Thread: does width matter

Originally Posted by Rhyno

I am new to lifting and have only been at it for a couple of months and I bought this bench at a garage sale for cheap, thinking all benches are made =
But i find that as i am benching one of my shoulder blades slip of the edge of the bench and it is starting to hurt my shoulder.

Now my question is how wide are your benches or how wide should they be? cause mines about 25cm or about 10"

Or do you think its just technique?

Thanks, any help is good.

Mine's 11.5". I've got a second smaller bench at 9". Never had a problem with that though.

You either have extraordinarily wide shoulders or perhaps need to powder the rest with magnesium carbonate to prevent slipping.

I can't imagine that technique could be a problem unless the bar doesn't remain parallel to the floor during your lift - or you're lifting on an uneven surface.

If only 1 of them slips off, you're not laying on the center of the bench.

Width matters if it bothers you. You will find quality benches are usually wider with lots of support for your back. Part of bench press preparation is making sure you are dead center on the bench, I work my shoulder blades into the bench a bit along with my traps as part of my prep.

My problems with standard benches is that the rack is so small, and the bench is so short that I can't really properly fit on them. Plus if you are using an Olympic set, you are pretty much screwed loading the thing and making sure it stays balanced and doesn't go flying through your drywall.

Standard (small) sized benches are probably better for young teens rather than developed male adults.

I havent done bench in over a year mainly due to the fact that my gym's benches are so thin I tend to roll off them when I lie down. :/

Hey thanks for the feedback
ill try and make sure that i am dead center before lifting and see how that goes.

Originally Posted by camarosuper6

I havent done bench in over a year mainly due to the fact that my gym's benches are so thin I tend to roll off them when I lie down. :/

Using benches other than you're accustomed is like riding someone else's bicycle... feels "all wrong". Your response reminded me of when I worked out in my 20s. I joined a gym - the benches were narrow and I did, intially, struggle with the "balance".

I always "wiggle" my body into position when using my big bench. It's like making sure the "nest feels right". I've also gotten used to the fact that when I rest my olympic bar, after completing a BP set, the power rings are over an inch off-center in the brackets. In fact, the bar isn't perfectly weighted... when doing close bps, I adjust about a quarter inch left from center.

You could just build your own rest and re-attach to the existing bench. A few dollars for plywood (watch the wood grain direction) fitted to your comfort...foam and some heavy cloth to seal. A couple of hours.

Originally Posted by Mudge

Width matters if it bothers you. You will find quality benches are usually wider with lots of support for your back. Part of bench press preparation is making sure you are dead center on the bench, I work my shoulder blades into the bench a bit along with my traps as part of my prep.

My problems with standard benches is that the rack is so small, and the bench is so short that I can't really properly fit on them. Plus if you are using an Olympic set, you are pretty much screwed loading the thing and making sure it stays balanced and doesn't go flying through your drywall.

Standard (small) sized benches are probably better for young teens rather than developed male adults.

Buy a quality bench built to sustain your potential needs. I let loose of $400 dollars for one (not really a lot). But, it will last me until I die.

Originally Posted by JimSnow

Using benches other than you're accustomed is like riding someone else's bicycle... feels "all wrong". Your response reminded me of when I worked out in my 20s. I joined a gym - the benches were narrow and I did, intially, struggle with the "balance".

When I first moved to the area I'm in at now, I only took 3 days off from the gym and switching gyms I think alone cost me an initial 35 pounds on my bench just getting used to everything.

I sort of 'wiggle' side to side feeling between my shoulders while I center myself. If the feet are positioned well on the ground this should all be easy, I notice some people don't put their feet in a stable position on the ground.

Originally Posted by Mudge

When I first moved to the area I'm in at now, I only took 3 days off from the gym and switching gyms I think alone cost me an initial 35 pounds on my bench just getting used to everything.

Thank fucking god I am not the only one that suffers that fate.