wide grip bench press vs. regular bench press

[jonnyb]

This week, for the first time, I tried wide grip presses. It really did a number on my chest. It seemed to work my chest out harder then when I have my hands closers together. However, it did hurt my shoulders a little bit.

Which one do you guys do on a regular basis?

[Deception]

Originally posted by jonnyb
This week, for the first time, I tried wide grip presses. It really did a number on my chest. It seemed to work my chest out harder then when I have my hands closers together. However, it did hurt my shoulders a little bit.

Which one do you guys do on a regular basis?

The grip that allows me the press the most amount of weight with the least amount of discomfort (shouder pain, etc).

Unless I'm doing work on my tri's, that's the only grip I use.

[scott_donald]

findt he perfect medium for you, not too narrow or too wide...

[amusclehead]

too wide a grip can **** up your shoulders permanently.

[Mad_Dog_Divine]

yeah the wider the grip the more dangerous it is for the shoulders. but i did wide grip once a long time ago and felt it more in my chest. i stick to a slightly narrower grip now

[Ashford]

I was originally doing my bench with my hands slightly more than shoulder width apart. Every time I did bench my shoulder would hurt. Recently I switched to a wider grip with my hands about 3.5ft or so about and my shoulder doesn't hurt anymore.

Anyways I do wide grip, don't go too wide though because I can see how that could mess up your shoulders.

[amusclehead]

mmm, i think your hands being 3 1/2ft. wider than your shoulders will definately **** them up pretty quickly...

[A-rod]

I like to use close grip benches better .................................................

[amusclehead]

Originally posted by A-rod
I like to use close grip benches better .................................................

close-grip own

[Ashford]

Sorry if I mistyped that. I meant the insides of my hands about 3.5 feet apart. Not out that far from my shoulders. Basically I put the outside of my hands at the outer edge of the rough part of the bb at my gym.

[squashcoach]

I was originally doing my bench with my hands slightly more than shoulder width apart. Every time I did bench my shoulder would hurt. Recently I switched to a wider grip with my hands about 3.5ft or so about and my shoulder doesn't hurt anymore.

Anyways I do wide grip, don't go too wide though because I can see how that could mess up your shoulders.

I have always been told the wider grip is tougher on the shoulders, but it's the exact opposite for me (I mostly do light weight, high reps to failure).

[TheShadowMan]

Love wides, only kind of benchpress I do for chest - sometimes with dumbbells but when chest is target the wide grip is ideal. To find your safe wide grip in accordance to your body, hook elbows like a cuban rotation, and find where your hands meet the bar. There's your sweet spot, lift away.