The Bench debate answer

[ShopTilYouDrop]

People with longer arms should bench an inch or so above their chest and people with shorter arms should bench to chest, thus equating performance.

There. Now the 'bench to chest' debate has been solved once and for all. Peace be with you.

[krete77]

I have really long arms, and I bench 245 and touch my chest.

There. Now your logic is flawed. Good day to you.

[vancityrolla]

you are not taking into consideration about CHEST SIZE or the persons BODY TYPE...noone ever thinks about this as i said in the other thread some people have a bigger frame/chest.. its just how they were made so someone with a bigger chest/frame can go all the way down to the chest without going past 90 but then someone with a smaller chest/frame cannot..arm length has its take in it to but as someone els said you can just grip wider now thats not always going to work if you have a small chest..

[ShopTilYouDrop]

I have really long arms, and I bench 245 and touch my chest.

There. Now your logic is flawed. Good day to you.

Thank you kind sir, I intend to have a good day.

You would be benching 300 if you benched an inch

[tylerpritchard_7]

Mind blowing. Short bus?

[influence]

Why don't we all just touch chest and call it a day?

[ShopTilYouDrop]

Why don't we all just touch chest and call it a day?

because it gives someone with t-rex arms an unfair advantage

[krete77]

Thank you kind sir, I intend to have a good day.

You would be benching 300 if you benched an inch

Then I wouldn't really be benching 300, would I?

[tylerpritchard_7]

Then I wouldn't really be benching 300, would I?

Yeahhhh budddddyy!!

[steve3424]

because it gives someone with t-rex arms an unfair advantage

some one with t-rex arms has enough disadvantages already, let them bench in peace

[XADO]

because it gives someone with t-rex arms an unfair advantage

Oh happy T-rex me :P....

[ShopTilYouDrop]

Then I wouldn't really be benching 300, would I?

if your chest was 3" bigger you would not be benching the same distance as you would right now...but i bet you'd still call it benching

[mmorton]

i'm so glad another "to touch or not to touch chest?" thread has opened.

[krete77]

if your chest was 3" bigger you would not be benching the same distance as you would right now...but i bet you'd still call it benching

I'm going to be honest with you. I have never really done any extensive research on the details of benching. I just do what feels right for ME.

[ShopTilYouDrop]

i'm so glad another "to touch or not to touch chest?" thread has opened.

I am ending the debate. It has been resolved. Please bookmark this thread for future "to touch or not to touch chest?" threads

[mmorton]

I am ending the debate. It has been resolved. Please bookmark this thread for future "to touch or not to touch chest?" threads

oh well thank you for clearing that up. whew

[ShoulderBrah]

I'm 6'1 with long arms and I bench to chest and full lockout on every rep. I bench 225x15, 255x10, 275x8, 315x2. I don't care about t-rex arms... i'll out bench them anyways. I've been lifting for only 2 years.. give me a trex that has been lifting for 2 years and compare our bench.

[mrmrbill]

So ...umm OP... how long should my arms be to qualify for the 1" exemption? Some days I just don't feel like going that extra inch. Are there any special exercises I could do to lengthen my arms for this? I figure by 63,360 reps, I'd save myself a whole mile of benching -- it really adds up in the long run.

[Saintsqc]

because it gives someone with t-rex arms an unfair advantage

Guy with long arms usually have wider chest than people with short arms.

Wider chest = better arm leverage.

If one have less distance to travel, the other have a better leverage. Let say its even.

[mmorton]

So ...umm OP... how long should my arms be to qualify for the 1" exemption? Some days I just don't feel like going that extra inch. Are there any special exercises I could do to lengthen my arms for this? I figure by 63,360 reps, I'd save myself a whole mile of benching -- it really adds up in the long run.

Gentlemen, Gentlemen, OP has already said the "great debate" is over. we must take this as gospel and move on.

[SamJorgensen91]

I have really long arms, and I bench 245 and touch my chest.

There. Now your logic is flawed. Good day to you.

AGREED. Long arms have nothing to do with your "performance"

[flat6nut]

I'm 6'1 with long arms and I bench to chest and full lockout on every rep. I bench 225x15, 255x10, 275x8, 315x2. I don't care about t-rex arms... i'll out bench them anyways. I've been lifting for only 2 years.. give me a trex that has been lifting for 2 years and compare our bench.

2 years here...gottcha beat in all of the big three, and I aint a t-rex. And lower test. Feels good man.

Keep banging!



Op is ****.

[BombDonald]

AGREED. Long arms have nothing to do with your "performance"

Um, no. Of course long arms are detrimental when you are talking about competitive benching.

There is nobody in this thread that needs to worry about that.

Figure out the form that works for you, and do it. Nobody gives one single fuk about random dudes in the gym that don't bench to their chest.

[NZninja101]

Good idea OP. And then, how about we make specialized stilts for the shorter people who want to play basketball so the tall people don't have an unfair advantage? But why stop there? Why not give guys with short arms longer swords in fencing so that the taller people don't have an unfair advantage with their reach? And why leave it at that? Why the hell not award additional points to people with poor eyesight in archery so they can compete better with their competition with superior vision?

You don't understand that if a taller person benches less than a shorter person, the shorter person is a better bencher, regardless of Range of Motion. At the end of the day, if they bench more with the desired form then that's that. Genetics are a part of sport, and your idea of turning it into an almost Communist ideal is retarded at best.


You don't have to bench all the way to your chest, nobody does. Do what you like, just don't call it a bench press if it doesn't touch your chest, because it is not.

Please go.

[SamJorgensen91]

Um, no. Of course long arms are detrimental when you are talking about competitive benching.

There is nobody in this thread that needs to worry about that.

Figure out the form that works for you, and do it. Nobody gives one single fuk about random dudes in the gym that don't bench to their chest.

Do you need to worry about competitve bench pressing? Longer arms tend to have a broader chest which gives them more leverage like Saintsqc said. So its a wash.

[ShoulderBrah]

2 years here...gottcha beat in all of the big three, and I aint a t-rex. And lower test. Feels good man.

Keep banging!



Op is ****.

ur juicing big time... but thats ok bro. do ur thing

[BombDonald]

Do you need to worry about competitve bench pressing? Longer arms tend to have a broader chest which gives them more leverage like Saintsqc said. So its a wash.

I consider myself a competitive powerlifter, not a competitive bench presser. My bench is far from competitive at 198.

The best bench pressers don't have proportionately long arms. Period. Guys that do have a larger frame are not going to maximize leverages until they are MUCH heavier (ie- over 250 lbs).



And like I said before, since this topic is getting derailed, nobody cares if you bench to your chest or not. You can build size either way.

[Rasputin4]

Bench press strength between two people isn't easy to compare. Some guys have large chests and short arms, some have small chests and long arms, and every combination in between. Another factor is that it bothers some peoples' shoulders to touch chest, so maybe that's what would hold them back from a completely full ROM bench press max of a certain number, and not actual strength of the relevant muscles. More than anything, it's about improving from your previous numbers and doing what you find works best for you.

[ShopTilYouDrop]

Guy with long arms usually have wider chest than people with short arms.

Wider chest = better arm leverage.

If one have less distance to travel, the other have a better leverage. Let say its even.

Is this real life?

Good idea OP. And then, how about we make specialized stilts for the shorter people who want to play basketball so the tall people don't have an unfair advantage? But why stop there? Why not give guys with short arms longer swords in fencing so that the taller people don't have an unfair advantage with their reach? And why leave it at that? Why the hell not award additional points to people with poor eyesight in archery so they can compete better with their competition with superior vision?

You don't understand that if a taller person benches less than a shorter person, the shorter person is a better bencher, regardless of Range of Motion. At the end of the day, if they bench more with the desired form then that's that. Genetics are a part of sport, and your idea of turning it into an almost Communist ideal is retarded at best.


You don't have to bench all the way to your chest, nobody does. Do what you like, just don't call it a bench press if it doesn't touch your chest, because it is not.

Please go.

Oh.you silly sausage. Blind archers compete in the paralympics.

[krete77]

Um, no. Of course long arms are detrimental when you are talking about competitive benching.

There is nobody in this thread that needs to worry about that.

Figure out the form that works for you, and do it. Nobody gives one single fuk about random dudes in the gym that don't bench to their chest.

^ Exactly.

And sorry for my ignorance, but what the hell is T-rex syndrome?