Dumbbell bench press form

[mjohnell]

I have read about proper form for the bench press and a recent thread helped me remember a problem I keep having with dumbbells for this exercise. I know you are supposed to keep your shoulder blades flexed as if trying to touch them, and down, before you lift. This is my problem. I have no problem doing this for barbell bench because you can do it before you lift the weight up but with dumbbells you have to lay down with the weight and I can never squeeze them in after I lay down. Does anyone have a solution to this?

[newedgepnoy]

Yeah I can't do it either with db presses but flat db presses don't affect my shoulders anyways so I don't really worry about it.

[mjohnell]

bump

[Metal Jerk]

squeeze them before you lay down?

[mjohnell]

squeeze them before you lay down?

Maybe this is the way around it and I haven't mastered the technique but I feel so akward/off-balance when I try to lay back in the correct position. I seriously think I could injure myself if I were to do this on a regular basis.

[Flair4TheGold]

I just roll my shoulders back like you're supposed to on most exercises and push my chest out. I wouldn't worry about shoulder blades because if you roll your shoulders bacjk, it takes care of itself.