Flat bench press

[Morocco]

Hello people what are your opinon of the flat bench press? Do you think its a good exercise? Or will it kill your shoulders/rip your pecs even if it is done correctly? I know Dorian Yates didnt like it, and he thought it was often used as an ego exercise. But what if it wasnt used that way and good technique was used?

Morocco

[eric89]

I don't like them. they hurt the shoulder and they r a dangerous exercise because of the weight shift from pecs to deltsand tris.

[asim]

I dont like it either. Really bad for the shoulders. Have you ever watched someone bench press. Watch someone who overloads the weight. The bar comes down and when they push it up it drifts from being over their chest to be over the head. The strain on the shoulders is just unreal.

[Morocco]

Ok, even if good technique is used?
What do you people think of low incline barbell press?, (i think its great.)

[asim]

prefer inclines and declines over flat. so yes low incline barbell works nicely. just remember to keep focus on technique and dont overload the weight.

flat bench can be done with good technique but i dont see the point in risking it if your able to do other exercises.

[Morocco]

I agree, i prefer the low incline barbell press

[Kidrok (Hop)]

I prefer dumbells instead. Had a minor pec tear a few years ago and more than my share of shoulder problems. After dropping BB flat bench about 3 years ago I have had no shouler probs whatsoever.

[ncsports]

i dont do them either.

after a couple of weeks of doing them my shoulders hurt like he11

[In-Human]

I have not done them for 15 years to many Rotator problems and if you must do them on this program DB or BB please go high reps 15-30RP...

[Creator_11]

I can say in all my years of training I have never done the flat bench press. When I was 15 and first started learning about how to workout, I never touched the bench, I went straight for the dunbbells and for a very long time I only did dumbbells for chest, and then slowly started to include incline presses. I would say my chest isn't my strongest point for strength, but because of the dumbbell presses, I know I have a rather large chest, just because of the better range of motion from those years of dumbbell use.

[Morocco]

Thanks for the replies guys.

[USMuscle9403]

I dunno about everyone else, but I don't go above a 30 degree angle for Inclines. Any more and I feel my front delts are worked too much.

[Creator_11]

I dunno about everyone else, but I don't go above a 30 degree angle for Inclines. Any more and I feel my front delts are worked too much.

I agree with you there, and several pro have suggested this as well. Both Dorian and Chic have mentioned they don't go any higher.

[King-Of-TheLoad]

I have a slightly injured right shoulder, but are still able to do flatbench-presses. However, I use very strict form and tempo and I also use a more narrow grip than usual. Works fine. Incline dumbell presses are a NO NO for me....

[In-Human]

Most Incline Benches are just about 30 degrees, and most adjustable are the same...