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Getbig Bodybuilding Boards => Training Q&A => Topic started by: Cavalier22 on March 14, 2007, 06:52:41 AM

Title: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: Cavalier22 on March 14, 2007, 06:52:41 AM
Do you all bring the bar all the way down to touch your chest when doing incline barbell bench?  I do but have recently read you should stop a couple inches to avoid possible injury.
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: Mike on March 14, 2007, 10:43:21 AM
Do you all bring the bar all the way down to touch your chest when doing incline barbell bench?  I do but have recently read you should stop a couple inches to avoid possible injury.

I bring it down to where my elbows are around 90 degrees, any lower and I feel too much torque on my shoulders.  Have a spotter make a fist, then put it on the area of impact on your chest and go down til you touch his fist.
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: mesmorph78 on March 14, 2007, 02:22:25 PM
i bring it all the way down... better results...
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: haider on March 14, 2007, 02:53:54 PM
an inch above chest close to the neck w/ a pause. Epic chest workout.
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: pobrecito on March 14, 2007, 07:46:33 PM
Yes.
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: triple_pickle on March 14, 2007, 08:57:29 PM
all the way down
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: TheAnimal on March 15, 2007, 03:58:31 AM
yes
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: dan18 on March 15, 2007, 10:07:22 AM
Do you all bring the bar all the way down to touch your chest when doing incline barbell bench?  I do but have recently read you should stop a couple inches to avoid possible injury.
better off with dumbells
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: Mike on March 15, 2007, 02:24:06 PM
Does anyone have any published research that indicates the proper depth of the lift besides "it works for me" or "that's just how you do it" 

Not to knock anyone, I don't have any to support my argument, but I'd like to know what the mechanical advantage is and why you would go all the way down. 

With dumbells people usually stop at 90 degrees so I'm wondering what's the difference with the barbell.  Is it because you don't want to look foolish stoping before hitting your chest?  Or is it because your chest is just the natural endpoint?

Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: mesmorph78 on March 15, 2007, 02:38:17 PM
better off with dumbells

I do partially agree here... dumbells give a better workout for me...
so i alternate one week dumbells ..one barbell
in th dumbll workout i start with incline dumbell press
..but on barbell day i start with flat presses
..
barbell tend to hit my shoulders more..
so i would give dumbells the edge over barbells fo hitting the chest
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: pobrecito on March 15, 2007, 03:37:46 PM
Does anyone have any published research that indicates the proper depth of the lift besides "it works for me" or "that's just how you do it" 

Not to knock anyone, I don't have any to support my argument, but I'd like to know what the mechanical advantage is and why you would go all the way down. 

With dumbells people usually stop at 90 degrees so I'm wondering what's the difference with the barbell.  Is it because you don't want to look foolish stoping before hitting your chest?  Or is it because your chest is just the natural endpoint?



W = F*D

Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: leonp1981 on March 15, 2007, 03:42:37 PM
As long as you're getting a full stretch at the bottom and a good contraction at the top, I don't think it really matters.

Try different methods and see how it feels.
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: william on March 15, 2007, 05:01:44 PM
I use dumbells to go the whole way down. I don't see a point if your not going the whole way down.
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: thewickedtruth on March 16, 2007, 05:37:24 AM
Depending on your "setup" and grip position, just like on the bench press, your body MIGHT naturally stop the movement on it's own just shy of touching your chest. If it touches and you're not a big bear of a man like wolfey here or say a few others here, you're probably doing your chest work with a FLAT back and that's a no no as far as I'm concerned. I know others feel differently.
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: Lugar on March 16, 2007, 06:34:08 AM
I go to about my chin....same with BN military......just easier on the cuffs....dbell and barbell alteranate weekly,,,,
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: Cavalier22 on March 19, 2007, 10:50:50 AM
what about bouncin it off your chest like your dribbling a basketball>?
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: Lugar on March 19, 2007, 11:03:22 AM
Never bounce any movement.......I bring it to my raised chin so not to screm up my delts.......most people come about 6inches short.....same with flat bench....plus that keeps all the weight on the chest.....if I use the smith, I might touch and go.....
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: Mike on March 19, 2007, 12:15:18 PM
W = F*D


hahah, work = force X distnace, a little simple but I was looking for something more biomechanical.
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: robcguns on April 02, 2007, 10:35:51 AM
i used to stop a few inches short of chest and could obviously use more weight but when i started touching my chest i got a lot more thickness,sure you got  to drop the weight some but its not about the weight.
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: Mike on April 02, 2007, 01:40:50 PM
i used to stop a few inches short of chest and could obviously use more weight but when i started touching my chest i got a lot more thickness,sure you got  to drop the weight some but its not about the weight.

Do you believe that your increased chest "thickness" was a direct result of lowering the bar "a few inches" more?  It couldn't have been anything else?  Added calories?  Varied workout programing?  How were you able to gauge the extra "thickness"? 
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: robcguns on April 02, 2007, 02:09:47 PM
the extra thickness was from the extra few inches because the extra stretch at the bottom hit alot of fibers i was not hitting before,and i kept my diet and workout routine the same.The soreness i got in my pecs was like nothing i ever felt before,and just by looks,and the way my shirts fit and people told me my upper pecs locked thicker.I also was alot stricter keeping my elbows back and lower back flat on the bench which also could have done it.
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: Mike on April 02, 2007, 05:07:38 PM
people told me my upper pecs locked thicker.

Is this true?   What kinds of people notice these sorts of things? 
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: wes on April 03, 2007, 04:29:21 AM
Touch the upper pecs right at the clavicles for best results.

Half reps = half development.
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: Lugar on April 03, 2007, 04:43:48 AM
exactaly.....Tis why I usually use the smith or dbell press....full stretch......on a side note, when I flat bnech, I do stop about 2-3 inches pre chest......easier on the tendons, also would make the lift harder no?
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: Mike on April 03, 2007, 10:49:52 AM
Touch the upper pecs right at the clavicles for best results.

Half reps = half development.

What would you consider a full rep on a squat?  Til you touch the ground?  What constitutes a full rep?
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: Lugar on April 03, 2007, 11:01:56 AM
What would you consider a full rep on a squat?  Til you touch the ground?  What constitutes a full rep?

parallel is actually a full squat.....ass to ankles is better and even more..........
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: wes on April 03, 2007, 11:58:51 AM
What would you consider a full rep on a squat?  Til you touch the ground?  What constitutes a full rep?
On the squat I would go as deep as my range of motion would allow.

Everyones depth will vary,but ass to the grass is best if you can get that low.

At least crack paralell and it`ll be respectable............. .doing a curtsy in the Smith Machine with a ton of weight like so many do today is bullshit !!
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: Mike on April 03, 2007, 12:11:01 PM
On the squat I would go as deep as my range of motion would allow.

Everyones depth will vary,but ass to the grass is best if you can get that low.

At least crack parallel and it`ll be respectable............. .doing a curtsy in the Smith Machine with a ton of weight like so many do today is bullshit !!

So on an Incline Bench press is just below parallel appropriate if that is my range of motion?  The logic should transfer over.

I think that just below 90 degree squats and presses are about the same, no one needs to go "ass to grass" or "bar to chest", it's just an arbitrary finishing point. 

I'm just trying to spur debate and get people to think that some of our logic is a bit antiquated and is rooted in myth (i.e. half rep = half development)
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: wes on April 03, 2007, 06:46:25 PM
Hey Mike,do whatever you want to do......I know I always do.

I`m not gonna` argue about something so trivial,I just gave my opinion like everyone else did.

Plent of other peoples posts here to debate if they wanna` get caught up in stupidity.
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: Dredlock Rasta on April 06, 2007, 07:42:35 AM
Is this true?   What kinds of people notice these sorts of things? 

LOL. I was thinking the same thing.
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: BigAlski on April 07, 2007, 09:20:58 AM

So on an incline Bench press is just below parallel appropriate if that is my range of motion?  The logic should transfer over.

I think that just below 90 degree squats and presses are about the same, no one needs to go "ass to grass" or "bar to chest", it's just an arbitrary finishing point. 

I'm just trying to spur debate and get people to think that some of our logic is a bit antiquated and is rooted in myth (i.e. half rep = half development)
[/quote]

Well no the logic would not transfer over, hehe.  The logic should be based on the angle of the knee joint/elbow joint.  At Parallel in a squat the angle of the knee is still narrower than incline to chest elbow.  This is the logic you should use.

IMO going all the way down is the best if you joints can handle it.  Some people have issues with structure or injury that don't allow this.
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: bodybusiness on April 07, 2007, 03:59:40 PM
Since we're all talking about incline... any advice on using the incline for close grip ?  A guy at the gym suggested it to me but i feel like i'm using all my chest/front shoulder instead of my tricep.  ???
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: G.R.H. on April 07, 2007, 05:25:33 PM
ALL THE WAY DOWN BRO!
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: Eric15210 on April 08, 2007, 09:37:11 AM
all the way down but do 21's on your last set - huge pump  ;)
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: BigAlski on April 08, 2007, 01:06:15 PM
Speaking of 21's, my partner and I do 2 sets at the end of biceps on the preacher station.  The best finisher IMO.
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: heretostay13 on April 08, 2007, 02:34:29 PM
There are really two ideas on this. One, to stop a couple of inches short of your chest, keeping tension throughout the whole movement. Second is going completely down, which I've found even an extra inch or two means an incredible stretch. There is no right or wrong, it's simply "what works for you."
Title: Re: incline bench-all the way down?
Post by: Lugar on April 09, 2007, 05:48:56 AM
Since we're all talking about incline... any advice on using the incline for close grip ?  A guy at the gym suggested it to me but i feel like i'm using all my chest/front shoulder instead of my tricep.  ???

Kills my shoulders unless I do it on the Smith..try close grip decline......