Flat Bench Press

[Legion Kreinak]

My uncle was telling me a few things about doing flat and inclined bench presses. According to him, doing flat will make it more look like you have "man-boobs", and he claims that inclined are 100% better because when you work the upper chest, it pulls the rest of the chest muscle upward or some crap. Is any of this liable? I do flat bench mainly, and I can do alot more flat rather than inclined, but was wondering if maybe I should just do inclined now...

 

[Exodus]

sorda

incline do stress the upper pecs to some degree more, but you cant just isolate part of any muscle.

flat hits pretty much an average of the whole chest pretty much all over.

if "man boobs" is your fear, than shy away from downward pressing motions....... ie dips, and declines.

arnold never didnt really ever do decline, but did a heck of a lot of weighted dips, and towards the end of his career, from the side when relaxed they did look like boobs.......ah , but when he flexed them is a complete different story.

i will have the "man-boobs" special please.

X

 

[ROLGOR]

If you go to the power lifting board there is a great sticky called bench v1.o that will explain what flat vs incline will do.

 

[louden_swain]

I personally believe that inclines are superior for complete pectoral development. If you are a powerlifter then flat bench presses are good. However, if you are a bodybuilder inclines are your best choice. I quit performing flat presses 4 years ago, and my chest has increased tremendously in size from specifically from performing incline movements.

 

[Legion Kreinak]

Thanks alot guys. I've decided to go for inclined only now, because I'd prefer not to have that look like I have tits.`

 

[Legion Kreinak]

o_o

 

[b fold the truth]

Thanks alot guys. I've decided to go for inclined only now, because I'd prefer not to have that look like I have tits.`

Are you serious? That is like saying...I don't want to lift weights because I don't want to get too big...

B True

 

[Legion Kreinak]

How so? If you flat bench, you get tits. If you do inclined, well, you don't. I'd prefer not to have to wear a man-bra when I'm older.

 

[b fold the truth]

That has to be some of the funniest stuff I have ever heard....lol

B True

 

[Legion Kreinak]

Well could you tell me why I should do flat benches? Are you saying they don't give "man-boobs"? =P

 

[bignate73]

man boobs result if you a) have gyno b) are fat and have a large chest c) are just really fat.

noone will accuse you of having "man boobs" if you have a well developed chest and stay relatively lean. and if you are just a big motherfucker, no one will say shit to you anyways.....

its not an exercise that will dictate how you look...especially one so minutely different by just an angle change. since you are a well informed lifter....you know you are not bound to do one type of exercise for a bodypart...right? variety is the key,dont stereotype an exercise from hearsay, find out for yourself how the exercise works (or doesnt) for you.

plus...i doubt you will wake up one morning after a nice day of flat benching and have put on 3 lbs of muscle on your chest, now stuck with "man boobs".

come on...think for yourself.

 

[Legion Kreinak]

Good point. Stupid infuential family.

 

[bignate73]

 

[vinylgroover]

Legion,

You won't get boobs unless you have outrageously high levels of bodyfat. When i do flat (which is very rarely these days) i bring the bar to my clavicles, which more effectively neutralises any assistance you may get from your delts. With most people, flat bench works the ego more than it does their chest.

 

[Legion Kreinak]

First off, why don't you do flat bench anymore? And second, how does it help the ego any? It only works my ego when I see myself getting bigger. ^^

 

[vinylgroover]

My right wrist is shot and can't withstand the stress of flat benching.

As far as ego, what i mean is that you see plenty of guys hoisting up 300 pound bench presses, yet they have a piss poor chest. If performed correctly, can be a great exercise, but too many guys are more interested in big numbers than good form.

 

[Legion Kreinak]

Oh, yeah of course. I go for form all the way. 314. 3 on the way up. 1 holding, 4 on the negative.

You should to wrist curls and reverse wrist curls for your wrist. Unless it's some bone structure problem that can't really be fixed throughh increased muscle. Oh, by the by, take a look at my routine revised post if ya' would. I wanna see if you approve.

 

[gettinlarger]

That has to be some of the funniest stuff I have ever heard....lol

B True

Ha. Me too.

 

[b fold the truth]

I did not want you to think I was making fun of you...not what I meant at all. I apologize if you took it that way.

B True

 

[The Shadow]

man boobs - lolololol

 

[Legion Kreinak]

Not at all =P Even if you were it doesn't bother me man. ^^ It's funny just saying man-boobs, I know.

 

[Elite_Fry]

i recon im getting man boobs and im not fat or anything and dont have gyno. (seriously)
should i start doing inclines and declines first then? and flat bench afterwards. cos i normally always start with flat bench

 

[Legion Kreinak]

A perfect specimen! See, he's got man-boobs and he's not fat nor does he have gyno! I say, stick with inclined.