Getting db's into position for flat dumbell bench

[darklight79]

This is a weird question but how the heck do you get heavy db's into position for flat dumbell benching?
I'm now pressing the 110's for incline presses for more than 10 reps for several sets but everytime i fall back on the bench to attempt some flat db benching for the same amount of weight as the inclines, I overbalance and drop the dbs or worse case scenario I fall over (that happened several times).
How do you guys keep it tight while falling back? Any technique to this? I don't think pressing the same amount of weight is a problem, just getting them into position.

[JOHN GARGANI]

hey there DARK: have you heard of those custom hook like thingies that attach to the DBs and then, you can actually hang them on an overhead bar and lift them off the bar to do your reps??

I'll look around on the net and see if I can find these....

[JOHN GARGANI]

here you go:

[Leyton Stone]

[darklight79]

Originally Posted by JOHN GARGANI

hey there DARK: have you heard of those custom hook like thingies that attach to the DBs and then, you can actually hang them on an overhead bar and lift them off the bar to do your reps??

I'll look around on the net and see if I can find these....

Originally Posted by JOHN GARGANI

here you go:

Hey John, how's it goin'? Thanks... but damn... i need such equipment? I'll definitely consider it though. But I've seen vids of pros like Ronnie doing flat db benching, the way they fall back on the bench without the db's tipping over. There must be some technique there.

[darklight79]

Originally Posted by ramoayiraka

The first vid. Holy crap. That old guy makes it look too easy. Very humbling to watch but i keep getting distracted by that babe doing SLDL's in the background.

Second vid, one of my most favourite vids of all time.

[BLSjacked]

i used to have the same problem. I now use my chest as sort of a trampoline. Bounce it up enough so you don't have problems. With that being said...... do not overdo it. has potential for disaster, I know.

[Pssst]

Originally Posted by BLSjacked

i used to have the same problem. I now use my chest as sort of a trampoline. Bounce it up enough so you don't have problems. With that being said...... do not overdo it. has potential for disaster, I know.

Definitely sounds dangerous. I would try something else, haha.

Btw, that old guy is crazy!

[liftingbuddy1]

Originally Posted by darklight79

The first vid. Holy crap. That old guy makes it look too easy. Very humbling to watch but keep getting distracted by that babe doing SLDL's in the background.

x2!! Emphasis in bold!

Mike

[killatiger]

Yea if you keep them tight and close to your body and your elbows tucked in tight. They should stay close to your body when you lay down and shouldnt cause you to lose balance. If your elbows are tucked in tight and underneath you, it puts you in an immediate position to press the weight up when you get your body situated.

[darklight79]

Originally Posted by killatiger

Yea if you keep them tight and close to your body and your elbows tucked in tight. They should stay close to your body when you lay down and shouldnt cause you to lose balance. If your elbows are tucked in tight and underneath you, it puts you in an immediate position to press the weight up when you get your body situated.

Thanks. Ok... I'm gonna try this and see. If it doesn't work, I'll have to seriously consider getting the equipment John suggested. Lemme go take a vid on my next chest session. If i fall down again, I'll still post it.

[Flair4TheGold]

I always thought you bounce them off the thighs to get the momentum and go from there to lift.

[darklight79]

Originally Posted by Flair4TheGold

I always thought you bounce them off the thighs to get the momentum and go from there to lift.

Not really possible. I would like to say that the db's in my gym are pretty long. Here's a shot of me halfway pressing them for inclines:-


Due to their length, you can see why i have a tendency to overbalance and tip over when i fall back. If i had db's like the ones in the old guy's gym, then maybe it wouldn't be that difficult. I don't know....

[Halfway]

Originally Posted by darklight79

Hey John, how's it goin'? Thanks... but damn... i need such equipment? I'll definitely consider it though. But I've seen vids of pros like Ronnie doing flat db benching, the way they fall back on the bench without the db's tipping over. There must be some technique there.

I have a pair and hate them.

When I do db benching with 160's+ I get 2 spotters to lift them for me, that way you can lock your shoulders down when you press

[Sir_Malak]

Personally its all about at what point in my workout on chest day do I perform db presses. At the start I will go really heavy (wont say numbers because its subject to ego) at the middle I will go alittle lighter and at the end if i perform them I will go much lighter. I swap it all around to give my workout some dynamics so sometimes my friends at the gym wonder why I struggle with X weight when last week they saw me pushing Y weight with ease (x<y). After a good number of sets etc..my arms and chest start feeling like tight jelly (lol) and they are unstable so obviously its much harder to position the db's.

So I guess I could ask when during your workouts are you trying to push these up? Im just taking a wild stab because thats the case for me, and may not be the case for you.


Good luck!

[uncbob]

Originally Posted by darklight79

The first vid. Holy crap. That old guy makes it look too easy. Very humbling to watch but i keep getting distracted by that babe doing SLDL's in the background.

Second vid, one of my most favourite vids of all time.

Notice that old guy gets up with them and puts them down NOT like the YAHOOs at LA Fitness where I train that let out a groan and let them bounce off the floor

[uncbob]

Originally Posted by JOHN GARGANI

here you go:

That is what I need

I can do 27 reps with 50s on the flat but can't clean and get 55s up
Damn downright embarrassing

[skarotum]

Originally Posted by JOHN GARGANI

here you go:

What brand name is that? Where do you get them? Thanks.

[greenleaf]

Or put one chair on each side of the bench to hold the dbs.

[darklight79]

Originally Posted by Sir_Malak

Personally its all about at what point in my workout on chest day do I perform db presses. At the start I will go really heavy (wont say numbers because its subject to ego) at the middle I will go alittle lighter and at the end if i perform them I will go much lighter. I swap it all around to give my workout some dynamics so sometimes my friends at the gym wonder why I struggle with X weight when last week they saw me pushing Y weight with ease (x<y). After a good number of sets etc..my arms and chest start feeling like tight jelly (lol) and they are unstable so obviously its much harder to position the db's.

So I guess I could ask when during your workouts are you trying to push these up? Im just taking a wild stab because thats the case for me, and may not be the case for you.


Good luck!

Hi. I work my chest every 6 days. One session I'll start of with incline db benches and next session it'll be Smith incline benches. As you can see I put priority on incline work for chest everytime. Flat db benching is always my second exercise done on every session.
Due to the db length and stability issues, I always go light on them. Just for once i'd like to go a lil heavier, that's why i posted a thread asking for advice on the techniques of setting them up. As for the numbers... heh. There's tons of crazy people here pressing way a lot more than me but i like the feeling of pushing myself to go heavier if i can, within safety limits of course.

Thanks for the tips everyone. Lemme see what i can do the next session.