Bench pressing without a spot?

[sgtneo]

ive never had a spotter before, but i allways push my self hard and i do 8 reps on my last set but i dont really know much about 1rm guess i havent found mine yet. the only time i had a spotter waas when i had a sinus infection (only ever had 2-3 sinus infections), and i did 5 reps on my last set then could not lift the bar from my chest, but it pissed me of so much after his set i sat back down and did another 5 reps on same weight

Neo

 

[Newt]

Of course machines are unnatural, uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

A Hammer Strength machine is not setup to work in a straight line either, many machines are not setup that way. I have liked using a smith for incline pressing in the past but where I touch is far difference than where I touch on a flat bench. I am doubting your form on a flat press is comparable to mine.

This tread started with a question about benching without a spot. I don't always use a smith machine when I bench press. I agree that a Hammer Strength machine is not setup in a straight line. If I had access to one I would definantly use it instead of a smith machine but I don't have access to one. The main thing is how interested I am in how my form on flat press could be that much different than yours? If we are doing the same lift then I'm pretty sure they are going to be comparable.