Bench press - how low are you supposed to go?

[Built]

Okay, bench-press idiot here.

I haven't done barbell benches in about a year, and likely won't be able to for about another 6 months once I get surgery and go through physio, but my husband hurt a pec benching and the ART practitioner/chiropractor told him that he shoudn't be going "all the way down" to his chest with bench-press.

I believe it had something to do with his elbows going below the plane of his body.

Is this correct? Should I maybe get him doing floor-presses to make sure he keeps his elbows in line with the plane of his back?

I don't know how to advise him here.

Anybody?

[jtteg_x]

i would have to say where arms wont go past paralell. focus more on contracting the chest. this way, it wouldnt pressure the joints (delts) when you hit the bar with chest.

theres always alternatives. i read an interview in flex or ironman about a pro bodybuilder (forgot his name, but he was an black man) that refuses to do barbell bench press and his chest is still great.

[Built]

Dumbell presses are the sh!t, no doubt about that.

Okay, thanks.

[Sensei]

Well Built,
You're probably around enough to know what my advice will be - elbows in!!!!

Legs should be firmly planted in the floor and legs and hips will be pushing so that the upper back is driving into the bench.

There should be a slight arch in the back and your shoulder blades should be contracted. Imagine pulling the bar apart w. the hands and pushing the shoulders towards the feet - this will help keep a proper arch and upper back tension. Rotate the elbows inward and bring the barbell a little lower to the chest.

Doing these things will eliminate a lot of unnecessary shoulder rotation and stress on the pec-delt tie-in.

[abwowang]

let the bar touch ur chest?
it works ur chest better doin that..

[Built]

Sensei - thank you very much for this.

[d'Anconia]

LOL... Built is asking for advice. Once in a lifetime experience...

[Butch]

abwowang;

Wise answer, grass hopper ,[Sensei] explains it well also.

[built], hear what the two wisemen say too you, for it is the proper way.

Don't take me wrong guy's only a joke, peace brother's


Butch

[Built]

Hahahahahahaha!

[HILL]

Ive always touched my chest with the bar as i find this gives me a really good stretch however i do know people that stop the bar an inch or so off their chest which i believe is also a good way of doing it. However i find somepeople get the wrong idea and i see alot of newbies benching and stopping the bar some 6 inches of the chest only going half way down which i think is cheating and incorrect however i could be wrong. I try and keep my elbows out as much as possible as thats what ive always been told yet ive seen many arguments against this were it seems 50% say elbows out and 50% say elbows in so i think this could be personal preference