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Getbig Bodybuilding Boards => Training Q&A => Topic started by: 240 is Back on January 11, 2009, 09:16:00 AM

Title: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: 240 is Back on January 11, 2009, 09:16:00 AM
Can anyone recommend a good routine for chest day (1 day per week) that really emphasizes upper chest? thanks!
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: tbombz on January 11, 2009, 09:28:07 AM
what o you nomally do for chest ?

i have a weak chest so ive learned how to bets train it, ive tried a million things, big weights, high reps, free wieghts, machine...tried it al and in every combination too.

for me the best way to train chest is somethine  like this

cable crossovers 3-5 sets
flat bench 3-5 sets
machine bench 3-5 sets
machiflys with elbow pads 3-5 sets
decline bench 3-5 sets
cable crossover untill i think im done


the key here is lost of isolation movements andmachiens that make it very easy to fully focus on the chest and gett the best possible pec contraction


for me, this is what works best
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: Rimbaud on January 11, 2009, 09:44:20 AM
I would personally just focus on incline movements. Maybe start with incline bench press & then incline dumbbell presses (vary the angles) & then hit the flyes/pec dec.
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: The Apprentice on January 11, 2009, 10:26:09 AM
incline bb press 5 x 5
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: wes on January 11, 2009, 10:56:17 AM
Smith Inclines to the clavicles.......5 sets,pyramiding up in weight while decreasing reps.

Example:
warmup for 12 reps,then:
8,5,5,10,12

Alternate weekly with Dumbell Inclines for 5 sets of 12,8,5,8,10

Add in a few sets of incline cable flyes and some wide benches for 8-12 reps to finish off.
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: tbombz on January 11, 2009, 11:07:54 AM
do you guys actually feel like you get anything out of ihclines you dont get out of other chest movements?

i never did get anything, but i did them because they are always so highly recommended.

then van bilderass said he thought flat bench was superiror for upper chest and that maybe even declines too... ive stopped doing inclines and focused on other movements.... and yes it definitely is better for me that way.
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: wes on January 11, 2009, 11:12:18 AM
I`ve done inclies and stopped benching in the past for long periods at a time and my chest made gains.

I guess it`s one of those to each his own type deals.

Do what works for you is my advice.
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: chaos on January 11, 2009, 12:07:01 PM
Like Wes said inclines to the clavicles. Alot of people doing inclines bring the bar too far down their chest IMO, high up on the clavicles is the best, IMO. Also when doing incline flyes the same thing applies, bring the DBs together high up over your head, too many people bring them up too far forward, making it an inclined flat flye.
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: JasonH on January 11, 2009, 01:05:19 PM
Concentrate on inclines on a reasonably high incline bench. I find that incline barbell presses at about 30-35 degrees followed by incline dumbell flyes at around 35-45 degrees should work just fine. Heavy as you can go while retaining perfect form and bringing the bar down to touch the upper chest or maybe an inch or two above.
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: Meso_z on January 11, 2009, 01:41:30 PM
Jay highly recommends decline presses for upper chest. when doing them, try to touch your pecs with your chin.
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: Rimbaud on January 11, 2009, 03:14:38 PM
incline bb press 5 x 5

Good call - I love those.
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: 240 is Back on January 11, 2009, 09:12:45 PM
great stuff, thanks.

Does rep range affect much?  I go shit heavy for me (down to 4-5 reps at the end with 225).

I have long ass lanky arms :(
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: calfzilla on January 11, 2009, 09:15:07 PM
To keep things simple I would just start off your chest workout with 3 or 4 sets of heavy dumbell inclines.  Make sure it is heavy enough that you can only get in the 4-8 range.  Then finish the rest of your workout as usual. 
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: tbombz on January 11, 2009, 09:57:05 PM
great stuff, thanks.

Does rep range affect much?  I go shit heavy for me (down to 4-5 reps at the end with 225).

I have long ass lanky arms :(

yes rep range matters.as a general rtule, lower than 6 is strength with small hypertrophy.  7-11 is mainly hypertrophy with some strength.  above 12 is little hypertophy with no strength(except endurance).
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: Rimbaud on January 12, 2009, 09:12:10 AM
great stuff, thanks.

Does rep range affect much?  I go shit heavy for me (down to 4-5 reps at the end with 225).

I have long ass lanky arms :(


Experiment...try low, medium, & high reps...you may be shocked.
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: wes on January 12, 2009, 04:12:26 PM
great stuff, thanks.

Does rep range affect much?  I go shit heavy for me (down to 4-5 reps at the end with 225).

I have long ass lanky arms :(

Refer to my first post in thread for rep range.
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: Geo on January 12, 2009, 08:42:23 PM
Can anyone recommend a good routine for chest day (1 day per week) that really emphasizes upper chest? thanks!


there's no such thing as an "upper chest" !
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: calfzilla on January 12, 2009, 11:31:44 PM

there's no such thing as an "upper chest" !
Markus disagrees. 
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: coltrane on January 15, 2009, 01:05:23 PM
Smith Inclines to the clavicles.......5 sets,pyramiding up in weight while decreasing reps.

Example:
warmup for 12 reps,then:
8,5,5,10,12

Alternate weekly with Dumbell Inclines for 5 sets of 12,8,5,8,10

Add in a few sets of incline cable flyes and some wide benches for 8-12 reps to finish off.

yes, these are excellent and can also be done with a flat postition.   
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: LatsMcGee on January 16, 2009, 03:12:07 AM
Incline DB Presses compound set with Presses to the neck.  10 x 10.  Chest workout is over.
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: jpm101 on January 16, 2009, 08:56:30 AM
Might try Pec Decks (the one with the resistance on the elbow pads) while keeping the elbows inline with the upper chest/neck at all times. Followed by wider grip dips, preferred done on a "V" bar. This is an example of the Pre-Exhause system. Can be very effective for most. No rest between Pec decks and dips. Than a 90 to 120 second break between each cycle. Three cycles of 7-9 reps.

Excellent suggestion from LatsMcGree. I am guessing he refers to GVT where the same weight is used on the bar/DB's for the total 100 reps. Most men will just use one exercise, per body part, when doing them.

Either of the two systems are usually done from a 6 to 8 week training cycle, depending on the results. Good Luck.
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: coltrane on January 16, 2009, 10:13:37 AM
Incline DB Presses compound set with Presses to the neck.  10 x 10.  Chest workout is over.


Looks interesting and would like to try it... can you give me some weight suggestions for these sets?  Or at least what you use?   Trying to figure out how much do drop when going to the presses... oh, and 10 reps each movement for a total of 10 sets?
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: LatsMcGee on January 16, 2009, 10:38:32 PM

Looks interesting and would like to try it... can you give me some weight suggestions for these sets?  Or at least what you use?   Trying to figure out how much do drop when going to the presses... oh, and 10 reps each movement for a total of 10 sets?

I would start with your 12 rep max for the first two workouts and work your way to your ten rep max,  if you really like your progress after about 6-8 weeks drop your reps for a period to about 5. 
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: pjs on February 06, 2009, 07:14:43 PM
Can anyone recommend a good routine for chest day (1 day per week) that really emphasizes upper chest? thanks!

Bench pressing.
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: Exal on February 09, 2009, 01:38:00 PM

there's no such thing as an "upper chest" !

Pectoralis Clavicular
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: Awesomo on February 11, 2009, 06:34:20 PM
I think basically you either got a big chest with genetics or not. No matter what I do I can't grow my chest. On the other hand I don't ever work out arms and they are my best feature. It is just my genetics. My brother is the complete opposite. He has a good chest but no arms. He hardly ever works out chests and has tried everything he can to grow his arms but can't. I think we are all just stuck with our genetics (unless you get some roids probably)
Title: Re: Routine for weak upper chest?
Post by: mac33 on February 16, 2009, 10:21:16 AM
You can try doing shrugs with a barbell and an underhand grip - go with the feeling, adjust the widness of the grip in such a way that it suits you. Just try to feel it in the upper pecs as you are lifting the weight, simple as that.