The Bench Press: A Yardstick To Measure Strength?

By Aaron Miller

The bench press is arguably the most famed of the weight lifting exercises, with even couch potatoes knowing what it seems like in a general way. It is hip with many bodybuilders, and traditionally employed by football coaches as a yardstick by which to guess a candidate's strength. Yet, a comeback is developing against the overemphasis, especially in the preferred culture, of the bench press. Many sports pros have abandoned it as a benchmark because there are other lifts that might better measure overall strength than the bench press, which measures only chest and shoulders strength.

There are actually a few differing kinds of bench presses. What the majority mean by the term bench press likely alludes to the flat bench press, its technical name, derived from the angle-less position of the bench. Decline bench presses involve a bench at an angle such that the lifter's head is closer to the ground than his or her feet, while incline bench presses involve a bench with an angle which has the lifter sitting up anywhere from forty-five to 60 or so degrees, depending on personal tastes ( incline bench press benches are often somewhat adjustable ).

The bench press could be a fatal exercise if not performed properly under correct conditions. Each year someone dies from it, though each death has been avoidable as victims were usually working out alone. It's very important to use a spotter, a coaching partner who is able to physically assist with failed lifts or with forced reps. Having such help is useful as the muscles find out how to overcome weird amounts of resistance.

If one must exercise alone, care needs to be taken to use a power rack. This is due to obvious safety reasons first and foremost, but the power rack is a superb piece of gear that also allows for multiple exercises like squats and dead-lifts. Practicing the overhead lift is most efficient with a power rack, particularly for beginners.

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