Is free benchpress mandatory?

[Deusmaximus]

I cant really progress my weight and stabilizing the free weight makes me feel like it is not really perfectly hitting my chest.

Should i switch to dumbbell press or these machines that i have at the gym?

 

[Deleted member 15606]

I cant really progress my weight

Maybe you just hit your natty limit? after that progress is going to come from improved tendon strength and overclocking of the CNS

 

[Deleted member 16801]

just do weighted pushups, less chance of injuring urself and ur pecs will look like schwarzenegers after a couple weeks

 

[Deleted member 16571]

Dumbbells should in general always be your first or second pressing exercise. Make sure the angle of axilla doesn't exceed 75 degrees, and good range of motion even for someone like me with a 6'3 wingspan is touching my outer shoulder with the dumbbell on the eccentric.

With incline bench, you can get away with more flare.

Personally I hate flat barbell bench. At my peak I could press 100s for 5 reps with full ROM and not necessarily be able to press much more than that on the barbell.

I just found it difficult to align my body properly in the machine so that it hits my chest good. If I ever resorted to machines it was at the end when my pressers were fatigued - no need for stabilization.

 

[Deleted member 15669]

I feel way better activation with the machine tbh

 

[MakinItHappenReturn]

Pussies. Learn the fucking technique. Trial and error. You're a man. You can create the muscle memory.

Pussy ass Zoomers. I swear.

 

[Lawton88]

It gives a good base. You should be able to adjust to doing it properly.

 

[Deleted member 16938]

If you dont have any muscle imbalances between the left and right side,keep using bench. Dumbells require alot more stability and reduce your maximum force output so its preferable to stay w bench.

 

[Deleted member 1140]

this is my physique and i never benchpress

i sometimes dumbbell bp but thats it

you can tell my chest isnt big cuz of this but you can still look attractive to girls without a huge chest (girls irl said i had the perfect body which i dont rly agree with but us guys see it different as them anyways)