Ronnie & Markus both used ultra wide grips

[T-REX007]

That grip is pretty common in power lifting with some good benchers  that I have seen - the forearms are pretty much straight -hands and elbows in a straight line to maximize strength among pecs ,tri's , delts ...

Strong, big dudes for sure !

[juicemachine]

Only idiots use barbells, use dumbbells or hammer machines if you got a brain.

[Royalty]

Only idiots use barbells, use dumbbells or hammer machines if you got a brain.

For some reason I feel the Hammer Machine more in my triceps

But yes; Dumbbells are best

[ritch]

Only idiots use barbells, use dumbbells or hammer machines if you got a brain.

Nice pre historic way of seing things....

[Slapper]

How wide?

Personally, I find that a shoulder-width grip, give or take one hand's width, is best for all exercises.  Any wider or narrower and either my strength goes to shit or it hurts my joints

Well, those pictures sure contradict what you are saying.

[hardgainerj]

theres no such thing as inner/outer chest

[ProudVirgin69]

Well, those pictures sure contradict what you are saying.

It seems as though you may have missed the qualifier "Personally" found within my post

[Royalty]

theres no such thing as inner/outer chest

Well I will say this: It "feels" like the fibers that are located near the armpit get stretched a bit more if I use a wide grip.

[ProudVirgin69]

Well I will say this: It "feels" like the fibers that are located near the armpit get stretched a bit more if I use a wide grip.

It's utter bro-science but I've always found pressing to make the pecs wider, and fly-movements to make the pecs thicker.

[falco]

Wide grips busted my rotator cuffs.

[Parker]

Only idiots use barbells, use dumbbells or hammer machines if you got a brain.

Arnold, Serge, Sergio, Franco, Robby, and the whole 60s,70s gang beg to differ.
Bertil Fox used both, and when he did dumbbells, one side went up faster than the other.
I guess one needs to use what gives them the best results.

[Slapper]

It seems as though you may have missed the qualifier "Personally" found within my post

No, I didn't.

Unless you're either one of the guys in the picture (the ones with exceptional chest development) what you say can be either personal or impersonal. Either way it's inconsequential.

It's like me saying "I don't agree with Nietzsche".

That's where I'm firing from.

[crownshep]

Sergio used a wide grip,and look at his pecs.

[Royalty]

The one thing that I don't like about Dumbbells is this: getting them into position to be pressed.

Rocking back with heavy Dumbbells.... While twisting them in mid-air, irritates my shoulders.

[juicemachine]

Arnold, Serge, Sergio, Franco, Robby, and the whole 60s,70s gang beg to differ.
Bertil Fox used both, and when he did dumbbells, one side went up faster than the other.
I guess one needs to use what gives them the best results.

Those are all extraordinary bodybuilders. I am talking about what applies to typical gym members, most are a lot taller and narrower than the ones you mentioned. Length of the arms will determine the effectiveness of the exercise choice in targeting the pecs.

[Parker]

Those are all extraordinary bodybuilders. I am talking about what applies to typical gym members, most are a lot taller and narrower than the ones you mentioned. Length of the arms will determine the effectiveness of the exercise choice in targeting the pecs.

It seems that the majority of bbers in the 70s had great pecs, and used barbells. This was noted in another thread about a year ago. A lot more could be listed than above. And as far as height, Arnold was what 6'2, Serge Nubret was 6'1, Sergio was 5'9, Lou at 6'4, Franco was 5'4-5'5, Robby was 5'7, Bertil was 5'10.

So, all of these guys had great chests and run the gammit of a 6'4 Lou to 5'4-5'5 Franco. Which dismisses your "a lot taller and and narrower" comment.
True, arm length does account, but there are other factors.

[juicemachine]

It seems that the majority of bbers in the 70s had great pecs, and used barbells. This was noted in another thread about a year ago. A lot more could be listed than above. And as far as height, Arnold was what 6'2, Serge Nubret was 6'1, Sergio was 5'9, Lou at 6'4, Franco was 5'4-5'5, Robby was 5'7, Bertil was 5'10.

So, all of these guys had great chests and run the gammit of a 6'4 Lou to 5'4-5'5 Franco. Which dismisses your "a lot taller and and narrower" comment.
True, arm length does account, but there are other factors.

I'm just basing this on my personal experience and observing average guys in the gym lifting over the years. The bench warriors never had any chest development. Those elite bodybuilders from the 70's had supreme genetics, far better than most pros today. Also, they trained hours upon hours and used so many different exercises it is hard to determine which exercise caused what effect. I personally started seeing vast improvements after I dropped the barbell bench and switched it with dumbbells.

[MCWAY]

Wide-grip bench presses is an old-school exercise that well-predates Arnold and his crew.

[Hulkotron]

Bear in mind that the bar is pretty much a fixed width, and shoulder width varies - a narrower person may appear to use a regular grip but they are pressing wide, and a wide person may appear to be pressing wide, but regular.

x2 It doesn't look to me like they are using an especially wide grip.  Both have fairly long arms and broad shoulders so of course they will be gripping the bar at wider spots than some narrow tit.

Lots of getbiggers frequently keep "bears" in mind.

[thebrink]

Only idiots use barbells, use dumbbells or hammer machines if you got a brain.

so.. disregard Arnolds advices, ok...

[juicemachine]

so.. disregard Arnolds advices, ok...

Shut the fuck up disgusting golem

[MCWAY]

The one thing that I don't like about Dumbbells is this: getting them into position to be pressed.

Rocking back with heavy Dumbbells.... While twisting them in mid-air, irritates my shoulders.

You might want to do what's called the reverse bench press. Use a power rack and start with the bar down.

[thebrink]

Shut the fuck up disgusting golem

Suck me off like a good little bitch. Or do I have to use synthol and be short and bald to get some from you?

[pellius]

I wonder if it has something to do with the stretch position in training. A lot of studies have shown that it's during the stretch position that causes the most trauma and muscle stimulation. Those guys at Iron Man has built a career on their "X-Reps" theory which is just doing partials or burns, as they use to called. Larry Scott once claimed that he made the most progress when he did "burns" or "partials" at the end of a set. Jason Huh base his whole training on just doing partials that it doesn't even look like he's working out. Sure he takes drugs but he is one of the most massively muscle guys out there.

The wide grip bench seems to primarily focus on the stretched position of the movement. Also, if you notice, most pros don't seem to train with strict form and just throw the weights around. That type of training also focuses and puts most of the stress/resistance in the stretched position.

[juicemachine]

Suck me off like a good little bitch. Or do I have to use synthol and be short and bald to get some from you?

NOBODY is going to suck your 4" shriveled up cock.