Why do some pros not bench???

[TropicalSunset]

I am just curious as to why I have heard a lot of pros (Phil among other) say that they avoid the bench press due to injury risk. Is it really that big of an injury risk? I myself prefer freeweights for chest because I feel the contraction better, but I know you can load on more weight on the bench. It is funny to hear pros talking about bench being so risky when they all do squats and deadlifts, which in my mind are a lot more high risk.

And does anyone know of pros who never do bench.......also it seems like more are willing to do incline than flat. I guess the angle puts less pressure on the shoulder. I am always curious why pros make the decisions they do working out, because obviously for them there is a lot more pressure to get everything right.

[Ajthemeso]

from what i hear it is 'cause it's too dangerous.

[Loctus]

Round up 100 people with torn pecs and ask them how they tore it. That should kinda answer it...

[sexnews]

Yes, risk of injury and they don't have to feed their egos

[spamy]

DB decline press (not much, only 15 degrees) - no 1 chest exercise

[TropicalSunset]

I rarely do benching, or rather only once in a while, but I have never felt like I would get injured doing it, but then again I do not load up the bar like the pros do that is for sure.

[203mh]

A lot of em feel like it's too much of a risk... Gaspari tore his pec that way, I think Freeman as well

[TTimmerman]

make more threads please

[ltrrtl218]

lifting the weight they do makes you run a much higher risk of injury id bet

[pumpnshred]

Phil doesn't bench? Hmm, gotta check out his vids...

[purdey]

Phil doesn't bench? Hmm, gotta check out his vids...

He should, benching stretches your clavicles

[kentpaul]

you can pull tendons in your ankle if you feet arent on the ground flat.

[Zachary533]

make more threads please

I don't understand why this is the common mindset on the IFBB forum,

Hover, see if it's in your interest- if not, don't click?

I for one know why (Injury/muscular contraction) but I would understand this would be a legitimate question for the average joe?

Personally I feel as though my left rotator gets absolutely owned if I try do Hypertrophy sets with Flat Barbell Bench- Dumbbells all the way!

[patbanya]

Phil doesn't bench? Hmm, gotta check out his vids...

[Loctus]

oh c'mon that doesn't count.

I've seen all of Heath's DVD's and I can't recall him doing any variation of a barbell bench press in any of them.

[Larfleeze]

oh c'mon that doesn't count.

I've seen all of Heath's DVD's and I can't recall him doing any variation of a barbell bench press in any of them.

Pretty sure I saw him reply to someone on twitter once saying he thinks they're too risky

[zmcdole]

Round up 100 people with torn pecs and ask them how they tore it. That should kinda answer it...

ummmm my guess is they'll say they were flaring the **** out of their elbows with way too much weight on the bar because they forgot to check their ego at the door. We all know that's not what they'll say, but that's pretty much exactly why they tore their pec.

The reason that so many people tear their pecs benching is because that's the exercise that most gym rats do 3 days a week. It's the most popular lift and if more people do that chest exercise than any other of course there's gonna be a lot of pec tears related to the bench.

[ZBlacktt]

See Shawn R talk about it in a video not long ago on here about how he doesn't bench.

[lee4]

what ARE the most common chest movements pro's use, or is it pick and choose across the board?

[jcrobles92]

what ARE the most common chest movements pro's use, or is it pick and choose across the board?

smith machine i would think plus besides the decreased risk its easier to load & unload.

[youphilme]

Evan Centopanni is a HUGE believer in the bench, check out one of his training vids o youtube he talks why he feels he never strayed away from it. And no im not gonna look it up and post it for ya = P

[PillClinton]

smith machine i would think plus besides the decreased risk its easier to load & unload.

aren't there issues with strictly using smith machines? I don't know to be honest... never really use them anyway.... they are tucked in the corners of my gym so they don't even occur to me to use them

[Ajthemeso]

aren't there issues with strictly using smith machines? I don't know to be honest... never really use them anyway.... they are tucked in the corners of my gym so they don't even occur to me to use them

i'v heard that too. they say it's because your shoulders are in a locked position just going up and down the pressure goes to your shoulders so it's bad for your rotator cuffs.

[TropicalSunset]

Myself I have used Hammer Strength machines for chest (plate loaded ones) and I have loved them. Really feel my chest in those. I see they are very popular with pros as well. I was just curious is there was another reason, other than just the higher risk of injury that makes pros stay away from the bench press. Nor have I heard anything definitive about benching being bad for you. It is just more bro science, although in my mind there might be something to it as well, or I am sure more pros would be benching heavy.

Now that I think of it.....I don't remember Ronnie doing crazy benching either........I think I saw him do incline a few times, but didn't he primarily use freeweights as well?

[jcrobles92]

aren't there issues with strictly using smith machines? I don't know to be honest... never really use them anyway.... they are tucked in the corners of my gym so they don't even occur to me to use them

it really does feel unnatural but i read that it feels that way because it helps isolate or some bull**** don't quote me on that but i guess you use less of your shoulders/triceps and keeps the tension on the pec/shoulder tie low. i use it but still bench often

[Overboostin]

Around 9:30-11:00 Dorian talks about why he doesn't like flat bench

[stealth_swimmer]

ummmm my guess is they'll say they were flaring the **** out of their elbows with way too much weight on the bar because they forgot to check their ego at the door. We all know that's not what they'll say, but that's pretty much exactly why they tore their pec.

The reason that so many people tear their pecs benching is because that's the exercise that most gym rats do 3 days a week. It's the most popular lift and if more people do that chest exercise than any other of course there's gonna be a lot of pec tears related to the bench.

Ok, but you could do decline *and* go heavy....whereas with flat bench, you can't go quite as heavy without risking injury (over time). I personally do flat bench, but I rarely push myself on it. I make sure to pinch my shoulder blades back, do controlled reps, etc. Will probably start doing declines instead since I've hurt my rotator cuffs before getting a little careless on incline flies (and also a couple times in junior high from too much arm wrestling), so the way I see it, people like me gotta take *extra* care of our rotator cuffs.

[TropicalSunset]

Around 9:30-11:00 Dorian talks about why he doesn't like flat bench

Thanks for that post. Man I could listen to Dorian talk about stuff all day long. He doesn't beat around the bush. Love the guy. Very no nonsense approach. And interesting to hear him mention the benching thing and say that you should forget it unless you are a powerlifter.

[JCTWP46]

I rarely bench press anymore. I haven't had a training partner in 3 years and so I don't feel comfortable loading up a bar without someone to spot me (or someone I am comfortable with to spot me). I have torn both of my posterior labrums, however, I don't feel like they give me many issues with bench pressing. As long as form is good, no problems. If anything, my shoulders are stronger than they were before. I stick to incline db press these days for my first exercise and for what I go the heaviest on. I usually mix hammer strength, cables, dips, other dbs, etc. in for the rest of my chest workout.

[bazookasword]

BB'ers tend to (as far as i've seen atleast) to flare their elbows quite alot when doing flat bench. tuck in dem elbows and te risk of a pec-tear drastically drops.

watch eric spoto bench (the biggest mother****er) too see what i mean.