Touching chest on bench press

[LetsGoToTheGym1]

Today at the gym I was bench pressing, and this guy told me that I shouldn't bring it all the way to my chest because, in his words, "You're killing your shoulders and I guaruntee you'll need surgery on them in a few years." I've always bench pressed to just barely touch my chest and had no problems...was this guy full of s*** or what?

[zmuscles]

Thats bs iv always brought it to my chest

[damian77]

complete idiot

[dan37542]

Well... I guess it could if youre using heavy weight, but for "bodybuilding", range of motion is key, for strength, just moving the weight for maximum effort counts.

[wygdwicfy]

Today at the gym I was bench pressing, and this guy told me that I shouldn't bring it all the way to my chest because, in his words, "You're killing your shoulders and I guaruntee you'll need surgery on them in a few years." I've always bench pressed to just barely touch my chest and had no problems...was this guy full of s*** or what?

I stop about an inch above for several reasons. For one, my range of motion would doesnt really allow me to go all the way down, and for to, you really get more out of the exercise if you stop an inch or two above, because you have to stop the downward momentum completly, instead of your chest taking any of it.

[Roman_God]

Full ROM or it does not count.

It will not injure your shoulders, IF you are using PROPER form. If you flare your elbows outwards, or use an excessively wide grip, or bring the bar high on your chest, then yes, injury MAY occur.

I stop about an inch above for several reasons. For one, my range of motion would doesnt really allow me to go all the way down, and for to, you really get more out of the exercise if you stop an inch or two above, because you have to stop the downward momentum completly, instead of your chest taking any of it.

lol straight bull****.

[LetsGoToTheGym1]

alright thanks all, I figured it didn't sound right

[wygdwicfy]

lol straight bull****.

idt it injures your shoulders, but please explain further.

imo, touching chest vs stopping 1/2 inch to inch above= running on a treadmil v.s. running on a track.

[Roman_God]

Track is several times more effective than a treadmill. Full rom Bench press is several times more effective than partial reps.

[wygdwicfy]

Track is several times more effective than a treadmill. Full rom Bench press is several times more effective than partial reps.

u would call stopping a mere 1/2 inch above a partial rep? I wouldnt. My arms dont even allow me to touch my chest.

And touching chest=treadmil (creates momentum for you)

stopping 1/2 inch=track. (forces you to create your own momentum)

same principal

[TheRighteous]

u would call stopping a mere 1/2 inch above a partial rep? I wouldnt. My arms dont even allow me to touch my chest.

And touching chest=treadmil (creates momentum for you)

stopping 1/2 inch=track. (forces you to create your own momentum)

same principal

If your arms don't allow you to touch your chest, you are doing something very wrong. Anyone who doesn't touch their chest while benching is ****ing stupid.

[wygdwicfy]

If your arms don't allow you to touch your chest, you are doing something very wrong. Anyone who doesn't touch their chest while benching is ****ing stupid.

no, benching with proper form, just dont have the ROM to fully touch.

again, all about momentum, doesnt take a genius to figure it out.

doesnt it piss you off bench you see someone bouncing off chest? Same thing, just to a lesser degree, touching chest helps you in your lift.

[Roman_God]

If you bench properly, touching your chest does not include any bouncing or use of momentum to lift the wight back up, there should be a brief pause at the bottom of each rep.

You can touch your chest, if not, YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG!

[Roman_God]

touching chest helps you in your lift.

I'm convinced you're mentally retarded.
/convo

[damian77]

u would call stopping a mere 1/2 inch above a partial rep? I wouldnt. My arms dont even allow me to touch my chest.

And touching chest=treadmil (creates momentum for you)

stopping 1/2 inch=track. (forces you to create your own momentum)

same principal

your arms arent big enough to restrict your range of motion

[xpin2winx]

no, benching with proper form, just dont have the ROM to fully touch.

again, all about momentum, doesnt take a genius to figure it out.

doesnt it piss you off bench you see someone bouncing off chest? Same thing, just to a lesser degree, touching chest helps you in your lift.

i started flat benching again today. i use full rom. touch the chest and go all the way up. Momentum is caused by using heavier weight, the speed of the movement, and bad form. not by how crappy your rom is. i dont get how u incorporate momentum with good form

[Manbean]

Is it safe to pause bench (pause 1-2 sec on chest) on my heavy sets of 5? I've been doing that to train for high school powerlifting, and so far it hasn't done anything to hurt me.

[mxer657]

I've heard the same thing before. If you use proper form and are going for size, keep doing what you're doing

[TheWunNOnly]

no, benching with proper form, just dont have the ROM to fully touch.

again, all about momentum, doesnt take a genius to figure it out.

doesnt it piss you off bench you see someone bouncing off chest? Same thing, just to a lesser degree, touching chest helps you in your lift.

its really not considered a full rep if you dont touch your chest. its not like were talking about setting it down on your chest. just sayin touching it. so saying not touching the chest is better is almost like saying 1/2 squat is better than a full legit squat or even saying its equal. so if you go all the way down on a squat does that mean your just bouncing the weight up therefor 1/2 squat is better? every inch counts (thats what she said). bottom line: bringing down all the way > bringing it down an inch away.

[Roman_God]

^ Yes I pause with (probably) much more weight, no problems.. It really helps to work the targeted muscle as well.

[heartswild]

i go 3 inches from chest and leave it there for like a second. is that ok?

[newbreedfreak]

I would go to the chest unless you suffered a shoulder injury before.

[Dulba]

do your shoulders ever hurt? + if you have it an inch from ur chest its fine, but people who have the bar like their whole forearms length away from their chest is just retarded, i touch my chest

[Roman_God]

I would go to the chest unless you suffered a shoulder injury before.

I suffered a year long shoulder and chest injury and I still go full rom. Proper form eliminates most should strain from the lift.

[Lexemes]

complete idiot

derp

[jestertku]

If your arms don't allow you to touch your chest, you are doing something very wrong. Anyone who doesn't touch their chest while benching is ****ing stupid.

umm my arms dont allow me to touch my chest either. i have long arms and even at full extension below 90 degrees the bar will not touch...

i do pretty fine with it not touching...

[jestertku]

i go 3 inches from chest and leave it there for like a second. is that ok?

perfect, just like curling or any exercise you should never get to a resting position where you are not supporting the weight or fcontracting the muscle. fir bodybuilding that is...powerlifting and strength is a different thing all together.

[DoubleJointed]

Lift heavy, use good form and full ROM or you're cheating yourself.

[TheDarkKnight27]

My arms are too long, i have to stop an inch above my chest or my shoulders start breaking. Complain all you want saying my form is bad... you just have short arms.

[djdizzydave]

If your arms don't allow you to touch your chest, you are doing something very wrong. Anyone who doesn't touch their chest while benching is ****ing stupid.

you probably lock out your elbows during extension while benching too huh??? silly fools.