Bench height and the Bench Press

[Pseudo Sane]

A question for the more knowledgeable lifters in the forum. I have noticed after switching gyms a couple of times that my bench press is significantly worse on a lower bench. I don't feel as stable under the weight and I fairly consistently lose a couple of reps that I would otherwise make.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar? If so, is there any way to address it?

 

[samb867]

Could be you're not getting enough leg drive/you're used to driving from a particular angle and can't when you're lower down. Is it a fixed bench or are you benching in a rack. Can always put something under it if it's the latter I suppose!

With a fixed bench I can't think of any options, really.

 

[RawDawgBob]

DO yourself a favor. Either download or go buy "Arnolds Encyclopidia of Modern Bodybuilding". That book will answer all of your questions. I've been lifting since 1998 and still use that book. It's like $20.00 on ebay.

 

[General Sherman]

DO yourself a favor. Either download or go buy "Arnolds Encyclopidia of Modern Bodybuilding". That book will answer all of your questions. I've been lifting since 1998 and still use that book. It's like $20.00 on ebay.

No.

 

[toonie]

DO yourself a favor. Either download or go buy "Arnolds Encyclopidia of Modern Bodybuilding". That book will answer all of your questions. I've been lifting since 1998 and still use that book. It's like $20.00 on ebay.

Lol.

 

[RawDawgBob]

No.

Yes....b!@#$h!

 

[General Sherman]

Yes....b!@#$h!

Calm down, Francis.

 

[RawDawgBob]

Calm down, Francis.

Sorrry, roid rage.

 

[General Sherman]

Sorrry, roid rage.

It happens.

 

[Stargazer Rex]

DO yourself a favor. Either download or go buy "Arnolds Encyclopidia of Modern Bodybuilding". That book will answer all of your questions. I've been lifting since 1998 and still use that book. It's like $20.00 on ebay.

 

[KnightTemplar]

DO yourself a favor. Either download or go buy "Arnolds Encyclopidia of Modern Bodybuilding". That book will answer all of your questions. I've been lifting since 1998 and still use that book. It's like $20.00 on ebay.

Bazinga!:icon_chee

 

[DrBdan]

Yes having a lower bench can affect your benching. The bench at my gym is rather low and I have somewhat long legs so it's a bad combo. What seems to work is putting my feet out a bit (instead of tucking them under) and trying to drive my feet through the front of my shoes when I bench. Dave Tate mentions this in the So You Think You Can Bench series. I don't think it was specifically for benching on a low bench but it seems to work for me.

 

[Pseudo Sane]

Yes having a lower bench can affect your benching. The bench at my gym is rather low and I have somewhat long legs so it's a bad combo. What seems to work is putting my feet out a bit (instead of tucking them under) and trying to drive my feet through the front of my shoes when I bench. Dave Tate mentions this in the So You Think You Can Bench series. I don't think it was specifically for benching on a low bench but it seems to work for me.

Thanks. I will give that a try the next time I am in the gym.

 

[DrBdan]

No prob. Check out part 7:

So You Think You Can Bench (Parts1-7)

 

[SteveX]

Maybe it isn't a question of bench height, but bench width. I have a pretty wide bench that I bought from elite in my garage that I regularly used to bench on. Once school started and I used the benches there, I felt terrible. Couldn't get my shoulders set right on the bench and I felt like I was gonna roll off the bench every rep.

 

[turbozed]

Thanks. I will give that a try the next time I am in the gym.

Watch the video and he'll demonstrate it for you. It's basically a different method of getting leg drive from the 'legs curled under.' It also looks a little more comfortable and Tate mentions that he's switched over to that method for that reason.

 

[Honkey Kong]

A question for the more knowledgeable lifters in the forum. I have noticed after switching gyms a couple of times that my bench press is significantly worse on a lower bench. I don't feel as stable under the weight and I fairly consistently lose a couple of reps that I would otherwise make.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar? If so, is there any way to address it?

My assumption would be that you are a bit taller and that you aren't getting good leg drive. If the bench is not mounted to the floor, try putting plates under the three ends of the bench to raise it up a bit..

 

[Honkey Kong]

A question for the more knowledgeable lifters in the forum. I have noticed after switching gyms a couple of times that my bench press is significantly worse on a lower bench. I don't feel as stable under the weight and I fairly consistently lose a couple of reps that I would otherwise make.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar? If so, is there any way to address it?

My assumption would be that you are a bit taller and that you aren't getting good leg drive. If the bench is not mounted to the floor, try putting plates under the three ends of the bench to raise it up a bit..

 

[Pseudo Sane]

My assumption would be that you are a bit taller and that you aren't getting good leg drive. If the bench is not mounted to the floor, try putting plates under the three ends of the bench to raise it up a bit..

Yeah, I am pretty sure my height plays into it. I would try this, but the bench is secured, unfortunately.

 

[RedNeckJiuJitsu]

I have the opposite problem. At 5'9", I don't have an abundance of length in my legs, and I have to slide about a 4" platform on the floor under my bench, lifting the "floor" in relation to my bench" so that I can actually get my feet stable.
Use some handyman knowledge to free your bench, and then send it to me. If it works better for me, I'll send you mine.