What is the best Bench Press workout routine to maximize chest strength and size?
What is the best Bench Press workout routine to maximize chest strength and size?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
-
April 16, 2010 at 2:16 pm
-
Take a barbell with weights you can handle while on your back raise it above your chest then try putting it over your head with your arms bent at a 90 degree angle to about 10 to 20 reps. In between times do flies with about 20 to 30 pounds in each hand. Place the dumbbells above your chest with your arms slightly bent, then stretch them out and down as far as you can. Do about 20 to 30 reps of this. Do about 3 sets every time you work out. In less time than you can believe your chest size will increase and so will your strength.
-
April 16, 2010 at 3:02 pm
-
The best way to train for bench press is without the bench press. It isn’t the best workout to gain strength but it is what people gage strength on. You also need to train the rest of the body in order to provide stability and strength to the lift. Here’s what I do and it has been working for me. Obviously a workout needs to be tailored to the individual, but these exercises may help.
Arms
Lying dumbbell triceps extensions
standing barbell curl
behind head reverse hammers
one-arm preacher curl
Close-grip pushdowns
incline dumbbell curl
Parallel bar dips
hammer curl
Single-arm reverse-grip pushdowns
reverse grip EZ bar
rope push downs
super light dumbbell curlsChest
Dumbbell Incline Presses,
Pullovers and Presses,
Dumbbell Bench Presses,
Narrow-Grip Bench Presses,
Incline Dumbbell Flyes,
Barbell Incline Presses,
Push-Ups Between Benches,
Cable standing incline flyes
Cable standing decline flyesBack
Barbell row
Dumbbell Row
Lat Pull Downs
Cable Row
Lower Back Machine
Forearms
lite wide lat pulldowns
SupermansShoulders
Lateral Raises
Bent-Over Lateral Raises
No rest front raises
Shrugs
Military Presses
Front Raises
Rotator Cuffs
Superlight lateral raisesOn incline bench, with 2 10lbs dumbbells:
1st: Facing forward bring dumbbells up from sides to parallel to ground palms inward, slow repeat for ten reps.
2nd: Facing bench bring dumbbells up from sides backwards as far as you can palms inward, slow repeat for ten reps.
3rd: Stand up with dumbbells and do 10 lateral raises.
4th: Back in position 2, raise arms so they are forward, palms inward, arms bent in a semi bear hug position and parallel to ground. Bring to sides and back to center for 10 reps. I usually do 5 lbs here because this exercise is hard.Do this set three times with out rest. The third set I change to all 5 lb movements. All of this is slow pace, like 1 second up and one second down.
Legs
Squats
Leg Extentions
Leg Curls
Adductors
Abductors
Calf Lifts
Glute Machine
Leg liftsI also do 100 crunches per night.
My idea is to hit a variety of ranges and movements in order to work the muscle to the maximum. I tend to use a weight I can do for 10 reps and for 25 reps on the last two movements. Apart from this I do 20 minutes or Cardio every day and stretch before and after the workout, as well as frequently during. Stretching is very important to muscular growth because not only does it help prevent injury and alleviate recovery pain, but it also stretches out the fascia tissue that surrounds the muscle and inhibits its growth. When you are pumped and you stretch is when you get the best stretch of the fascia. Lastly rest and nutrition are every bit as important as the workout itself. Eating enough protein for the muscle to recover and grow as well as enough carbohydrates to replenish diminished glycogen stores in the muscles and liver is vital for repair and being ready for the next time you tax those muscles.
Leave a Comment
Previous post: I just bought the iron gym, can anyone help me make up a work out routine?
Next post: gym workout?

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Take a barbell with weights you can handle while on your back raise it above your chest then try putting it over your head with your arms bent at a 90 degree angle to about 10 to 20 reps. In between times do flies with about 20 to 30 pounds in each hand. Place the dumbbells above your chest with your arms slightly bent, then stretch them out and down as far as you can. Do about 20 to 30 reps of this. Do about 3 sets every time you work out. In less time than you can believe your chest size will increase and so will your strength.
The best way to train for bench press is without the bench press. It isn’t the best workout to gain strength but it is what people gage strength on. You also need to train the rest of the body in order to provide stability and strength to the lift. Here’s what I do and it has been working for me. Obviously a workout needs to be tailored to the individual, but these exercises may help.
Arms
Lying dumbbell triceps extensions
standing barbell curl
behind head reverse hammers
one-arm preacher curl
Close-grip pushdowns
incline dumbbell curl
Parallel bar dips
hammer curl
Single-arm reverse-grip pushdowns
reverse grip EZ bar
rope push downs
super light dumbbell curls
Chest
Dumbbell Incline Presses,
Pullovers and Presses,
Dumbbell Bench Presses,
Narrow-Grip Bench Presses,
Incline Dumbbell Flyes,
Barbell Incline Presses,
Push-Ups Between Benches,
Cable standing incline flyes
Cable standing decline flyes
Back
Barbell row
Dumbbell Row
Lat Pull Downs
Cable Row
Lower Back Machine
Forearms
lite wide lat pulldowns
Supermans
Shoulders
Lateral Raises
Bent-Over Lateral Raises
No rest front raises
Shrugs
Military Presses
Front Raises
Rotator Cuffs
Superlight lateral raises
On incline bench, with 2 10lbs dumbbells:
1st: Facing forward bring dumbbells up from sides to parallel to ground palms inward, slow repeat for ten reps.
2nd: Facing bench bring dumbbells up from sides backwards as far as you can palms inward, slow repeat for ten reps.
3rd: Stand up with dumbbells and do 10 lateral raises.
4th: Back in position 2, raise arms so they are forward, palms inward, arms bent in a semi bear hug position and parallel to ground. Bring to sides and back to center for 10 reps. I usually do 5 lbs here because this exercise is hard.
Do this set three times with out rest. The third set I change to all 5 lb movements. All of this is slow pace, like 1 second up and one second down.
Legs
Squats
Leg Extentions
Leg Curls
Adductors
Abductors
Calf Lifts
Glute Machine
Leg lifts
I also do 100 crunches per night.
My idea is to hit a variety of ranges and movements in order to work the muscle to the maximum. I tend to use a weight I can do for 10 reps and for 25 reps on the last two movements. Apart from this I do 20 minutes or Cardio every day and stretch before and after the workout, as well as frequently during. Stretching is very important to muscular growth because not only does it help prevent injury and alleviate recovery pain, but it also stretches out the fascia tissue that surrounds the muscle and inhibits its growth. When you are pumped and you stretch is when you get the best stretch of the fascia. Lastly rest and nutrition are every bit as important as the workout itself. Eating enough protein for the muscle to recover and grow as well as enough carbohydrates to replenish diminished glycogen stores in the muscles and liver is vital for repair and being ready for the next time you tax those muscles.