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 Anabolic Discussion Board
 Incline benches or not???Let me hear your opinion??
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| Author | Topic: Incline benches or not???Let me hear your opinion?? | ||
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Cool Novice 
Posts: 23 |
Ok bros i have heard that if u don't do incline presses your shoulders want hurt and your flat bench will go threw the roof!! tell your thaughts and if incline do hurt the shoulders or not???and does it have an impact on flat bench strength??? Speed kills but strength punishes!!!!!!!     | ||
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Pro Bodybuilder 
Posts: 426 |
From my experience, I can tell you that inclines do put a little more stress on the anterior delts and may cause a little more joint pain, but I think Incline benches will help your flat bench rather than hurt it. I have incorporated both flat and incline benche presses into my routine for the last 6-7 years and have seen steady progress on both movements. | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder 
Posts: 169 |
I fully agree with Thick dawg. | ||
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Novice 
Posts: 6 |
Couldn't imagine doing a chest workout without inclines. Make sure your at about a 30 to 35 degree angle, takes a little stress off the shoulders. My bench is up to 305 for 4 reps and i'm standing 5'11 205lbs. With an incline of 245 for 5 reps. But hey my shoulders hurt all the time, i just suck it up the best i can!
[This message has been edited by Director (edited September 18, 2000).] [This message has been edited by Director (edited September 18, 2000).] | ||
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Cool Novice
Posts: 39 |
Thick dawgs on da money! | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 82 |
1. I'd rather talk about pecker size since it has just as much to do with building a complete balanced chest as your 1 rep max on the flat bench. 2. The incline bench is essential for building a thick upper chest. Period. ------------------ (formerly known as ajc1977) Visit my website at http://profiles.elitefitness.com | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 278 |
A one rep max is more important than a balanced chest if you're a strength athlete rather than a bodybuilder. Inclines and flats are both great strength and mass builders....i think too many people swallow too much of the bullshit they see in musclemags.....they will show you a pic of a guy with a high chest doing inclines and say inclines are the shit simply because the way they sell magazines is by telling people there is a new cutting edge workout that will make them Ronnie Cloeman...I have a high chest and thought it was due to doing inclines, but I stopped for a few months and just did flats and saw no difference....The shape of your muscles is genetic, as long as you do some form of a chest press with free weigh you will maximize your genetic potential. | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder 
Posts: 728 |
Gotta go with ajc on this one.......incline is crucial for hitting the upper chest...as declines are for hitting lower and outer chest, gotta include em all for the symmertrical look, flat,incline,and decline......... ------------------ | ||
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Pro Bodybuilder
Posts: 430 |
AJC is right on the money. Inclines are very useful. Declines are too. Bjaarki | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 82 |
BigT - that's fine if you are a power lifter training for a big bench press, but if you want to maximize hypertrophy (muscle growth) you need to hit the chest from various angles. ------------------ (formerly known as ajc1977) Visit my website at http://profiles.elitefitness.com | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 75 |
In my opinion, this is all trial-and-error. Everyone responds differently. Me personally have a had trouble doing incline bench using the bar due to joint pain a long time ago. So I started using dumbell for my incline bench, and have been doing those every since. I think I've grown alot more using the dumbells for my incline presses. But, I would never do a chest workout without including incline presses. I go up to about 120 lb. dumbells and do 4-5 sets, and then I do incline dumb-bell flys. I think incline does an awesome job for your chest, but like I said, your body is going to be different than everybody elses', so keep trying both ways and then decide which method will give YOU the best results. Just my opinion though. Good luck. | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 690 |
I know I'm going to get a lot of crap for this one... Generally, FLAT bench press is a very bad movement. They are extremely bad for the rotator cuff muscles, especially when the elbows drop below the chest. A few years ago I was having major shoulder pain while lifting, aggravated by my previous years of competitive swimming. I was told by both my sports-med doctor and my physical therapist not to do anything flat bench. It puts too much stress on the muscles and ligaments supporting the shoulder. Eventually, my shoulder would have needed surgery if I continued working out the same way I did. After about two months of physical therapy and education, I dropped doing any flat bench presses, and I stuck with inclines and declines. My chest has never been stronger. | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 82 |
I'm with ya GymRatSD...I have a dirty little secret. I NEVER, EVER, EVER do flat benches unless they're the close grip variation to hit the triceps...And my chest is bigger and better than most guys 20lbs heavier than me. | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 638 |
Well I def. agree with ajc. Incline is a must for the upper chest. I hit flat and incline in my routine. what gymrat said is true, flat does put a lot of extra stress on the joints and ligaments, but for now I love them. Like I told a buddy at the gym the other day. I have seen a lot of people with a good lower chest that have a sub-par upper chest. Therefore, in my opinion Incline work is a must for a fully developed, well balanced chest. ------------------ | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 59 |
incline bench=necesity late, ------------------ | ||
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Amateur Bodybuilder
Posts: 289 |
Whoever skips incline press or flys is a complete jackass and doesnt deserve to use this board. <<<<<<<<EAT SLEEP LIFT>>>>>>>>> | ||
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Elite Bodybuilder
Posts: 705 |
Incline dumbells is what I attribute to finally breaking the 300lbs barrier on my flat bench. I never do barbell inclines though. With the dumbells it really works the stablizing muscles as well. | ||
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Cool Novice
Posts: 39 |
If they hurt don't do them every week. They are great for building delt & and tris strengh | ||
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Novice
Posts: 10 |
Inclines are a must for me, they help with overall strength and size. Also concentrate using the upper portion of the pectoral muscle, that's what the exercise is supposed to do is help focus and build the upper portion of your chest. Your shoulders will be put under a little more stress, but no more than doing flat-bench with barbells. Using dumbells is a little easier on your shoulders, it allows you to move your wrists and hands more instead of keeping them locked when your using barbells, which puts more stress on the shoulder. I almost do nothing but barbell exercises, and my shoulders hurt sometimes but I feel like barbells help my physique and strength more. Whatever is comfortable to you is what I would go, or incorporate both into your workouts. Just my .02 | ||
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Pro Bodybuilder
Posts: 380 |
If you are having major pain with flat benches then you are probably doing them wrong. Incline bench press is a good exercise for not only your upper chest but also for your tricepts and anterior delts. If you do them with a closer grip they can help you break through a flat bench plateau. Later, | ||
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Cool Novice
Posts: 24 |
Bump... Test |
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posted September 18, 2000 03:01 PM