Group: General Fitness & Exercise

Created: 2011/12/31, Members: 382, Messages: 54581

Various general exercise related discussions. Find out what it takes to reach your fitness goals through daily effective exercise. With so many options we try to find out what works best.

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Benchpressing Question

ste05
ste05
Posts: 3
Joined: 2008/09/08
Australia
2008/09/08, 03:24 AM
Hi,

I'm 6'4" and weigh about 75lbs. My question is regarding bench pressing and if not putting the bar near my nipples is bad? I hold the bar right next to the weights as this is the most comfortable place for me to lift. However I don't get near my nipples. I lift 225lbs but even with the bar (without weights) I can't go close to my nipples. I was wondering what that extra space does ie what muscle/s? I'm not too flexible I'm guessing? I have a wide chest and good pecs etc from the wide grip and good amount of weights. I think I've gotten myself in this habit (which I can't fix now) due to bench pressing alone. But is it really that bad?

Thanks heaps.
ste05
ste05
Posts: 3
Joined: 2008/09/08
Australia
2008/09/08, 04:05 AM
Oops I mean I weigh 75 kilos not pounds haha
ecle5c
ecle5c
Posts: 1,312
Joined: 2003/07/10
United States
2008/09/08, 09:56 AM
Do you mean that you don't lower the bar all the way to your chest or that it touches lower than your nipples?

Wide grip isn't a bad thing so don't worry there. You can fix anything you just have to drop to a reasonable weight. You can't expect to bench the same if going for a narrower grip.
ste05
ste05
Posts: 3
Joined: 2008/09/08
Australia
2008/09/09, 02:10 AM
Yes that's right I don't lower the bar all the way to my nipples. Is it really vital that I do this?
asimmer
asimmer
Posts: 8,201
Joined: 2003/01/07
United States
2008/09/09, 07:03 AM
The bar doesn't have to touch your chest. Some people think you shouldn't go down past the point where your upper arms are parallele to the floor, I go for more depth than that as long as you have healthy shoulders and are using a weight you can handle. i aim for a little less than a fist's width between the bar and my chest at the bottom of the movement.

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A man of sense is never discouraged by difficulties; he redoubles his industry and his diligence, he perseveres and infallibly prevails at last.

Lord Chesterfield
7707mutt
7707mutt
Posts: 7,686
Joined: 2002/06/18
United States
2008/09/09, 12:30 PM
I touch my chest, but then I use a powerlifters grip and I bench differntly. If it hurts to hit where you think you need to adjust your grip and lower the bar to where it is comfortable. Usualy I hit right below my sternmum.

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