
I have a long reach and was wondering what the optimal position is for my grip during bench press. From finger-tip to fingertip I measure 6'6". I currently bench with my ring finger lined up on the ...
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Is Rich Piana's strength achievable without anabolic steroids?
I know you can't get his size without them, but that's not my mission. I want to be as strong as him. You can be as strong as someone without being as big -- and vice-versa. From watching his videos ...
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Correct elbow location for bench press?
I was watching a video from Strong Lift's Mehdi on bench presses, and I noticed that instead of his elbows going out he heeps them close to his body. I remember a friend telling me to do something ...
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Should I upwards rotate my shoulder-blade in bench press?
everyone knows the great advantages that scapular retraction provides in bench press (discussed for example there).
Now I want to make a point. As explained there (but also there),
The scapulohumeral ...
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how to keep the chest tendon injury free while training heavy bench press?
Here and here you can see me bench press 200 Kg.
I don't bench 200Kg 440 Lbs all year long. After reaching the 200, it goes down gradually back to 160 and then 160 for 2 reps and slowly up.
I use ...
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What exercises can I do to equalize differences in upper-body strength?
I've been struggling with bench recently and have discovered that if my spotter supports the right side of the bar, I'm able to complete the set with considerably greater ease than if I did it on my ...
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Should I bench press without an arch during training?
I currently barbell bench press twice a week; a 1x5 on Tuesday and a 5x5 on Friday. On each of these days, I perform all of my reps with a powerlifting style bench press setup: back arch and leg drive ...
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Hand position in dumbbell bench press
How does hand position in a dumbbell flat bench affect which muscles are activated? The positions I know are palms facing each other and the traditional palms facing down. On rare occasions I see ...
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When I bench press, why do my hips sometimes cramp up?
When I bench press, I sometimes feel a muscle seize up slightly distal and lateral from my ASIS. I don't know what muscle this is, but I'm guessing it's involved with external rotation or abduction. ...
user4644
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Increase bench press 1RM
I want to increase my 1RM on bench press. I lift about 2 years. At the beginning it went great and fast. But when I reached 220 lbs it stopped. It hasn't changed in the last year.
I go bench press ...
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Gymspeak for spotting
Usually I have a training partner so it's not an issue, but occasionally I require someone else in the gym to spot me on the bench press.
I require that person to help me unrack the bar and rack it ...
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What are some good 5x5 programs I can follow?
I'm looking to start a 5x5 program because I've heard that there are great benefits for beginners just starting to get into weight lifting. What are some good programs, and how can I pick the one that'...
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Is it ok to just randomly ask someone to spot me?
I've been doing starting strength for a couple of weeks now and have a friend who has been training me in the technique and spotting me on the bench press. This last training session he didn't pitch ...
user5376
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Substituting dumbell bench press for barbell bench press
I would like to begin with the strong lifts 5x5 program. The only problem I have is the lack of a spotter or power rack for the bench press. Would it be a good idea to do dumbell bench press instead? ...
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Benefits of dumbell bench press with palms facing towards yourself
Can someone please tell me which muscles are involved when dumbbell bench press is done with palms facing towards yourself?
I tried it with my elbow tucked by my side and next day I didn't feel ...
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Uneven chest by doing bench press/butterfly
I was eager to exercise so I brought some of the dumbbells home and without anyone's help I started doing butterfly exercise or mostly known as bench press.
But this put me in a very huge dilemma. My ...
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Should my wrists have the pressure on them when I benchpress?
Whenever I bench press I notice that the weight is transferring back onto my wrists. I feel I could go to a higher weight but slight pain when doing this is holding me back. Is this because of bad ...
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I have atrophied pectorals. How should I train them ? Pictures
Before I show you my photos taken from different angles, I want to explain how I train.
Biological informations AND Diseases
I'm a 22.5yo male, 1.70m (67 inches), I think I'm between [20 ; 25]% BF.
I ...
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Bench press grip, thumb placement
What is the best practice as far as the thumb goes with respect to the bar?
I normally have my thumb aligned with the rest of my fingers, but I often get asked why I don't wrap my thumb around the ...
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What is the best way to breath while benching heavy?
I've heard both holding your breath for all reps and exhaling on the way up - what is the best approach and/or differences in approach? and are there other breathing patterns?
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What is the rationale between the ninty degree at the elbow for pressing motions?
Considering the dumbbell overheadpress, benchpress and so on. I find that in all these exercises, an important point is to not go beyond ninty degree at the elbow. Why is this?
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Bench plateau, while other lifts continue to grow
I have been lifting weights for around a year now and my first program I followed was starting strength. Since then I have moved onto greyskull and my training week typically looks like this:
...
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Rotator cuff exercises not intended to build muscle?
Although the reasoning behind using low weights for rotator cuff exercises has been discussed in this post, I still feel that there is something I am uncertain about. I have heard people say about ...
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Arching the back during bench press
How dangerous is arching your back while doing a bench press? I've seen tons of guys in the gym who greatly arch their back off the bench, assumedly to assist with the lift. Is this bad, or just an ...
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Can't seem to do a proper bench press ... any reasons as to why?
My bench press, aside from me not liking the motion of the exercise, nor the overrated outlook on it in general, is pretty crappy, even with attempts to improve it. I follow a strict regimen only ...
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How to avoid "leading shoulders" when doing benchpress
https://youtu.be/xQTMhydmWAM?t=159
Sometimes I get into this position, when my shoulder is doing the majority of the work.
What are some exercises to fix this? I imagine it would involve scapula ...
user33409
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Could have benefits of one arm dumbell bench-press?
I have incorporated dumbell bench-presses into my workout routine. I use progressive overloading, so every second or third workout I increase the weight I lift. Until now it has worked well and I have ...
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Resistance training and avoiding chronic injury: are squat/deadlift/bench safe?
My number one priority with resistance training is minimising the risk of chronic damage to my body over decades of lifting weights. I have found lots of conflicting information on this, and a lack of ...
user27973
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What are the pros and cons of board bench pressing?
What are the pros/cons of board bench pressing? I know it helps reduce shoulder strain, but what benefits are there based on being able to lift more weight and what cons since you don't have full ROM (...
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How to create the leg drive and keep shoulder blades together while bench pressing?
I have heard various powerlifters on youtube to use the leg drive(1) and keep your shoulder blades tucked in or together throughout the rep(2) (just as we do on the low bar squats) while doing the ...
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Improve benching through adding speed to the lift...how?
I've been 'stuck' at 240 lbs in my bench press. My biggest issue seems to be in the lift off from the chest. From what I've been reading, this could be due to the lack of speed/initial explosive ...
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Doing rotator cuff exercises prior to bench press and shoulder press and any other exercises
Is it a good idea to do rotator cuff exercises (as a means of prevention of injury) using weights prior to doing exercises that utilize the rotator cuff such as the shoulder press or bench press and ...
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Will reducing rest between sets make push ups better for hypertrophy?
Some personal stats: 52 yo. 140 lbs. 5'9"
My max for push ups in one set is around 35.
My 1RM for bench is 145 lbs.
If I use 75% 1RM for doing sets of 10 reps, I should lift around 110 lbs.
If I ...
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Shared space incline equipment options (living room)
I exercise in a shared family space, so no 'dedicated' exercise equipment would work. When doing weight lifting with dumbells/powerblocks, often the exercises require some form of 'incline' for chest ...
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What can I do to improve my bench press and squat?
I have been working out for a while, my weight is about 150lbs (68kg) and i am about 5'7 (1.70m). I bench press about 135lbs (61kg) and i can squat 250 (113kg). My question is: what kind of exercises ...
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Are flared elbows better for upper chest?
I was told that the positioning of the clavicular head meant that the muscle was activated best when the arms are flared, almost 90° to the body. I'm just wodnering if this is true?
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What will happen when i used 2.5 kg heavier dumbbell on my right side during bench press?
I’ve started to consistently going to the gym for around 7 months now, and I’m seeing good results for which i am satisfied.
On one of my training sessions, I accidentally picked up 2.5 kg heavier ...
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Can bench pressing an unevenly loaded bar lead to injury?
I am new to fitness and weight lifting. I was doing bench press and asked my(2) partners to load 12.5 kg each side. One of the loaded 12.5 kg right side and other didn't hear properly and loaded 15 kg ...
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How does a "seated chest press" machine differ from a regular bench press?
I have a multi-gym machine very similar to the one shown.
It allows me to emulate a bench press from a seated position, I think this is exercise is called a seated chest press?
I have never done a a ...
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Shoulder feels sore/strained after 10 sets of 10 on Bench Press?
So I went to the gym today, I got on the bench and did 10 sets of 10 reps, using medium weight, took about 30 minutes to complete, only thing I did other than biking and a few chin ups, and now my ...
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Bowflex and similar systems versus free weights
I've been using a cheap set of cement weights to do benches and curls. This has been working well in concert with trips to the gym every few days to do other exercises. I've maxed out the barbell ...
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