Do you go all the way down to your chest

**Celtic Bhoy** · 04-15-2005, 04:15 PM

When your doing bench press (ie.incline & flat), do ya bring the bar all the way down to your chest? One of my mates brings it down to about 2 or 3 inches off his chest and reckons that bringing it that low stretches your pecs sufficiently good.I always thought bringing it all the way down was best

**APG** · 04-15-2005, 04:19 PM

I do and sometimes hold the weight there for a couple of seconds. However, i have been told that there is a greater chance of injury and no additional benefit than stopping at 1/2 inc above the chest.

**WilliamB** · 04-15-2005, 04:34 PM

1/2 inch is very different from touching the bar to the chest.

**APG** · 04-15-2005, 04:36 PM

I meant 1 or 2 inches what is your point?

**Celtic Bhoy** · 04-15-2005, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by WilliamB

1/2 inch is very different from touching the bar to the chest.

Yeah, hes benchin about 110kg for 8 reps, but reckons hed have to drop by about 15kg or so to bring it all the way to his chest and up again for 8 reps

**APG** · 04-15-2005, 04:39 PM

For me it does take more energy to touch your chest but if I stopped now i would feel like I am cheating

**Celtic Bhoy** · 04-15-2005, 04:43 PM

I used to leave it a couple of inches off my chest aswel til recently i started bringin it down to my chest. God, droppin all that weight hurt my ego big time!!!!!!!!!!!lol

**APG** · 04-15-2005, 04:46 PM

Same for me really but long term you should lift more I did. 1 year ago I would not rep out more than 125kg now I rep out on 140kg

**tjwes** · 04-15-2005, 05:05 PM

A full range os motion is uaually the best thing you can do.............you wouldn`t do half curls,or half squats would you.............I hope not anyway!!

**Kracin** · 04-15-2005, 08:25 PM

yeah, anyone can push a lot more weight with an inch or two between their chest and the bar. going all the way down is the best way to go, youll develope muscle a lot better, and who cares if you dont bench as much when you go all the way down, at least you wont be THAT guy with horrible form and tons of weight thinking hes the shit lol. you know we all make fun of that gun in our heads.

**min0 lee** · 04-15-2005, 08:42 PM

Real men hit the chest.

**Maynard Keenan** · 04-15-2005, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Real men hit the chest.

Yea hit that shit!

**Uzi9** · 04-16-2005, 01:43 AM

Why dont your mate do 125kg and stop 5 inches from his chest

I bet he goes on the leg press, loads up about 7 20`s on each side and goes about 3 inches deep!! lol

**Celtic Bhoy** · 04-16-2005, 01:48 AM

Originally Posted by Uzi9

Why dont your mate do 125kg and stop 5 inches from his chest

I bet he goes on the leg press, loads up about 7 20`s on each side and goes about 3 inches deep!! lol

Thats him to a tee

Seriously though, he does the full range of motion on everything but bench presses, thats why i was wonderin if he was right.

**Uzi9** · 04-16-2005, 04:04 AM

I would go down to the chest, its a compund exersise which work many muscles so you should try and use these exersises to do just that... stopping short because your stronger that way just lessens the effect of its purpose.

**BrassBolt** · 04-16-2005, 09:58 AM

right down .

**Alaric** · 04-16-2005, 12:37 PM

I touch my chest. I didn't before, and I think I dropped a good 40-50 lbs on my max!!! I was in complete and utter shock, but I kept pushing, and now I've gained/surpassed those 40-50 lbs that I lost.

**Mudge** · 04-16-2005, 02:41 PM

I touch my chest, it makes a lift more difficult for me if I pause at some point like that. But if you do it long term you will adjust as with anything.

The logic of "well its good enough" seems pretty ridiculous. Does he do quarter squats and half curls too? Does he take half his protein, because its probably good enough?

Depending where you are in the repetition you shift emphasis, it is a COMPOUND MOVEMENT. If you aren't doing a full rep you AREN'T DOING A FULL BENCH.

**Uzi9** · 04-16-2005, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by Mudge

I touch my chest, it makes a lift more difficult for me if I pause at some point like that. But if you do it long term you will adjust as with anything.

The logic of "well its good enough" seems pretty ridiculous. Does he do quarter squats and half curls too? Does he take half his protein, because its probably good enough?

Depending where you are in the repetition you shift emphasis, it is a COMPOUND MOVEMENT. If you aren't doing a full rep you AREN'T DOING A FULL BENCH.

Whats your thinking of doing barbell shoulder press, some people go down to the clavicle while other to the chin.

**WATTS** · 04-16-2005, 03:16 PM

chest here i come...

**min0 lee** · 04-16-2005, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by Uzi9

Whats your thinking of doing barbell shoulder press, some people go down to the clavicle while other to the chin.

Good question, if the response is not enough here post a new one.

**Triple Threat** · 04-16-2005, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by Uzi9

Whats your thinking of doing barbell shoulder press, some people go down to the clavicle while other to the chin.

I go to the clavicle. Why stop short?

**clemson357** · 04-16-2005, 06:31 PM

I definitely hit the chest.

**Mudge** · 04-16-2005, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by Uzi9

Whats your thinking of doing barbell shoulder press, some people go down to the clavicle while other to the chin.

I lean back slightly (unless I am using a smith which I haven't for awhile), and I go till my arms are about parallel. Otherwise it eats up my shoulders, and I just started doing these again for the first time in months. Not a lot of volume at all for me on these.

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