Should I bench press? If so, why?

[bigguns15]

I couldn't imagine not bench pressing. But, I do it for competition purposes, and because I think it's a lot of fun I think it should be a fundamental part of any woman's strength training program. Women tend to be so much weaker in their upper body. But there are also so many variations of bench press that you could just swap them around. Instead of flat, do incline or instead of barbell bench, do dumbbell.

 

[FatRat]

Serious question Bigguns15: For a woman’s comp, what is the rule for lowering the bar to the chest, where does it need to touch? Do some women have a certain advantage if their chaest is rather higher than others...?

 

[jerkbox]

you do not neccessarily have to do flat bench barbell presses...

for a while I didn't do them myself.

however, I don't think you should eliminate pressing movements altogether. Like bigguns said, there are many variations on this basic movement.

and for a women, wouldn't a strong chest help to keep a firmer bust? Also, I think perhaps eventually you might notice a physical imbalance if you didn't work the chest at all...bigger arms and shoulders that didn't quite look right with your chest.

 

[bigguns15]

Serious question Bigguns15: For a woman’s comp, what is the rule for lowering the bar to the chest, where does it need to touch? Do some women have a certain advantage if their chaest is rather higher than others...?

The rule is the same for men and women. You have to lower the bar to your chest. In my raw training, I lower to bar to the end of my sternum, around my xyphoid process. With my arch, this is the highest point. As it turns out, when I put my bench press shirt on, it moves my breasts down to this point, so my range of motion shortens a tad bit more. Depending on where a girl lowers the bar, bigger breasts could be slightly advantageous. However, bigger ones are a LOT harder to put in a bench shirt

 

[FatRat]

Maybe ditch the shirt for a Wonderbra...?

 

[bigguns15]

Maybe ditch the shirt for a Wonderbra...?

 

[Exodus]

Maybe ditch the shirt for a Wonderbra...?

AND THE QUOTE OF THE DAY AWARD GOES TO FATRAT!!!!!

x

 

[megad]

There really is no reason to do bench press unless you compete in powerlifting. In fact I'd say that potential rotator cuff issues are a reason NOT to bench.

If you're open to suggestion, chest dips rule.

Sports?

 

[IronLion]

Flat Bench if done PL style is a total body move, and it is a great compound for the upper body. There is however no need to do it week after week. From what you stated Makedah i think you might enjoy a pressing day that rotates exercises. So like say you start with a push press, then the next time you get to that day maybe do bench press, then floor press, then maybe ohp.

Keep developing your pressing strength and use as many types of compound pressing moves as you can think of, but don't ditch the flat bench fully. Besides the aesthetic concerns it is one of the most efficient tricep builders and thus pressing strength builders. If your rotators bother you start doing more of your lower body stuff overhead. I recomend you start with overhead lunges if your shoulders are not actually injured

 

[Becoming]

I would agree with IL above and suggest using a combination of pressing movements.... I think what you would be giving up a heck of a lot in terms of an effective upperbody development exercise.

Also, I agree that the balance/etc issues would come into play after years of not using any particular types of movements and you would find yourself with a somewhat weird looking physique...(we have all seen these at the gym)

I think it is more worthy to persue balance in all aspects (both physique and workout practice) than to say "I never do _____"