benching with feet on bench

[johnt12]

Can someone explain to me why people do this??? Seems retarded.....

[peteskeys]

Stupid people think it helps isolate pecs or some garbage like that--IMO if you can lift the weight with your feet on the bench you surely aren't doing enough weight.

[johnt12]

I am not one to really care about peoples form but theres something about it that I just went to say wtf are you doing that for. Just seems like a biggest chance of injury and not doing as much weight as you would be able to.

[peteskeys]

I am not one to really care about peoples form but theres something about it that I just went to say wtf are you doing that for. Just seems like a biggest chance of injury and not doing as much weight as you would be able to.

Lol, wait until you see someone squat on a bosu ball. There was a video posted in the exercise section a few days back--ridiculous. Ask Ironwill about it

[sb327]

people think it helps if you have back problems. idk if it actually does or not but it sure doesnt help your bench at all.

[dgcoats]

I've heard people say it takes their legs out of the lift, but why they don't just do floor presses is beyond me.

[Tile]

I heard it was because you then had to activate your core a lot more to stabalize your torso. IMO it's just an accident waiting to happen.

And lol I see some of most dangerous **** on those swiss balls at the gym I'm doing my PT course at. People get a litttle carried away with trying to work core into EVERYTHING.

[stschott]

I've heard people say it takes their legs out of the lift, but why they don't just do floor presses is beyond me.

I'm not even aware that I have legs when benching. I'm not sure why you would involve your legs in the lift unless you have too much weight on the bar.

[samc36]

Can someone explain to me why people do this??? Seems retarded.....

i have a small hernia in my belly button going on 3 years now,when i keep my feet up benching it doesent put pressure on it.doctor tells me the hernias the same size and not to worry about. as for weight i do 315 with feet up, maybe i could do more the other way i dont know, just playing it safe.

[fplinski]

people think it helps if you have back problems. idk if it actually does or not but it sure doesnt help your bench at all.

From my experience, when you put the legs on the bench, your back stays straight on the bench and you don't use it to push the barbell. Since I've always had back problems, I find this to be helpful.

[double gonad]

I'm not even aware that I have legs when benching. I'm not sure why you would involve your legs in the lift unless you have too much weight on the bar.

To me, good form requires proper foot placement - on the ground. When lifting with high intensity, your feet should drive into the ground to help create a solid base and keep everything tight. At least, that's what I've been taught and read from experienced lifters who bench a hell of a lot more than me.

[fplinski]

To me, good form requires proper foot placement - on the ground. When lifting with high intensity, your feet should drive into the ground to help create a solid base and keep everything tight. At least, that's what I've been taught and read from experienced lifters who bench a hell of a lot more than me.

Reading this made want to state that, I've never benched more than 60Kg, so Idk if my threory can be applied when lifting really heavy weights.

[sonti]

It is a bad habit but I can't even put my feet on the floor because I am too short.

[SwiftyX]

I'm not even aware that I have legs when benching. I'm not sure why you would involve your legs in the lift unless you have too much weight on the bar.

Leg drive is part of a proper bench press

From my experience, when you put the legs on the bench, your back stays straight on the bench and you don't use it to push the barbell. Since I've always had back problems, I find this to be helpful.

Benching from a neutral back position is dangerous.

[acidking]

benching with feet on bench = retardation

[Wildtim]

Sonti you need a pair of boxes or plates, in a commercial gym I'd steal a couple of steps from the studio so you can take a solid stance.

[sonti]

I work at at home, I could probably whip together a couple of phonebooks or throw the 45lb plates down. Didn't think of that, thanks for the idea!

[Wildtim]

I'm not even aware that I have legs when benching. I'm not sure why you would involve your legs in the lift unless you have too much weight on the bar.

You should be aware of your legs when benching, if you can engage them they do add to the weight you can lift, I don't mean lift your butt or even huge leg drive like a powerlifter strives for, but just engage them giving you a completely solid rigid body to push with you wil see the weight move rise and also feel your pecs being pushed harder by that much more overload.

Engaging the legs and abs and lower back as accessory stabilizers in the bench press allows you to better work the chest because you don't have to fight your own balance to move the weight.

There are a ton of great exercises to improve balance and coordination, bench press isn't one of them. In fact any exercise where you are holding a heavy weight directly over your face an throat shouldn't be one of them.

[SekushiSaru]

benching with feet on bench = retardation

I bench with my feet up, as Im short and cant get a proper base while benching...In all fairness, the bench at my gym is quite high, and oddly proportioned, at a proper gym, I would do it with feet on the ground...

At the gym Im at currently, I can definitely bench more with feet up...

My question would be, why do some people grip so ridiculously wide they bench?

[acidking]

My question would be, why do some people grip so ridiculously wide they bench?

everyone grips according to how wide their shoulders are, grip as you feel comfortable for you.

[fukstreet]

it does isolate the pecs

Stupid people think it helps isolate pecs or some garbage like that--IMO if you can lift the weight with your feet on the bench you surely aren't doing enough weight.

and this is the stupidest thing ive ever read from you, if you can lift the weight your arent doing enough? i guess the whole world is doing negatives from here on out

[Metal_Lust]

It is a bad habit but I can't even put my feet on the floor because I am too short.

You can't? I'm either 5'3 or 5'4, you must have a realllly high bench or something

[SekushiSaru]

You can't? I'm either 5'3 or 5'4

It depends on the height of the bench you use....

I know the grip width depends on the width of your shoulders, 90% of the guys in my rugby grip EXTREMELY wide, to the point where it barely uses chest?

[beanerman557]

i tried once with my feet up, and seriously felt like i was going to fall off. if you want to activate your core that badly in every excercise, just use a medicine ball for everything.

[Metal_Lust]

Can't say i've ever used or seen a bench where my feet can't be completly flat on the floor

[SekushiSaru]

Can't say i've ever used or seen a bench where my feet can't be completly flat on the floor

They can be completely flat, but I feel like they are reaching out if you understand what I mean...

I just feel more comfortable lifting in a more compact position...

To be honest, I dont think this makes **** all difference....If you were doing literally everything else correct, which most of us probably arnt, then this may happen...

[sonti]

I don't know, maybe I just have short legs. Not sure how high my bench is.