incline barbell benchpress.....is it meant to be this hard?!?

[danielson]

ok....whenever i used to compare my incline dumbell bench to flat DB bench the difference was literally 2-3 reps at most

but i'm finding the incline flat bench REALLY hard, in terms of getting the bar feeling 'natural' during the press (my wrists really get worked making sure the bar travels properly) and just in weight lifted. its almost 20kg lower than my flat bench

is this normal for the barbell bench.....i usually go with dumbells on incline, but my commercial gym has got repossesed mad so now im incline benching out of a power rack in another gym....could it be the pins are poorly placed.

i cant seem to find a good place to place the baron my chest, and dont use leg drive or even slight archine as it feels as if im almost standing up when doing them

just keep at it? or is there something i could/should be changing form wise?

 

[louden_swain]

Keep working at it!!!

Inclines are the best chest developer out there.

 

[killa in manila]

maybe the angle of the bench is too high,should be no more than 30 degrees otherwise you're involving too much shoulder.
also try to adjust the seat height

 

[louden_swain]

I prefer an angle that is 45 degrees. . . this is comfortable for me, but maybe not for you.

Experiment with different angles.

 

[SofaGeorge]

I'm betting money there is a problem with your form. If I shift slightly the weight I use plummets. This happens when I am pushing the wrong way.

 

[danielson]

thanks guys i'll keep experimenting with the form and the incline angle!

when i DB inclined it used to sort of find its own best angle but i remember occasionally i would occasionally just 'lose it' when one dumbell strayed too far...i;ll keep plugging away on form at lighter weights and see whats up

 

[SAGAT]

hmmm i was gonna say; don't worry, the weight difference is the same for me. but now i'm thinking maybe my form is off too....gonna re-evaluate

 

[CobraUTAH]

I notice that if I bring the weight lower on my chest I can lift heavier and have more power. When I do incline I like to really isolate the upper chest and I bring the bar down just below where my neck attaches right on the collar bones. The exercise is intended for the pectoralis minor so that's what I try to work. Yes it should be harder because it's a smaller muscle group and when your new to it it's even harder.

 

[louden_swain]

I notice that if I bring the weight lower on my chest I can lift heavier and have more power. When I do incline I like to really isolate the upper chest and I bring the bar down just below where my neck attaches right on the collar bones. The exercise is intended for the pectoralis minor so that's what I try to work. Yes it should be harder because it's a smaller muscle group and when your new to it it's even harder.

Thats a good approach. It is important to control the weight without bouncing. When I perform this exercise, I never lock out at the top. . .I keep constant motion on the muscle.

 

[Curious George]

John Parillo made an observation that if you pull your shoulders down and back, it sets your shoulder girdle to put maximum stress on the pecs. Just something new to try. I usually just try and keep the bells in line with the top of my clavicle and it seems to do the trick.