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I've been doing a 5x5 program for about 6 weeks on Tue/Thur/Sat and I've been making pretty steady progress on everything BUT the flat bench press. On my push day, for 5x5 I know my numbers are pretty weak but here's what I'm doing at my bodyweight of about 190lbs:
Bench 185lbs
Standing Overhead Press 110
Weighed dips w/ a 45lbs plate
For the longest time I had been benching wrong (flaring elbows out instead of keeping them in) and I've fixed that problem about 2-3 months ago, but my bench press is still pretty stalled out. I don't think I've ever benched more than 185-190 for 5x5 ever.
Typically when I bench what I have problems with is the mid-range, so I don't know if what is holding me back is weak triceps or maybe I just suck at bench and it just isn't for me.
Honestly I feel like I get waaaay more out of SOHP, I've been learning to clean the weight much more effectively and I can tell that my form is getting better and that my lower back/core is getting stronger from doing them too. I've started doing a lot more rotator cuff exercises, rear delt work, and face pulls on my back days because someone on here once suggested that that would help my bench, and while my shoulders do feel a lot better, I'm seeing the progress in my SOHP, not my bench press.
So, do I have to bench press? And if I were to cut it out and just focus on SOHP and dips, should I be doing anything else than those two? or should I add more sets to SOHP and dips? Thanks for any advice.
Bench 185lbs
Standing Overhead Press 110
Weighed dips w/ a 45lbs plate
For the longest time I had been benching wrong (flaring elbows out instead of keeping them in) and I've fixed that problem about 2-3 months ago, but my bench press is still pretty stalled out. I don't think I've ever benched more than 185-190 for 5x5 ever.
Typically when I bench what I have problems with is the mid-range, so I don't know if what is holding me back is weak triceps or maybe I just suck at bench and it just isn't for me.
Honestly I feel like I get waaaay more out of SOHP, I've been learning to clean the weight much more effectively and I can tell that my form is getting better and that my lower back/core is getting stronger from doing them too. I've started doing a lot more rotator cuff exercises, rear delt work, and face pulls on my back days because someone on here once suggested that that would help my bench, and while my shoulders do feel a lot better, I'm seeing the progress in my SOHP, not my bench press.
So, do I have to bench press? And if I were to cut it out and just focus on SOHP and dips, should I be doing anything else than those two? or should I add more sets to SOHP and dips? Thanks for any advice.