Thinking of dropping bench press

[FitnessGuy1991]

My pecs are looking pretty saggy from the side, and I read an article on this site saying we are far to obsessed with bench press. What are your thoughts on dropping bench press and only doing incline press/incline flies and other upper chest exercises?

[Aussie Joel]

I would suggest possibly posting a pic. I personally wouldn't drop flat bench, however i would make incline press movements my priority and train them first up with flat bench towards the end of the workout.

[FitnessGuy1991]

I would suggest possibly posting a pic. I personally wouldn't drop flat bench, however i would make incline press movements my priority and train them first up with flat bench towards the end of the workout.

Don't have a camera with me. When I flex they look fine but when unflexed from the side you wouldn't even be able to tell I lift weights. From straight on view they look great though.

[flangmasterj]

At 18 you most certainly haven't built that much mass anyway. Stick with it. Remember to use a full range of motion and feel the muscle contracting.

[Joelift]

How much do you bench? It could just be a problem with overall mass.

[-Lucifer]

Stick to incline movements then.

[FitnessGuy1991]

How much do you bench? It could just be a problem with overall mass.

Not much. I dont no my max but I do 4 sets of 8 at 135. I know your gonna say well thats not enough so keep doing it, but for as little as I bench my pecs have pretty good mass. They def. have a nice shape to them and you can see it straight on. Its just the side droop that makes it look bad.

[theapexxxx]

Not much. I dont no my max but I do 4 sets of 8 at 135. I know your gonna say well thats not enough so keep doing it, but for as little as I bench my pecs have pretty good mass. They def. have a nice shape to them and you can see it straight on. Its just the side droop that makes it look bad.

Its most likely just fat.

[Christian1027]

Ever since that guy from USC dropped the barbell on his chest I am too nervous to do barbell bench. Especially asking a stranger to spot me.

[theapexxxx]

Ever since that guy from USC dropped the barbell on his chest I am too nervous to do barbell bench. Especially asking a stranger to spot me.

Pansy.
Use a power rack.

[ProTec]

Ever since that guy from USC dropped the barbell on his chest I am too nervous to do barbell bench. Especially asking a stranger to spot me.

Use a grip with the thumb NOT at the same side as the fingers and it becomes really hard to drop the BB.

[Ironlife]

Ever since that guy from USC dropped the barbell on his chest I am too nervous to do barbell bench. Especially asking a stranger to spot me.

I train alone and bench a bit of weight, getting stuck happens and you get the wind knocked out of you time to time but i wouldnt change a thing.

OP inclines are very beneficial, but your pecs are probably getting that appearance due to more your diet than your exercise selection

[Frozn]

If you have muscular pecs they wont look saggy.. I don't believe your chest is muscular, especaily only benching 135.

[Joelift]

Not much. I dont no my max but I do 4 sets of 8 at 135. I know your gonna say well thats not enough so keep doing it, but for as little as I bench my pecs have pretty good mass. They def. have a nice shape to them and you can see it straight on. Its just the side droop that makes it look bad.

There's nothing wrong with incline bench, but fat and lack of overall mass is what's making your pecs look bad from the side. My advice would be to begin your routine with incline bench and use flat bench as a secondary exercise.

[kittyboy]

As others have pointed out, muscle doesn't sag. Fat does. Look at your diet, OP. No need to drop bench press.

[TomMutaffis]

My pecs are looking pretty saggy from the side, and I read an article on this site saying we are far to obsessed with bench press. What are your thoughts on dropping bench press and only doing incline press/incline flies and other upper chest exercises?

I dropped Barbell Bench Press years ago in favor of dumbbells, incline press, and machine movements. For me the risk/benefit was not worth it and I did not plan to compete in powerlifting.

You can develop a great chest without the bench press, but I would make sure that you are not only doing decline work. I still do decline barbell press as a secondary movement and do DB bench as a primary movement along with incline DB/BB press.

[Dominik]

My pecs are looking pretty saggy from the side, and I read an article on this site saying we are far to obsessed with bench press. What are your thoughts on dropping bench press and only doing incline press/incline flies and other upper chest exercises?

Probably can't hurt. Most people in the gym bench with too much ego anyway and only lower the bar half way which really only works the triceps.

If I could give you any advice it would be to use a little less weight and concentrate on getting the bottom half of the movement right. That's what's going to build your chest.

I haven't trained bench in years and my chest hasn't disappeared. I prefer inclines and weighted dips.

[spirit3530]

Probably can't hurt. Most people in the gym bench with too much ego anyway and only lower the bar half way which really only works the triceps.

If I could give you any advice it would be to use a little less weight and concentrate on getting the bottom half of the movement right. That's what's going to build your chest.

I haven't trained bench in years and my chest hasn't disappeared. I prefer inclines and weighted dips.

Cant complain with that chest right there

[Dominik]

Cant complain with that chest right there

I always thought Hola was a great example. Hadn't done bench in years opting for dumbbells and Hammer Strength machines instead. Was an easy way to shut down the classic "u gotta do bench brah" parrot argument.

[spirit3530]

I always thought Hola was a great example. Hadn't done bench in years opting for dumbbells and Hammer Strength machines instead. Was an easy way to shut down the classic "u gotta do bench brah" parrot argument.

Yeah, I only do incline bb press, flat bb bench is not necessary. Heavy DB's are too cumbersome for me and only aggravate my shoulders getting them into position.

[Dominik]

Yeah, I only do incline bb press, flat bb bench is not necessary. Heavy DB's are too cumbersome for me and only aggravate my shoulders getting them into position.

I remember DD used to talk up those "Power Hooks." Ever tried them?

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/cp/ph.html

[FitnessGuy1991]

I remember DD used to talk up those "Power Hooks." Ever tried them?

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/cp/ph.html

Thanks for the thoughts guys. Ya, I'm gonna keep bench but I'm gonna do 4 sets incline and 2 sets bench afterwards. Your probably right, the sag look is probably because my chest is not muscular enough. I'll keep working at it.

[gixxer0.6g]

If you have muscular pecs they wont look saggy.. I don't believe your chest is muscular, especaily only benching 135.

This. The bench press is one of the big 3 for a reason. Stick with it and find a spot.

[nsiegel5]

There is no real reason you have to bench press for a big chest but I dont think that is the question here. The OP seems to feel his chest is too massive and is begining to sag so he wants to stop doing flat chest press movements. I would have to agree with everyone that is saying this guy is just flabby. I do flat bench with a hell of a lot more then 135 and my chest certainly isnt hanging down loooking saggy yet Ive seen overweight guys with man boobs all the time.
Point is nothing wrong with not doing a flat barbell chest press and using a different movement to build your chest but sagging boobs are not a result of a massive musclar chest they are a results of being flabby.

[spirit3530]

I remember DD used to talk up those "Power Hooks." Ever tried them?

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/cp/ph.html

Yeah, I have them hanging up on my clothes rack right now. Maybe I wil break them out again down the line. I used them before they just felt awkward because it was new. I didn't even think about them till you just brought them up.

[FitnessGuy1991]

There is no real reason you have to bench press for a big chest but I dont think that is the question here. The OP seems to feel his chest is too massive and is begining to sag so he wants to stop doing flat chest press movements. I would have to agree with everyone that is saying this guy is just flabby. I do flat bench with a hell of a lot more then 135 and my chest certainly isnt hanging down loooking saggy yet Ive seen overweight guys with man boobs all the time.
Point is nothing wrong with not doing a flat barbell chest press and using a different movement to build your chest but sagging boobs are not a result of a massive musclar chest they are a results of being flabby.

It's not that I feel my pecs are saggy. like I said, looking from them head on I am very pleased with the size and definition. But I guess my real problem is that from the side there is no definition. If there was definition they would not look saggy, but because it just look flat from the side and my lower chest pops out more than my upper they look like they sag.

[BluntD]

Yeah, I have them hanging up on my clothes rack right now. Maybe I wil break them out again down the line. I used them before they just felt awkward because it was new. I didn't even think about them till you just brought them up.

I had debated asking for a set of those for Christmas, but I felt it could be awkward pressing with those hooks jutting out, that it would almost feel weird/different. What did you think?

Not a major deal to me anyway because I train with a big guy who just hands me a DB in the up position anyway, but I was thinking more about future use when I'm on my own.

[XXX666]

most people that don't like to bench just don't know how to bench.......

[FitnessGuy1991]

most people that don't like to bench just don't know how to bench.......

Oh don't get me wrong, I love to bench. For me it's the most fun exercise, I just was wondering if it is having negative effects.

[spirit3530]

I had debated asking for a set of those for Christmas, but I felt it could be awkward pressing with those hooks jutting out, that it would almost feel weird/different. What did you think?

Not a major deal to me anyway because I train with a big guy who just hands me a DB in the up position anyway, but I was thinking more about future use when I'm on my own.

Yeah ackward because you are seeing the hooks standing up and your grip is wider. Other than that it is ok.

most people that don't like to bench just don't know how to bench.......

Most people that flat bench "seems" to work for develop an elitist attitude that all others that it doesn't work for, must be doing it wrong.