Buster,

This is a little off topic, but you mentioned in your first post that the open hand grip is a no-no for bench press. Why do you feel that way? I, too, like the open grip for bench, but only because it allows me to angle my arms/shoulders more inward, allowing me to get a little more power on my press. I do this in competition too. But I see almost everyone else in competition using the closed grip (thumbs wrapped around the bar). Your thoughts?

*This is assuming I read your post right...I may have what you said backwards, and you're actually saying to use a closed grip on the bench press.