Thread: Decline DUmbbell bench

I spent about 6 months doing nothing but decline dumbbell bench...my shoulder could not take flat and incline almost made me cry

I have always found it easier on the shoulder

I have a buddy who doesnt do declines because he claims it hurts his shoulders. This contradicts everything I've read about them and felt while doing them. Supposedly, they hit the chest more directly than flat or inclines.

I find I need to get my technique exactly right with any kind of bench, or I get a really good front deltoid workout. And I know other people who say the same. Maybe it's a matter of anatomy.

Just fiddle with it: the angle you're pushing, how you hold your back against the bench, where your shoulder blades are. When you get it right, you should feel it straight off. (And the next day, of course.) As a bonus, you will probably be able to push more weight once you're doing it properly, with your pecs...

decline anything hurts my shoulders...........i hate it. but i still try it occasionally.

btw, when people do decline bench, do they do it after flat and incline? because i am tired as hell after incline and flat

I think that decline DB presses are definitely a really good exercise. I hate getting a spotter though to hand me the DB's, gets annoying after a while. But other than that, I really like them.

Originally posted by PeterGunz
decline anything hurts my shoulders...........i hate it. but i still try it occasionally.

that is intersting, decline presses should put less stress on your shoulders than any other angle.

It puts less stress on your front delts, but I am not so sure about putting less stress on your rotator cuffs.

Originally posted by Var
I have a buddy who doesn’t do declines because he claims it hurts his shoulders. This contradicts everything I've read about them and felt while doing them. Supposedly, they hit the chest more directly than flat or inclines.

I heard it puts less strain on the chest because of the shortened movement and the increased involvement of the triceps.

reference: http://www.nbaf.com/nbaf/apr8pgg.html, a short version.

I remember it bother my shoulders when I started to do declines as well. I think for me it had to do with the different kind of stabilization required. I got use to it and it quit twinging after a month or so.

Yeah, when i heart my shoulder from lifting, all i did was decline press, incline hurt too much.
Also i can press more on a decline then on a flat bench, go figure,
I feel that it hits my chest more.