flat bench sucks?

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10-13-2012, 09:29 PM
gunnery

flat bench sucks?

my problem is my flat bench wont go up,i took a few months off lifting late spring/early summer and got back into it hard but decided to work some decline bench...got back in shape and start a cycle test e/ deca just 3 weeks in but im like 10 weeks in on test and strong as an ox my lifts are crazy! and growing good! but switched back to flat bench and i cant get stronger in flat bench...it felt weird going from decline to flat, my workout for chest is 15x135/ 12x225 /8x245 and i can barely get 3x265??? i was benching 3x305 last yr after cycle...after flat i do 8x80 incline db press 3 sets then 8/10/12x40lb incline db flys then i do all my tri work ...why cant my flat bench go up??? i been stuck here for the whole cycle and have tried different aproaches....wth???
10-13-2012, 09:32 PM
gunnery

forgot to add i have been going up in weight on my incline db presses and adding weight weeklyu but flat bench im a pvssy for some reason my strength is going outa site???
10-13-2012, 09:42 PM
Brick

Maybe your form is sub par? Check out the lifting section to make sure you are doing it perfect.

Also, is your back weaker this go around? Without a strong back your flat bench will suffer
10-13-2012, 10:38 PM
gunnery

im pretty good on form and back is strong as shit along with tris ...ive changed form around a little aswell as hand position and it doesnt matter ,eveneven doing lighter sets to cgange things up...my strentgh is going up on db press and flys (incline) i was wondering if i switched back to decline if it would kickthings in idk...
10-14-2012, 12:38 AM
Brick

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunnery

im pretty good on form and back is strong as shit along with tris ...ive changed form around a little aswell as hand position and it doesnt matter ,eveneven doing lighter sets to cgange things up...my strentgh is going up on db press and flys (incline) i was wondering if i switched back to decline if it would kickthings in idk...

You might have just plateaued even though it's less than before.

Partial reps, or my personal fav, rest pause
10-14-2012, 12:43 AM
gunnery

not sure what u mean bro
10-14-2012, 03:41 AM
Brick

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunnery

not sure what u mean bro

You might have stalled at this current weight even though it is less than you did before.

Do you find that certain parts are more difficult? Off chest, middle of rep, or at the top at lock out?

Partial reps would be like floor presses

Rest pause would be do as many full reps as you can and then rerack it. Wait 30 secs then do more reps
10-14-2012, 04:25 AM
spywizard

i don't do flat bench any more, the issue is do you want to be stronger or bigger..

to fix your problem in the past what i've done is switch to static lifts for 6 weeks, then when you return to regular routine you should blast through that sticking point.. always works for me..

that is if i'm eating and resting enough..
10-14-2012, 04:28 AM
ironbeck

Hows strong is your back?
10-14-2012, 12:37 PM
gunnery

i see what u mean bucka ,yeah i stall in the middle...maybe ill try both as u suggested and see....spywizard ,strength is good but i want size more ,thats why the incline stuff and i seeing improvment just would like more depth. ill try statatic too if the others dont work..i also have been doing the same routine for quite awhile so maybe changing it up like u guys are saying is going to be key!!! iron, strong as shit ofcourse haha, my back is very strong right now lat pull front aNDREVERSE ONE ARM ROWS AND shrugs and whatever else i switch too. i was thinking maybe my tris were getting hit too hard but i think you guys hit it on the head with switching up it totally makes sense now! thanks fellas i appreciate it!!!
10-14-2012, 12:39 PM
gunnery

spywizard...what do you do instead of flat? decline and/or incline? i thought about pullovers but have such sucess with my routine(till now) ive never tried them.
10-15-2012, 01:48 AM
marcus300

I havent done flat bench for close to ten yrs.

Try taking a break from hit and hit the chest for various different angles including decline and see how you go.
10-15-2012, 02:34 AM
ironbeck

try doing heavy lat pulls and building up your back strength, you use more back then you would think when stabilizing the weight when doing bench.
10-15-2012, 07:10 PM
gunnery

ahh ok thanks fellas i switch things around and see how things go! same routine for so many yrs its probably time!
11-13-2012, 07:01 PM
Bowtye8

I am with ya. I have beening hititng it hard for 3yrs and cant bench 315. I know most folks say dont worry. But its just one of those things.
any update on your gains?
11-14-2012, 03:56 AM
600@50

Board presses and pin presses in a rack will help you overload your bench. Heavy triples once a week will do it.
11-14-2012, 06:29 PM
gearbox

Quote:

Originally Posted by 600@50

Board presses and pin presses in a rack will help you overload your bench. Heavy triples once a week will do it.

Is this that old school put a actual board are your chest and bring bar down to board and back up.