Why Bench?

[fortunatesun]

At this point, most will say, "but the bench press builds the muscles that power at least parts of these athletic movements." And they are correct. However, they would be missing a very important distinction.

Power and strength are not the same thing.

OK, but as with other compound exercises it's not so much additional development that is important as the neuromuscular efficiency you achieve through harnessing several body parts to reach a single goal. Getting mind and body working together makes you the better athlete and a more accomplished lifter in the gym.

I agree that a bench isn't necessary to build raw strength. It may be a mistake to dismiss it though. As you said, so much depends on your specific goals.

 

[FriendlyCanadian]

I won't argue, that deadlifts and squats are amazing for overall growth and developement, but I've never really got alot out of benching, incline db's and db work has developed my chest years ahead of what I've ever not got out of bench pressing.

It's incredibly easy to put most of your back into bench pressing and alot your back muscles are used in bench pressing, some Powerlifters told me to squeeze my scapula's together to get a better bench press. I get much bigger pumps and extremely better results from incline DB's, then I ever did from any benching.

Squats and Deadlifts are essential and key, I'd say squats is like the god father of bodybuilding. but I can and have lived without bench pressing, and my chest has been developing better now then it ever has in my entire life.

though my focus is entirely on bodybuilding, and not on powerlifting. I'm sure benching has it's place but just not in my routine as it hasn't helped me grow and develope.

 

[sugashane]

I think the facination with it is the fact thatr Arnold, Sergio, Colombo and all the other greats had massive chests. Its something that you can see while wearing a shirt, and a thick chest makes you look much bigger.
Plus, most people don't have the balls for hard deads and squats. Benches are much easier and if you have small legs, theres always long shorts and pants for them to hide it. Its harder to hide small arms and a thin chest.

 

[Edmund]

Your chest does not grow from the flies you do, it is the bench press that makes your chest grow.

Um no...I'm sure I know what makes my chest grow more than someone else would. The first time I picked up a weight I was 13 and I'm 44 now, I've been tweeking my workout all of my life, I'm 44 now. I may not be as big as most here but I don't use gear. And that's not a personal judgement on using it either. To each their own.

Besides which, I didn't say that my chest grows only from flyes but I get more from them, which is very true...for me. So why even make a point of chosing to correct (in your eyes) my post?

 

[dabuffguy]

Um no...I'm sure I know what makes my chest grow more than someone else would. The first time I picked up a weight I was 13 and I'm 44 now, I've been tweeking my workout all of my life, I'm 44 now. I may not be as big as most here but I don't use gear. And that's not a personal judgement on using it either. To each their own.

Besides which, I didn't say that my chest grows only from flyes but I get more from them, which is very true...for me. So why even make a point of chosing to correct (in your eyes) my post?

Because your chest grows best from doing pressing motions, no matter who you are. If you always do bench for a chest workout along with flies, you grow because you do bench, not because you do flies. I think I know where you are coming from though. I always feel like flies get my chest better than bench does, but I stopped doing flies altogether and just did 2 more sets on bench and my chest is getting bigger than ever. No matter how much you feel flies make your chest grow more than a press, it's the press doing the greater part of the growth stimulation. And honestly, you can't do 2 separate excercises and claim one does more than the other because that's an impossible assumption to make. (hypothetical) When someoone does just bench or just flies, the guy that does just bench is going to make a substantially greater improvement in size and strength of the pectorals.

 

[artificialaspirations]

1. its fun

2. it builds power/strength size

I'd say curls don't do much for athletic performance either and most people do those so??????

ATG squats and deads earn more respect form serious lifters.

 

[deathdroprob]

1. its fun

2. it builds power/strength size

I'd say curls don't do much for athletic performance either and most people do those so??????

ATG squats and deads earn more respect form serious lifters.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Also: nothing like finsihing up on some bench while some b00bs watch in aw at all the weight your pressing.

 

[needfasp3ed]

If I was a sports recruiter and a coach told me he had a kid that could do 145lbs 8 times on the hamstring curl machine I wouldn't really know what to think of the kid.

Sorry I'm a little late on this thread, but this seriously made me laugh out loud! Haha

 

[silver_shadow]

I think everyone in sports looks for an all around "benchmark" on how strong you are. The bench press is an exercise that everyone does and everyone is familiar with the amount of weights used.

If I was a sports recruiter and a coach told me he had a kid that could do 145lbs 8 times on the hamstring curl machine I wouldn't really know what to think of the kid.

if i was a sports recruiter and i picked a kid who's bench numbers i got to know (and nothing else) i'd better start getting myself a clue.... because deads and squats are more complete tests of strength.

 

[silver_shadow]

Um no...I'm sure I know what makes my chest grow more than someone else would. The first time I picked up a weight I was 13 and I'm 44 now, I've been tweeking my workout all of my life, I'm 44 now. I may not be as big as most here but I don't use gear. And that's not a personal judgement on using it either. To each their own.

Besides which, I didn't say that my chest grows only from flyes but I get more from them, which is very true...for me. So why even make a point of chosing to correct (in your eyes) my post?

not every big guy here is on gear. so maybe you'd like to stop using that as an excuse.