Cheating at bench pressing

[1Johnboy]

What are your thoughts about bouncing the barbell off your chest when bench pressing? I see it done by a couple of guys and to me it is cheating. I do not bounce the bar at all, is the bouncing a good technique or bad?

And can you actually bench more if you do bounce?

 

[oxymoron]

I lower the bar to about a half inch above my sternum and press up. I don't think ive seen folks bouncing for yrs at least at the gym I go to.


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[hardrock]

Makes me cringe when I see people do this.

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[gatemoney]

Well the power lifter point of view is to get the bar down as fast as possible as to conserve as much energy for the push.
It's a fine line that takes experience to tell the difference between bouncing and exploding.
Of course the judges are not going to let you get away with bouncing so better you learn early.

 

[goin on 4T]

At my gym there are a lot of high schoolers bouncing 135 off there chest. I just want to stop them am explain to them the benefits of fluid movement and lifting the correct weight.


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[stevesmi]

it doesn't count in a PL meet.

you need to clap the bar to the chest, hold.. then go up and your elbows must lock .. if the weight drops even a MM you are scratched. you can keep it level but no going back down. also butt, feet, head must stay planted and cannot come off.. you can use weights below your feet, totally legal as long as they stay planted the whole time.. you can even turn them as long as a portion is still touching. many guys arch their backs to create leverage, when i competed I didn't really do that.. seemed to be the taller dudes who did that, not sure why but i'm guessing because of leverage

 

[joeblow12345]

Bouncing is pointless. It's definitely illegal in competition. This is often a way weaker benchers use momentum
To get an extra couple lbs. they also lift their ass sky high and do everything you shouldn't do. This will keep you from developing the bottom half of the press fully,and thus not allow you to get stronger. It may work in the 135-300 range, but you try bouncing 4-500+ off your chest and your going to the hospital. Let the jack ass have their moment,and laugh as you skate past them.


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[YoungNatural]

In every competition I've been in the weight has to come to a complete pause on your chest.

 

[YoungNatural]

All mine were through the ADFPF

 

[1Johnboy]

Pretty much what I thought, I do get a laugh at the bouncers and shake my head wondering if they could handle that 225 without bouncing. And yes, I could not imagine bouncing 350+, can u say cracked sternum and ribs. As far as the technique I tought it was Ok to slightly raise your ass, planting your feet and pinching your shoulder blades together. I do bench this way (only @ 275-285 (dont be too hard on me I am 51 years old)) and I feel more stable and stronger. just does not feel right with my back and ass flat on the bench. have I been doing it wrong? grrrrrrr.

Thanks guys for your input and advice.

John