Incline of Flat bench first.

[Lestat]

For the past month I've been doing incline dumbells before my flat barbell bench press lifts.

I've noticed a little more development of my upper pectorals since then, and I lift more on incline because I am fresh.

My workout partner wants to do flat bench fist, because he wants to life more on flat while he is fresh.

I know mixing it up is good, but if the goal is to build size and strength should one type typically be done first? Or does it not matter. Are they any pros/cons to my situation.

Brian

 

[SofaGeorge]

Gennar3 made an interesting observation a while ago that most guys did flat first because of ego... like your friend they wanted to lift more.

I do inclines first. I think they are the better pec exercise... and I always want to hit the best exercise first.

 

[Drunken_Weasel]

i actually prefer to do inclines first aswell.. i guess its just kind of preference

 

[louden_swain]

I perform nothing but inclines. I believe flat bench presses are over-rated for pectoral development.

 

[wildonsquats]

It really depends on how you respond to inclines or flat bench first. Try inclines first for awhile and track your progress. Remember that regardless of which exercise you do first, to make sure that every rep has perfect form and that you concentrate on the muscle while you work it.

 

[Lord_Suston]

I do both, I usually switch routines where flat is first during one period and Incline is first in another period. Helps break the plateau and boredom of always starting with the same excercise....

 

[barbell265]

I agree with Sust. only where I start depends on who's in my way in the morning! I preffer to go with flat first, for ego, but lately it has been a toss up between decline or incline. I did get some comments when I did my decline first last week and I pushed 315 for 5 reps. The guy who owns the gym spotted me and said,"that's more than you usually do". I replied, "yes, but that's what 600mg/wk of cyp will do for you!". J/K I just told him that I felt like I had been slacking off lately and made a concentrated effort to work harder that morning. But to the point, switching up will prevent on aspect from falling behind the others and give you a solid, well defined chest.

 

[The Shadow]

I alternate:

incline bb then flat db

next wo:

flat bb then incline db

 

[Elite_Fry]

ive started doing inclines first. its better this way.

 

[Exodus]

i like doing decline first, then incline or flat.

X

 

[Gilgalad81]

I have a suggestion that worked for me

I normally do Flat Bench first
then incline dumbells
then incline bench press..

I do 205 on the flat, for my work sets,
then go to 85/arm on my incline dumbells,
then go for like 170 lbs for my incline press...


BUT....then i tried....

incline dumbells, then incline press, then flat press..
I jumped to 90 lbs on the incline, since I was fresh,
and dropped to 175 on my work sets for flat, but 2 weeks later, I was doing 195 on my flat bench........so I guess if you pre-exhaust your chest with heavy inclines, you can move up on it.