Opinions on decline presses

[Emmortal]

Declines are pretty useful for tall lanky guys who have issues getting into a good position in the flat or incline.  It's a bit easier for them biomechanically, but not really useful IMO for anyone else.

[ASJChaotic]

I hate them, I cannot get settled and feel as though I am not working to my eyeball bulging best.

People at my gym love em and swear by them.

Thoughts?

Am I missing out here?

USELESS exercise

[Royalty]

Barbell decline presses ok. Nothing great.

but...

Dumbell decline presses are one of the best mass movements for pecs.

[DroppingPlates]

I'd love to do them with dumbells without touching the chest/delts, keeping the elbows a little bent in the upper position and with a slow(!) negative part. True, it's a short movement but it creats a good chest pain/pump. As an alternative I do this exercise with cables which makes it possible to make a better stretch and shifts the resistance more to the starting position (above your chest).

[mass 04]

I've never seen a big guy do declines.

[d0nny2600]

Depends on your genetic make up. For some people flat benching is a complete waste and others it gives them a serious pump. I always found Inclines best, declines for a change and rarely ever do flat barbell press. Dumbells incline, decline or flat work good.

[DroppingPlates]

I've never seen a big guy do declines.

I thought both Ronnie and Jay are pretty BIG

[Zach Trowbridge]

I've never seen a big guy do declines.

Ronnie Coleman did/does them 2x a week.

[dan18]

Thats what i believe, I have this chump telling me it hits my tri's more than a standard close press, i asked why, he says "cause it does!"


That's great i'll continue to avoid them

You acually go to the gym to work out, I thought you would be the guy who never leaves the locker room ..OH  and yes decline press pointless 

[drkaje]

I'm tall and do them. Seems to help with the shape of my lower & outside pecs but probably don't improve strength that much. The stretch feels good but most of the people I see doing them never get close to their chest with the bar.

[GetYolked]

I gotta stand up a bit for decline here, because it's an essential part of developing your chest correctly. It's just as important as incline/close-grip as they work a different major muscle in your chest. More importanly, decline dumbells allow you to really contract your lower chest at the top of the lift and stimulate the muscle. I use it with dips during one of the two chest workouts I do every week and have seen results both in my strength (Flat Bench numbers) and appearance wise. Your lower chest is what gives your chest that bulky look, while the upper chest gives your chest a broad and wide look.

Just switch it in for all you who love to do dips every other week or something. But I strongly suggest you guys give it a shot, because it's working great for me