Bench Press ?

RE: Bench Press ? (donnamite)

Tue, 23 May 2006 13:48:16 GMT

I have that problem too, but with dumbbells. And I only have it with really heavy dumbbells. (well heavy for me anywayz). For this problem that I have I am holding my bodyweight in a pushup position and just hold it, fully extended, for time. I end up shaking like a chiuaua (I have no idea how to spell that, I'm talking about that little dog though) and eventually falling on my face. I rest for a little bit and do it again. I also do this on the bench with 225 pounds. I'll have a spot of course. I think that this will help out my dumbbell press when I get up there in the 80 pound range. I always chose form over weight, so this problem of my arms trying to go all over the place when I pump is completely unacceptable. I just get frustrated with this because I can lift the weight but not without one of my arms trying to go wider than the other. I then go down in weight and feel like I am not pushing myself. Patience it what does it for me. Got to have patience and dicipline.

RE: Bench Press ? (95gtdriver)

Sat, 20 May 2006 15:41:43 GMT

Are you saying you do 3 dumbbell press sets then do 3 more sets of barbell bench? If so you only need to do 3 sets on flat, 3 on decline and 3 on incline. then every couple of months you can switch from doing DB to doing BB and vice versa.

it sounded like you were saying that you were more wobbly on barbell bench, which would be odd since your are cant move apart, but maybe im reading it wrong.

try this. put on 60-70 lbs and do 3 sets of 8-12 reps at nice and slow (like 4-5 sec per rep). you wont be as all over the place due to the lowered weight. after a while you'll get the stabilizers in there and can take it back to regular speed.

Bench Press ? (PGurm)

Sat, 20 May 2006 13:08:04 GMT

Hey,

Alright well I'm about 3 and half weeks into my program. I feel good my muscles are adjusted to being exerted in the gym and I've even noticed some gains in ability to curl more weight etc.

One problem I have noticed, is that my bench press is extremely weak. For example I generally do 3 sets of dumbell presses (1st with 32.5, 2nd with 35, and 3rd with 37.5 weight).

When I move over to bench press, I am struggling to get 5 solid reps with 90 pounds. I am aware the problem lies in my ability to 'stabalize' (as my friends tell me). What I'm looking for are some methods that I can help improve this stabalization, because I know that the bench is a must do exercise - but it's no good when I can hardly make 4 reps per set before failing.

Basically is there anything I can do other than continue to push myself on the bench that will help improve my ability to bench.

Thanks