IS bench pressing worth it??

[Big Anaconda]

I love benching, i look forward to chest day specifically for it. It feels awesome to smash a personal best.

When i call it the ultimate test of strenght i mean to say it is most recognized, people always ask you "Whats your bench" not "whats your squat" when chatting in the gym.

 

[nuh_mizer]

I used to do bench all the time until my shoulder started bothering me. Then I switched to dumbells. I think I get a better workout with them. Sometimes I don't do any kind of bench at all and just do flys, pec deck, and cable crossovers. I like the feeling that I get from my chest when I start my workout with flys. It feels like the muscle is going to rip away from my chest.

 

[Big Johnson]

Dips in general are an excellent excersize.

 

[powerforward]

who is greg titus? I'm not sure if you meant pro bb craig titus or not.Having said that i agree that there are other ways to build a great chest than just flat barbell bench, but i tend to think that its still the best overall way to build your chest. I think most shoulder problems caused by benching are because of too much weight, too often, without proper stretching and form.

The bench press is a worthless exercise.

Sorry, but I can't disagree more that it's a true test of strength. The military press, squat, deadlift, power cleans and even pushups to failure are all better baraometers of strength.

The BP is a glamour move. It feels good. It's also the reason for more blown out shoulders than any other exercise.

Think Greg Titus as a good chest? He doesn't bench. How about Vince Girondas sweeping pecs that look like a gladiators steel suit? Never benched.

The pecs are usually easy to develop because they're made up of mostly white fibers. If you 're having trouble building it, you probably always will. Consider yourself lucky. Most bodybuidlers over develop the chest to the point where they have bulbous hanging tits.

The absolute best exercise for the chest is the forward dip. (Dips hunched forwad with the feet in front) Anyone can build a good chest with enough of those.

 

[CytoMel]

No way benching is bad for your shoulders if you bench right. Bring the bar to the lower chest and push the bar straight up ver your pecs NOT back up over your face.

Done correctly benching is by far #1 for your chest..

Talk about shoulder stress dips are waaaaay worse for your shoulders especialy when people bottom out and go low on dips..

 

[slobberknocker]

I agree with Cytomel. Also, remember to keep your elbows tucked in to your sides, instead of flaring them out.

You guys who don't bench are weird.

 

[ALL41]

The bench press is a must 4 chest unquestionable... BP 4 chest is like a squat is to legs, like curling is to arms like sit ups 4 abs..

 

[nikolai_bolkov]

Yeah just keep your grip slightly wider than shoulder width and you'll feel it for sure...go slow too.

 

[Nelson Montana]

Keeping the elbows tucked in when benching makes it more of a tricep exercise. You can lift more weight, but it'll hit the chest less. Then again, most guys are just interested in lifting more weight.

Dips should not be deep, nor do they need to be to work chest.

Bench Presses are completely unnecessary. But I understand why people like to do them.

And by the way, sit-ups aren't that great either.

 

[Silent Method]

Well i think bench pressing is essential, not only is it a great mass building exercise but it remains the ultimate test of strenght.

Ultimate test of strength? Thanks, I needed that.



Seriously though, it's a great move for many of us. Nelson, I'm sorry, but to state that the bench press is a worthless exercise is moronic. Depending on your body and assuming you do the exercise correctly, it can be a great asset.

Do you have to bench? Hell no, their are many pec moves to choose from. But to state that Jimmy IFBB has great pecs yet doesn't do bench presses as any sort of reason for dismissing the bench press is absurd.

I will agree that a good many lifters should dump the bench press. They may have poor technique on the move, or their body mechanics and geometry may simply be poorly suited to the move. A great many injuries can be attributed to these factors. The popularity of the move and sheer number of people who practice it regularly can also account for a high number of injuries.

Regarding injury, their are many who curse the dip as the number one shoulder injuring move of all time. Are they wrong? For some, dips do terrible things to the shoulder. For others, the exercise is a godsend.

Is the bench press for everyone? No. Is it worthless? No way.