Why do big guys always lift half-ROM benchpress?

**manwitplans** · 08-03-2009, 02:09 PM

I see these big guys, lifting benchpress with a load on.
And the take the bar all the way down, but maybe 3/4 or 2.5/4 way up, and then pumping out the reps, any reason why?

I tried this today, and it felt way better on my shoulders the full ROm

**Twist** · 08-03-2009, 02:57 PM

I do not do this but I heard it is good for isolating the chest and puts less strain on the triceps and shoulders. I tried it and didn't see any gains though

**manwitplans** · 08-03-2009, 02:59 PM

Aha.
Sounds good if it strains the shoulder less as I have a bad shoulder.
I will try to do this a while and see, I felt it was good.

**JackSparrow** · 08-03-2009, 03:04 PM

I dont use a full rom on the bench but stop about three qurters of the way up. You bring your triceps into the excersice at the top of the movement when you straighten your arms. This isnt to say my way is better you have to do what works best for yourself.

**manwitplans** · 08-03-2009, 03:15 PM

^^ sure do

**Twist** · 08-03-2009, 03:55 PM

I think the squeeze at the top is essential

**ninesecz** · 08-05-2009, 02:44 AM

It depends what your training is trying to accomplish. Y=The partial reps that you see the bigger giuys doing are being done to push blood into the muscle creating a great pump! once you have built a lot of muscle, and you are not interested in getting a bunch bigger, the 3/4 up reps work great for maintaining the muscle you have already built! not the best style for building muscle / gaining strength

**quarry206** · 08-05-2009, 02:55 AM

Body builders do it usually because it isolates the chest like somebody said above, and not doig a full ROM in the movement saves the triceps and shoulders for another day. since most movements of the chest, shoulders and triceps use at least one of the other muscles when doing an exercise, u can help not burn out your CNS by isolating movements that you can isolate, or limit.

**DSM4Life** · 08-05-2009, 04:40 AM

They lift with ego ...

**spywizard** · 08-05-2009, 06:44 AM

When you do a full range of motion, you remove the problem or issue of transferring the load to the tendons and ligaments..

they are wanting to contract or load the muscle, not grow giant ligaments and strengthen the tendons.. some but not to the point that will support hypotrophy muscle development..

by not fully extending, they keep the muscle under "contraction" thus doing more damage to the motor fiber itself.. or

just believe dsm..

***FireGuy*** · 08-05-2009, 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by Twist

I think the squeeze at the top is essential

Maybe with isolation movements but not with heavy compound exercises.

**thehulk01** · 08-05-2009, 09:23 PM

Its mainly just to get a good pump and get the blood in there. And it helps out training your body on getting that initial push off with a good strong momentum. The practise of these short pump also helps out if your into powerlifting. Just give it a try and see how you like, the best to you with your training!