Benching

Does everyone hit their chest when benching? i usualy just stop a inch before my chest

I touch my chest, but don't "Hit" it.

anyone else?

i touch it slightly. no bounce or anything.

I touch it.

Depends on your arm length and chest size. Personally I go about an inch or two above and then begin the positive range - continuos tension. If your arms dip to far below parallel to the floor you put extra stress on your shoulders [while using a heavy load] - it starts to become a very unnatural range of motion for your body... your arms begin to fold back but your hands are stuck in that horizontal plane position... sorry, it's hard to explain :unsure: IMO, going deep on chest is for dumbells and/or flyes.

when doing flat barbell benching you do not need to touch your chest and it is probably best not to. when benching you want to make sure that on the way down, the back of you arms are parallel to the floor. meaning from elbow to elbow should be a straight line. when doing that, if you notice the bar will not touch the chest. also using a high amount of weight and going down to touch your chest can cause strain on your delt and eventually cause rotor cuff pain. so to answer your question it is best to not touch you chest but do make sure that you go down deep enough for a complete rep.

great replys, thanks

yah dont be a bungie bencher....I come 1/2 from my chest.

I am old school, If I do not touch my chest, no lift, at least that is the way we counted it in powerlifting at meets, science may prove me wrong, but I am stubborn when it comes to that, I have always done it that way and I alway's will.

I always touch my chest. Sometimes i pause and sometimes i bounce. Depends on my mood!