Question about elbow position in benchpress

Should the elbows be kept as close as possible to the body?

I understand that the forearms are supposed to be vertical at all
times, so that seems to dictate the position of the elbows too.

I've read a lot of contradictory info, pls help. Thanks!

ps. it should be elbows out--to the side and NOT toward the body


george wrote:
> Should the elbows be kept as close as possible to the body?
>
> I understand that the forearms are supposed to be vertical at all
> times, so that seems to dictate the position of the elbows too.
>
> I've read a lot of contradictory info, pls help. Thanks!

NO

some do what you describe, but only during one variation of close-grip
bench press

if you want to develop your chest, your pectorals, you don't have to
bench.

DO dumbbells

Bench press is done in many different ways. if you can believe it! and
the purpose of each is different and works toward different goals

ASK YOURSELF:

Why bench press?

to build bigger pecs?
to lift more weight while on a bench?
to impress people who I imagine to be impressed? in my mind?

I think bench press with a barbell is just...well...not worthwhile

use dumbbells

good luck



george wrote:
> Should the elbows be kept as close as possible to the body?
>
> I understand that the forearms are supposed to be vertical at all
> times, so that seems to dictate the position of the elbows too.
>
> I've read a lot of contradictory info, pls help. Thanks!

george wrote:
> Should the elbows be kept as close as possible to the body?
>
> I understand that the forearms are supposed to be vertical at all
> times, so that seems to dictate the position of the elbows too.
>
> I've read a lot of contradictory info, pls help. Thanks!


Just think of it as a "normal" or "natural" push-up (except for the
kind where you keep your elbows tucked in!) in reverse.

Too much (and too close a) reading of info, I think...doesn't your own
body tell you how it wants to lift it??

jimmy wrote:
> NO
>
> some do what you describe, but only during one variation of close-grip
> bench press
>
> if you want to develop your chest, your pectorals, you don't have to
> bench.
>
> DO dumbbells
>
> Bench press is done in many different ways. if you can believe it! and
> the purpose of each is different and works toward different goals
>
> ASK YOURSELF:
>
> Why bench press?
>
> to build bigger pecs?
> to lift more weight while on a bench?
> to impress people who I imagine to be impressed? in my mind?
>
> I think bench press with a barbell is just...well...not worthwhile
>
> use dumbbells
>
> good luck


Bench presses are fun, though dumbells are safer and I'd bet that they
target the same muscles. But you know, it's fun just throwing all your
energy into that one beam of steel...it's just fun, and yeah, it also
looks impressive, too, and you can really load up on the weight.

Prisoner at War wrote:

> Too much (and too close a) reading of info, I think...doesn't your own
> body tell you how it wants to lift it??

There is an article by David Tate on t-nation

http://www.t-nation.com/findArticle....e=body_115b600

where he insists on "tucking in" the elbows. I read that as having the
elbows close to the body.

On the other hand others tell you to flare out the elbows.

So...what the fuck?

JMW wrote:

> Who are the "others"?

Article on bodybuilding.com for ex.

"george" <223remi@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>Prisoner at War wrote:
>
>> Too much (and too close a) reading of info, I think...doesn't your own
>> body tell you how it wants to lift it??
>
>There is an article by David Tate on t-nation
>
>http://www.t-nation.com/findArticle....e=body_115b600
>
>where he insists on "tucking in" the elbows. I read that as having the
>elbows close to the body.
>
>On the other hand others tell you to flare out the elbows.
>
>So...what the fuck?

Who are the "others"?

"george" <223remi@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>JMW wrote:
>
>> Who are the "others"?
>
>Article on bodybuilding.com for ex.

Articles by whom?

JMW wrote:

> Articles by whom?

By some meathead, who else? Look, most people recommend elbows 'flared
out'. David Tate tells you to tuck them in. If you have anything to
contribute, please do so.

"george" <223remi@gmail.com> wrote:

>JMW wrote:
>
>> Articles by whom?
>
>By some meathead, who else? Look, most people recommend elbows 'flared
>out'. David Tate tells you to tuck them in. If you have anything to
>contribute, please do so.

You can't move enough weight with your elbows completely tucked. By
the same token, it's rough on your shoulders to put them straight out
to the sides. The conventional wisdom is to try to keep your elbows
pulled in while following the natural strength curve so that they
don't get splayed outward. Upper arms at a 45° angle is generally
considered a good standard.

On 22 Jan 2007 13:41:56 -0800, "Prisoner at War"
<prisoner_at_war@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>jimmy wrote:
>> NO
>>
>> some do what you describe, but only during one variation of close-grip
>> bench press
>>
>> if you want to develop your chest, your pectorals, you don't have to
>> bench.
>>
>> DO dumbbells
>>
>> Bench press is done in many different ways. if you can believe it! and
>> the purpose of each is different and works toward different goals
>>
>> ASK YOURSELF:
>>
>> Why bench press?
>>
>> to build bigger pecs?
>> to lift more weight while on a bench?
>> to impress people who I imagine to be impressed? in my mind?
>>
>> I think bench press with a barbell is just...well...not worthwhile
>>
>> use dumbbells
>>
>> good luck
>
>
>Bench presses are fun, though dumbells are safer and I'd bet that they
>target the same muscles. But you know, it's fun just throwing all your
>energy into that one beam of steel...it's just fun, and yeah, it also
>looks impressive, too, and you can really load up on the weight.

How are dumbbells safer? I have watched guys try to get into position
for a dumbbell press. There was lots of grunting and they needed a
partner just to make sure they didn't kill themselves in the process.

On 22 Jan 2007 11:36:55 -0800, "jimmy" <jmin123@gmail.com> wrote:

>NO
>
>some do what you describe, but only during one variation of close-grip
>bench press
>
>if you want to develop your chest, your pectorals, you don't have to
>bench.
>
>DO dumbbells
>
>Bench press is done in many different ways. if you can believe it! and
>the purpose of each is different and works toward different goals
>
>ASK YOURSELF:
>
>Why bench press?
>
>to build bigger pecs?
>to lift more weight while on a bench?
>to impress people who I imagine to be impressed? in my mind?
>
>I think bench press with a barbell is just...well...not worthwhile
>
>use dumbbells
>
>good luck

And for that matter why do rows or squats. Oh man what the fuck am I
doing in the gym. I could be home watching all the good stuff on tv.

> There is an article by David Tate on t-nation
>
> http://www.t-nation.com/findArticle....e=body_115b600
>
> where he insists on "tucking in" the elbows. I read that as having the
> elbows close to the body.
>
> On the other hand others tell you to flare out the elbows.
>
> So...what the fuck?


There's no way that I would ever recommend tucking in the elbows on a
bench press. Doing so puts weird pressure on the wrists, and focuses
the weight on the triceps rather than the pecs. For a close-grip, that
might be desirable, but not a regular bench press.

Back when I did bench press, I would bring the bar down until my upper
arm was parallel to the floor, and my forearms were perpendicular;
someone looking at me from behind would see a rectangle formed from my
arms and the bar. I rarely touched my chest with the bar; that seemed
to stretch my pecs out farther than was natural, and I had more muscle
pain (but less growth) than when I stopped a few inches higher.

As to whether dumbbells are better than a bar... I dunno. I've heard
the arguments, but I'm not sure that I'm convinced. Using a bar seems
like it can help with symmetry better than dumbbells, but I can see how
dumbbells would help you push each side to the max. When I start
getting to heavier weights, I'll probably do low-weight-high-reps with
a bar to keep everything symmetrical, but I haven't decided and that's
still a long ways off.

- J

Jason wrote:
>> There is an article by David Tate on t-nation
>>
>> http://www.t-nation.com/findArticle....e=body_115b600
>>
>> where he insists on "tucking in" the elbows. I read that as having the
>> elbows close to the body.
>>
>> On the other hand others tell you to flare out the elbows.
>>
>> So...what the fuck?
>
>
> There's no way that I would ever recommend tucking in the elbows on a
> bench press. Doing so puts weird pressure on the wrists, and focuses
> the weight on the triceps rather than the pecs. For a close-grip, that
> might be desirable, but not a regular bench press.
>
> Back when I did bench press, I would bring the bar down until my upper
> arm was parallel to the floor, and my forearms were perpendicular;
> someone looking at me from behind would see a rectangle formed from my
> arms and the bar. I rarely touched my chest with the bar; that seemed
> to stretch my pecs out farther than was natural, and I had more muscle
> pain (but less growth) than when I stopped a few inches higher.
>
> As to whether dumbbells are better than a bar... I dunno. I've heard
> the arguments, but I'm not sure that I'm convinced. Using a bar seems
> like it can help with symmetry better than dumbbells, but I can see how
> dumbbells would help you push each side to the max. When I start
> getting to heavier weights, I'll probably do low-weight-high-reps with
> a bar to keep everything symmetrical, but I haven't decided and that's
> still a long ways off.
>
> - J
>

IMHO, the dumbbells help develop smaller "stabilizer" muscles, which add
to the overall physique, but you can't work with as much total weight
due to the effort needed to keep the unwieldy dumbbells balanced.

--
Remove the TOS star ship captain to reply.

On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 23:36:04 -0500, JMW
<jmwilliams@enforcergraphics.f2s.com> wrote:

>"george" <223remi@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>JMW wrote:
>>
>>> Who are the "others"?
>>
>>Article on bodybuilding.com for ex.
>
>Articles by whom?

Why?

"george" <223remi@gmail.com> schreef:

> Should the elbows be kept as close as possible to the body?

No.

> I understand that the forearms are supposed to be vertical at all
> times, so that seems to dictate the position of the elbows too.

Thats impossible.

The forearms are only vertical (90 degrees wrt floor) at one single point of
the lift.
With the elboews alongside the body they will reach that point in the end,
the lock-out.

With a moderate wide grip they reach trhat point in the middle (lower/middle
part)

And with a wide grip not even that.

--
Pete

"jimmy" <jmin123@gmail.com> schreef:

> NO

NO what?

> if you want to develop your chest, your pectorals, you don't have to
> bench.

True.
Dips and inclines can do miracles for pecs.

> DO dumbbells

Why?

> Bench press is done in many different ways. if you can believe it! and
> the purpose of each is different and works toward different goals

> ASK YOURSELF:

> Why bench press?

> to build bigger pecs?
> to lift more weight while on a bench?
> to impress people who I imagine to be impressed? in my mind?

ASK YOURSELF;

Who is impressed... in YOUR mind?

> I think bench press with a barbell is just...well...not worthwhile

Not worthwhile of what?

> use dumbbells

Why is that?

--
Pete

"BR" <bobrkirk2@telcen.com> schreef:

> IMHO, the dumbbells help develop smaller "stabilizer" muscles...

Which muscles are those, and were are they located?

--
Pete

george wrote:
>
>
> There is an article by David Tate on t-nation
>
> http://www.t-nation.com/findArticle....e=body_115b600
>
> where he insists on "tucking in" the elbows. I read that as having the
> elbows close to the body.
>
> On the other hand others tell you to flare out the elbows.
>
> So...what the fuck?



Hmm, thanks for the link; interesting article. Point Five on his list
about the tucked elbows generating force seems fanciful.
Psychologically, it feels like one's arms in such a position would be
springs full of restless tension, but I don't think you could really
lift more weight with that position like how he claims. Again, refer
back to the push-up...is it easier to do close-grip push-ups or
wider-gripped push-ups?

I'm just a big believer in doing things "the old-fashioned way"...your
body should tell you what movements it finds interesting...take some
dancing classes to learn to better get in touch with your body...and,
as always, your mileage may vary: horses run on grass, but don't try
stuffing your motorcycle with it!

I'm not saying an elbows-tucked technique has no benefit...at the least
it will relieve any possible monotony associated with a favorite
routine...but I'm not sure it's better, and I certainly don't think
it's an either/or matter!

Shute wrote:
>
>
> How are dumbbells safer? I have watched guys try to get into position
> for a dumbbell press. There was lots of grunting and they needed a
> partner just to make sure they didn't kill themselves in the process.


Well, you could easily toss aside dumbbells. A barbell you have to
carefully roll off your chest, abs, groin, and thighs.

I was also thinking, dumbbell presses may be more "interesting," too,
since you have to balance them more than you do with barbells, given
the way the weight is distributed and concentrated.

An aside about grunting: I tend to think that if someone has the
wherewithal to actually grunt and scream, they're actually not going
heavy enough on the weights. When I'm lifting at or very close to my
max in any exercise, it's almost impossible for me to grunt or scream
since I'm too busy trying not to "lose it" by expending myself through
all that hoo-rah....

Dnia 2007-01-23 george napisa³(a):
> JMW wrote:
>
>> Articles by whom?
>
> By some meathead, who else? Look, most people recommend elbows 'flared
> out'. David Tate tells you to tuck them in. If you have anything to
> contribute, please do so.

If you use gear you need to keep your elbows in. In this position your
gear helps you most, or so I gathered. If you don't use gear but use
good amount of arch you still shouldn't flare your elbows out too much.
You'll be stronger in this position and your shoulder blades will be
able to move, so keeping your forearms vertical all the time makes
sense for raw lifters too. Also, to make movement in shoulder blades
possible, you should try to pull the bar apart, which will bring your
elbows in a bit too.

Where you got confused is probably just the amount of "elbow flare"
which is recommended. Some people will stress the fact that raw grove
is different than geared grove, others will stress the fact that what
many do in the gym is wrong, because those guys do not use enough arch
and flare their elbows out way too much. Most raw lifters do fine if
they touch the bar low to the sternum, a bit below your nipples or
thereabouts. If you keep your forearms more or less vertical during
your lift your aren't far from optimum. Once you go at it for some
time you'll be able to fine tune it yourself. Google for some videos
of good raw lifters (Steve Kirit comes to mind) and see for yourself.

--
Andrzej Rosa 1127R

Pete wrote:
> "BR" <bobrkirk2@telcen.com> schreef:
>
>> IMHO, the dumbbells help develop smaller "stabilizer" muscles...
>
> Which muscles are those, and were are they located?
>
> --
> Pete
>
>

I can't think of the name of them right now. They would be along side
the pectorals, and the other muscles involved in moving the upper arms.


--
Remove the TOS star ship captain to reply.

On 23 Jan 2007 07:32:09 -0800, "Prisoner at War"
<prisoner_at_war@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>Shute wrote:
>>
>>
>> How are dumbbells safer? I have watched guys try to get into position
>> for a dumbbell press. There was lots of grunting and they needed a
>> partner just to make sure they didn't kill themselves in the process.
>
>
>Well, you could easily toss aside dumbbells. A barbell you have to
>carefully roll off your chest, abs, groin, and thighs.

I haven't failed a bench without a spotter since I was 13. The gyms I
workout out in have a catch a few inches off the chest. If you can't
cheat a little and get it that far up then you should have grabbed a
spotter.

And if you are tossing away 100+ pound dumbbells in my crowded gym you
run a high risk of hurting someone else. And if you happen to graze
the ankle of the wrong person you may even get your ass kicked.

>I was also thinking, dumbbell presses may be more "interesting," too,
>since you have to balance them more than you do with barbells, given
>the way the weight is distributed and concentrated.

Which can put unnecessary stress on the shoulders if you are not good
at the balancing act. Plus a lot of people sway from good form and
clank them together at the top. It is only safe if you really know
what you are doing.

>An aside about grunting: I tend to think that if someone has the
>wherewithal to actually grunt and scream, they're actually not going
>heavy enough on the weights. When I'm lifting at or very close to my
>max in any exercise, it's almost impossible for me to grunt or scream
>since I'm too busy trying not to "lose it" by expending myself through
>all that hoo-rah....

Not for myself. I tend to grunt if I am almost completely winded. If
I breath right during the lift it is usually unnecessary.

On Tue, 23 Jan 2007, Pete wrote:

> "george" <223remi@gmail.com> schreef:
>
>> I understand that the forearms are supposed to be vertical at all
>> times, so that seems to dictate the position of the elbows too.
>
> Thats impossible.

Not with a dumbbell bench press. For me, the natural way to do that seems
to be to keep my forearms vertical, with the bells moving closer as they
go up.

Not that we're talking about Db benches here, but i thought i'd point it
out. No need to thank me!

tom

--
Hubo un vez, un gran rev que tenia muchas tierra un Castillo y tambien
un amor.

On Tue, 23 Jan 2007, Charles wrote:

> On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 23:36:04 -0500, JMW
> <jmwilliams@enforcergraphics.f2s.com> wrote:
>
>> "george" <223remi@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> JMW wrote:
>>>
>>>> Who are the "others"?
>>>
>>> Article on bodybuilding.com for ex.
>>
>> Articles by whom?
>
> Why?

I declare Global Imitate Bully Day OPEN!

tom

--
Hubo un vez, un gran rev que tenia muchas tierra un Castillo y tambien
un amor.

On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:49:49 +0000, Tom Anderson
<twic@urchin.earth.li> wrote:

>On Tue, 23 Jan 2007, Charles wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 23:36:04 -0500, JMW
>> <jmwilliams@enforcergraphics.f2s.com> wrote:
>>
>>> "george" <223remi@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> JMW wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Who are the "others"?
>>>>
>>>> Article on bodybuilding.com for ex.
>>>
>>> Articles by whom?
>>
>> Why?
>
>I declare Global Imitate Bully Day OPEN!
>

heh!

Dnia 2007-01-23 Tom Anderson napisa³(a):
> On Tue, 23 Jan 2007, Pete wrote:
>
>> "george" <223remi@gmail.com> schreef:
>>
>>> I understand that the forearms are supposed to be vertical at all
>>> times, so that seems to dictate the position of the elbows too.
>>
>> Thats impossible.
>
> Not with a dumbbell bench press. For me, the natural way to do that seems
> to be to keep my forearms vertical, with the bells moving closer as they
> go up.
>
> Not that we're talking about Db benches here, but i thought i'd point it
> out. No need to thank me!

Steve Kirit lifts 500 for 4 reps here raw. For me his forearms are
vertical.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f2cWjhUR6Y

--
Andrzej Rosa 1127R

In news:ep5v7i$gc5$2@inews.gazeta.pl,
Andrzej Rosa <bakters@yahoo.com> typed:
> Dnia 2007-01-23 Tom Anderson napisa³(a):
>> On Tue, 23 Jan 2007, Pete wrote:
>>
>>> "george" <223remi@gmail.com> schreef:
>>>
>>>> I understand that the forearms are supposed to be vertical at all
>>>> times, so that seems to dictate the position of the elbows too.
>>>
>>> Thats impossible.
>>
>> Not with a dumbbell bench press. For me, the natural way to do that
>> seems to be to keep my forearms vertical, with the bells moving
>> closer as they go up.
>>
>> Not that we're talking about Db benches here, but i thought i'd
>> point it out. No need to thank me!
>
> Steve Kirit lifts 500 for 4 reps here raw. For me his forearms are
> vertical.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f2cWjhUR6Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmXtOuvIqzY&NR

--
Bully
Protein bars: http://www.proteinbars.co.uk

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees
the opportunity in every difficulty." Sir Winston Churchill

In news:Pine.LNX.4.62.0701231849350.5994@urchin.earth .li,
Tom Anderson <twic@urchin.earth.li> typed:
> On Tue, 23 Jan 2007, Charles wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 23:36:04 -0500, JMW
>> <jmwilliams@enforcergraphics.f2s.com> wrote:
>>
>>> "george" <223remi@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> JMW wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Who are the "others"?
>>>>
>>>> Article on bodybuilding.com for ex.
>>>
>>> Articles by whom?
>>
>> Why?
>
> I declare Global Imitate Bully Day OPEN!
>
> tom

Was that yesterday?

--
Bully
Protein bars: http://www.proteinbars.co.uk

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees
the opportunity in every difficulty." Sir Winston Churchill

On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 08:02:50 -0000, "Bully"
<bully19@proteinbars.co.ok> wrote:

>In news:Pine.LNX.4.62.0701231849350.5994@urchin.earth .li,
>Tom Anderson <twic@urchin.earth.li> typed:
>> On Tue, 23 Jan 2007, Charles wrote:
>>
>>> On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 23:36:04 -0500, JMW
>>> <jmwilliams@enforcergraphics.f2s.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> "george" <223remi@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> JMW wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Who are the "others"?
>>>>>
>>>>> Article on bodybuilding.com for ex.
>>>>
>>>> Articles by whom?
>>>
>>> Why?
>>
>> I declare Global Imitate Bully Day OPEN!
>>
>> tom
>
>Was that yesterday?

When?

On Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:49:49 +0000, Tom Anderson
<twic@urchin.earth.li> wrote:

>On Tue, 23 Jan 2007, Charles wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 22 Jan 2007 23:36:04 -0500, JMW
>> <jmwilliams@enforcergraphics.f2s.com> wrote:
>>
>>> "george" <223remi@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> JMW wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Who are the "others"?
>>>>
>>>> Article on bodybuilding.com for ex.
>>>
>>> Articles by whom?
>>
>> Why?
>
>I declare Global Imitate Bully Day OPEN!
>

That's 'prolly' a good idea 'cos' it displays an enquiring mind to
have regular single word questions - doesn't it?

Dnia 2007-01-24 Bully napisa³(a):
> In news:ep5v7i$gc5$2@inews.gazeta.pl,
> Andrzej Rosa <bakters@yahoo.com> typed:
>> Dnia 2007-01-23 Tom Anderson napisa³(a):
>>> On Tue, 23 Jan 2007, Pete wrote:
>>>
>>>> "george" <223remi@gmail.com> schreef:
>>>>
>>>>> I understand that the forearms are supposed to be vertical at all
>>>>> times, so that seems to dictate the position of the elbows too.
>>>>
>>>> Thats impossible.
>>>
>>> Not with a dumbbell bench press. For me, the natural way to do that
>>> seems to be to keep my forearms vertical, with the bells moving
>>> closer as they go up.
>>>
>>> Not that we're talking about Db benches here, but i thought i'd
>>> point it out. No need to thank me!
>>
>> Steve Kirit lifts 500 for 4 reps here raw. For me his forearms are
>> vertical.
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f2cWjhUR6Y
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmXtOuvIqzY&NR

They don't have vertical forearms, do they?

--
Andrzej Rosa

Dnia 2007-01-23 BR napisa³(a):
> Pete wrote:
>> "BR" <bobrkirk2@telcen.com> schreef:
>>
>>> IMHO, the dumbbells help develop smaller "stabilizer" muscles...
>>
>> Which muscles are those, and were are they located?
>>
>> --
>> Pete
>>
>>
>
> I can't think of the name of them right now.

C'mon. Where's your imagination?

Shoulderus stabilis minor, humerus stabilis major, suprastabilator,
substabilator, balanceus functionaris, bosuballis activator.

I can go like that for weeks.

> They would be along side
> the pectorals, and the other muscles involved in moving the upper arms.

Can I kick your leg from under you when you do a limit bench? Somehow
I've a feeling it would upset your balanceus functionaris major big
time.

--
Andrzej Rosa

"Tom Anderson" <twic@urchin.earth.li> schreef:

>> Thats impossible.

> Not with a dumbbell bench press. For me, the natural way to do that seems
> to be to keep my forearms vertical, with the bells moving closer as they
> go up.

I guess with DBs its possible, since the grip width is not fixed.
With a bar, you reach vertical at only one sigle moment.

> Not that we're talking about Db benches here, but i thought i'd point it
> out. No need to thank me!

Thank you!

--
Pete

"BR" <bobrkirk2@telcen.com> schreef:

>>> IMHO, the dumbbells help develop smaller "stabilizer" muscles...

>> Which muscles are those, and were are they located?

> I can't think of the name of them right now.

Serratus.

> They would be along side the pectorals, and the other muscles involved in
> moving the upper arms.

You dont even know what you are talking about, are you?

--
Pete

On Jan 23, 12:53 pm, Shute <S...@nowhere.com> wrote:
>
>
>I haven't failed a bench without a spotter since I was 13. The gyms I
> workout out in have a catch a few inches off the chest. If you can't
> cheat a little and get it that far up then you should have grabbed a
> spotter.

If you've never failed a bench press, you simply haven't been working
out hard enough. I happen to like total muscle failure, though when I
fail when I'm without a spotter it's often because I've lost my
concentration (I'll be like "oh shit I can't believe I'm doing this!"
and sure enough, my muscles disappear on me!).

> And if you are tossing away 100+ pound dumbbells in my crowded gym you
> run a high risk of hurting someone else. And if you happen to graze
> the ankle of the wrong person you may even get your ass kicked.

Dumbbells ought to know not to work out so close to someone else.

Frankly, no matter how crowded a gym gets, I'm surprised at the morons
who just plop right next to me. I don't drop weights (well, maybe two
or three inches off the ground), but if I don't blame someone who does,
and I always make sure I have some elbow room before I go next to
someone.

>Which can put unnecessary stress on the shoulders if you are not good
> at the balancing act. Plus a lot of people sway from good form and
> clank them together at the top. It is only safe if you really know
> what you are doing.

Well, that's free weights in general, "only safe if you really know
what you are doing." But dumbbell presses are inherently safer than
bench presses, though it's not quite the same exercise if you really
think about it....

> Not for myself. I tend to grunt if I am almost completely winded. If
> I breath right during the lift it is usually unnecessary.

Funny thing, I very rarely grunt on free weights, and especially the
bench press, but on something like them ab machines, yeah, I know what
you mean about grunting when winded. That comes about naturally
because I'm actually trying so hard to breathe through my mouth, and
exhaling becomes a grunt.

On 24 Jan 2007 07:52:36 -0800, "Prisoner at War"
<prisoner_at_war@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>
>On Jan 23, 12:53 pm, Shute <S...@nowhere.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>I haven't failed a bench without a spotter since I was 13. The gyms I
>> workout out in have a catch a few inches off the chest. If you can't
>> cheat a little and get it that far up then you should have grabbed a
>> spotter.
>
>If you've never failed a bench press, you simply haven't been working
>out hard enough. I happen to like total muscle failure, though when I
>fail when I'm without a spotter it's often because I've lost my
>concentration (I'll be like "oh shit I can't believe I'm doing this!"
>and sure enough, my muscles disappear on me!).

How much weight are you using to claim I don't work hard enough? I
was using 180 lbs yesterday for sets of 6.

>> And if you are tossing away 100+ pound dumbbells in my crowded gym you
>> run a high risk of hurting someone else. And if you happen to graze
>> the ankle of the wrong person you may even get your ass kicked.
>
>Dumbbells ought to know not to work out so close to someone else.

I see guys stand at the rack and do their stuff right there.

>Frankly, no matter how crowded a gym gets, I'm surprised at the morons
>who just plop right next to me. I don't drop weights (well, maybe two
>or three inches off the ground), but if I don't blame someone who does,
>and I always make sure I have some elbow room before I go next to
>someone.

The dumbbell area is way to crowded. The machines take up most of the
space in the gym.

>>Which can put unnecessary stress on the shoulders if you are not good
>> at the balancing act. Plus a lot of people sway from good form and
>> clank them together at the top. It is only safe if you really know
>> what you are doing.