Comments on: Is the bench press worthless? http://virgilaponte.com/2009/12/26/is-the-bench-press-worthless/ Solutions to Fat Loss, Fitness, Strength & Health Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:30:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: admin http://virgilaponte.com/2009/12/26/is-the-bench-press-worthless/comment-page-1/#comment-273 admin Sun, 27 Dec 2009 20:20:43 +0000 http://virgilaponte.com/?p=368#comment-273 Thanks Eddie. Larry Betz touched on variation as well. Variations of exercises are also very important and keep things fresh and keep the gains coming. While I may not always agree with certain points I know that everyone has a different perspective. Plus I love seeing other points of views and ideas as I'm able to keep learning. That's what I love about this blog. The comments always seem to have the most interesting content :) Virgil Thanks Eddie.

Larry Betz touched on variation as well. Variations of exercises are also very important and keep things fresh and keep the gains coming.

While I may not always agree with certain points I know that everyone has a different perspective. Plus I love seeing other points of views and ideas as I’m able to keep learning.

That’s what I love about this blog.

The comments always seem to have the most interesting content :)

Virgil

]]> By: Ernie Lambert http://virgilaponte.com/2009/12/26/is-the-bench-press-worthless/comment-page-1/#comment-272 Ernie Lambert Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:44:40 +0000 http://virgilaponte.com/?p=368#comment-272 I like that your comments seem to take a balancing approach. Keep it up. The other comments add a lot: vary your routines, find what works for you, avoid "never" and "always" etc. Personally, I don't like bench presses for a different reason. Genetically I have large pecs (man-boobs if I don't work out) so I avoid anything that makes them bigger. I do some incline DB presses, fly-type movements, and push-up variations for chest work. I also use a Power Twister (a bar with a spring in the middle - you bend it in a U-shape) that seems to hit my pecs. I have done weight vest push-ups, but find that using a variety of push-ups: Hindu, pike, close grip, wide grip, medicine ball and especially plyo-push-ups - does the trip for my pushing movements. I like that your comments seem to take a balancing approach. Keep it up. The other comments add a lot: vary your routines, find what works for you, avoid “never” and “always” etc. Personally, I don’t like bench presses for a different reason. Genetically I have large pecs (man-boobs if I don’t work out) so I avoid anything that makes them bigger. I do some incline DB presses, fly-type movements, and push-up variations for chest work. I also use a Power Twister (a bar with a spring in the middle – you bend it in a U-shape) that seems to hit my pecs.

I have done weight vest push-ups, but find that using a variety of push-ups: Hindu, pike, close grip, wide grip, medicine ball and especially plyo-push-ups – does the trip for my pushing movements.

]]> By: admin http://virgilaponte.com/2009/12/26/is-the-bench-press-worthless/comment-page-1/#comment-269 admin Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:47:40 +0000 http://virgilaponte.com/?p=368#comment-269 Thanks again Sgt. Fitness. Just another tool :) Same here. The key is the person doing it and if it will work for them Thanks again Sgt. Fitness.

Just another tool :)

Same here.

The key is the person doing it and if it will work for them

]]> By: Sgt. Fitness http://virgilaponte.com/2009/12/26/is-the-bench-press-worthless/comment-page-1/#comment-268 Sgt. Fitness Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:30:49 +0000 http://virgilaponte.com/?p=368#comment-268 Again I'm not a big fan, but if there's one thing I've learn in this biz and from life. Never say never. Everything has it's place. The bench is just another tool in your box. Well it's deep in mine and rarely gets used it's there if I need it. Sgt. Fitness Again I’m not a big fan, but if there’s one thing I’ve learn in this biz and from life. Never say never. Everything has it’s place. The bench is just another tool in your box. Well it’s deep in mine and rarely gets used it’s there if I need it.

Sgt. Fitness

]]> By: admin http://virgilaponte.com/2009/12/26/is-the-bench-press-worthless/comment-page-1/#comment-266 admin Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:00:45 +0000 http://virgilaponte.com/?p=368#comment-266 Thanks a bunch for sharing Greg. I also think the palms in was safer from my own experience. Great to get feedback from a physiotherapist and certainly want these discussions. It's all about learning :) Thanks a bunch for sharing Greg.

I also think the palms in was safer from my own experience.

Great to get feedback from a physiotherapist and certainly want these discussions.

It’s all about learning :)

]]> By: admin http://virgilaponte.com/2009/12/26/is-the-bench-press-worthless/comment-page-1/#comment-265 admin Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:55:16 +0000 http://virgilaponte.com/?p=368#comment-265 Hey Larry Thanks again for your input. It's great to get feedback from other trainers :) Great point as well on varying your exercises, sets, reps, temp and grip. Hey Larry

Thanks again for your input.

It’s great to get feedback from other trainers :)

Great point as well on varying your exercises, sets, reps, temp and grip.

]]> By: Larry http://virgilaponte.com/2009/12/26/is-the-bench-press-worthless/comment-page-1/#comment-264 Larry Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:56:02 +0000 http://virgilaponte.com/?p=368#comment-264 Virgil, What is your goal? If you are a football line man, I think bench pressing should be in your work out. If you are looking for PEC development, we need to look at what the PEC muscle does? You could cut pec off from the humerus (the upper arm attachment) and still do a bench press, your arm will still lock out, triceps will do the job. One exercise you can try that works well is standing single arm adduction, and cross the center line. The range of motion for horizontal adduction is about 110-120 degrees, depending on the amount of muscle that gets in the way. When doing flys, the dumbbells or cable handles will hit each other limiting the range of motion to about 90 degress. It is also very important to vary your exercise selection, intensity(load), sets, reps, tempo, and grip. Larry Betz,CSCS Virgil, What is your goal? If you are a football line man, I think bench pressing should be in your work out.
If you are looking for PEC development, we need to look at what the PEC muscle does? You could cut pec off from the humerus (the upper arm attachment) and still do a bench press, your arm will still lock out, triceps will do the job. One exercise you can try that works well is standing single arm adduction, and cross the center line. The range of motion for horizontal adduction is about 110-120 degrees, depending on the amount of muscle that gets in the way. When doing flys, the dumbbells or cable handles will hit each other limiting the range of motion to about 90 degress.
It is also very important to vary your exercise selection, intensity(load), sets, reps, tempo, and grip.
Larry Betz,CSCS

]]> By: Greg Dea http://virgilaponte.com/2009/12/26/is-the-bench-press-worthless/comment-page-1/#comment-262 Greg Dea Sun, 27 Dec 2009 05:58:11 +0000 http://virgilaponte.com/?p=368#comment-262 I can't say I agree with Jon on all elements. I'm an Australian Sports Physiotherapist (Masters qualified) former track sprinter, football player, golfer, swimmer, tennis player, basketballer. I think shorter gymmies definitely have an advantage in that their range of movement is shorter and their development is packed into a smaller volume, accentuating their body building gains. But I disagree that palms out protects the rotator cuff. Palms out is achieved by forearm probation and not by humeral rotation so whether you are palms out or in the humerus is mostly in the same position. Also, in pronation the biceps brachii, whose tendon is a primary stabilizer of the glenohumeral joint, is under less tension, reducing the stabilizing tension in the anterior GHJ. Still, I love the fact that such discussion is welcomed. Check out YouTube for a video chat I did on Common Shoulder Injuries in Bench Press or words to that effect. I can’t say I agree with Jon on all elements. I’m an Australian Sports Physiotherapist (Masters qualified) former track sprinter, football player, golfer, swimmer, tennis player, basketballer. I think shorter gymmies definitely have an advantage in that their range of movement is shorter and their development is packed into a smaller volume, accentuating their body building gains. But I disagree that palms out protects the rotator cuff. Palms out is achieved by forearm probation and not by humeral rotation so whether you are palms out or in the humerus is mostly in the same position. Also, in pronation the biceps brachii, whose tendon is a primary stabilizer of the glenohumeral joint, is under less tension, reducing the stabilizing tension in the anterior GHJ. Still, I love the fact that such discussion is welcomed. Check out YouTube for a video chat I did on Common Shoulder Injuries in Bench Press or words to that effect.

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