? about incline and flat barbell bench

[Weekend Warrior]

This is proably a retarded ? but here goes. Ok I have been told by a couple people about a so called sticking point when lifting weights. Example when benching if you bring the bar down about 1in off your chest instead of coming all the way down you avoid this sticking point. The sticking point supposably when you come all the way down to touch with your lifts. Which is hard to get past. So I guess my ? is it really necessary to touch your chest when doing inclind and flat bench. Am I not getting everything out of my lifts if when im lifting im bringing the bar down to about an 1in off my chest. I have got so used to lifting like this im afraid it may be a hard habbit to break. That is if it more benificial to bring the bar all the way down to your chest. So thanks an advanced for any help any sorry for the horrible spelling

[DutchCowboy]

depends on who you ask. My opinion and my readings have discovered that people don't touch their chest with the bar because it can inhibit muscle growth. Your body will stop responding as a defense mechanism because it is protecting itself from the bar. I don't know about the philosophy but it is what I have read.
The other reason to not touch your chest is to keep tension on your muscles. When you touch your chest you are giving the muscles a chance to rest or even worse, some people use the rebound of their ribcage as momentum to get the weight up.
And yet other people will say that not touching your chest limits your ROM.

[Weekend Warrior]

Awesome info man and it makes sense. Cant wait to here everybody else's views

[T3/T4 GSR]

I like comming close but not quite touching it. Going to low kills my shoulders.

[Weekend Warrior]

Yeah I have a really bad elbow and touching seems to bother it

[need2bhuge]

I always stay 1" above my chest on flat bench...incline I can touch without it bothering my shoulders. Even Arnold recommends a 1" gap. To be quite honest though, that sticking crap isn't true! It is hard for many people because when they touch their chest tension is taken off the lift and muscles disengage for a split second...this can give some lifters trouble. If you keep the bar under control as you touch your chest you shouldn't "stick"! Eitherway, I believe it is best to stay above an 1" off the chest to avoid injury UNLESS YOU ARE GOING FOR A MAX! This way no one can ever give you crap and whine saying that you didn't do a complete lift!

[Timm1704]

on flat bench i tend not to touch my chest, noticed i get the same pump if not better, less shoulder pain, both muscle and joint, and shift more weight. incline bench i do the same, i bring the bar down until its verging on uncomfortable on my shoulder joints. i have had shoulder surgery in the past, and try to avoid anything cropping up. chest is one of my stronger muscle groups, so i must be doing something right

[Weekend Warrior]

Thanks alot for the advice guys nice to know im doing something right

[hangtight08]

i believe that when you fully depress the bar to your chest you take the load off of the muscle for that split second. i like to come down about an inch or so from my chest while keepin constant tension on the muscle. just my $.02

[robkesl]

ive always heard from my chiropractor friends, that when you bring the bar all the way down to the chest your using more shoulders and rotator cuff muscles, they say its actually bad for your shoulders to let the bar touch your chest, and that you should always remain 1-2inches off the chest.

[DutchCowboy]

ive always heard from my chiropractor friends, that when you bring the bar all the way down to the chest your using more shoulders and rotator cuff muscles, they say its actually bad for your shoulders to let the bar touch your chest, and that you should always remain 1-2inches off the chest.

You actually believe anything a chiropractor tells you?