chest

Improving Pressing Strength

Photo by Alora Griffiths on Unsplash

Photo by Alora Griffiths on Unsplash

Few other exercises share the same level of popularity as the bench press, yet the majority of the time a proper diagnosis is necessary to keep improving the poundages.

The following is based on Charles Poliquin’s structural balance teachings .

Monday is international Bench Press day and thousands of meatheads pour into the gym to get their fix. Yet, despite its popularity, it continues to carry a reputation as being responsible for a number of pec tears and shoulder injuries.

However, whether you’re a bodybuilder, an athlete, or a weekend warrior who just wants to look better naked, the bench press can part in your routine. The focus of this article is to help you find your best assistance exercise to boost your performance in the bench press.

First, You Must Find the Weak Muscles

Louie Simmons, of Westside Barbell, along with Charles share an idea that sticking points in large compound lifts are due to one or more weak muscles in the chain that makes up that lift. If you want to get better at any give exercise and lift more? You must find the weak muscle first, then strengthen it using a few choice assistance exercises that recruit the most motor units.

To be fair, this knowledge is more applicable to the advanced lifter/athlete. For instance, if you only bench press at least 1½ times their body weight. You aren’t going to find a lot of value in the following information.

Let’s look at the most common pressing styles and their sticking points…

Pressing StyleSticking PointTarget Muscle
Close Grip/Wide GripStart/Mid-RangeSerratus Anterior
BothStartAnterior Deltoid
Wide GripStartPectoralis Major, Clavicular portion; Subcapularis
Close GripStartPectoralis Major, Sternal portion
Wide GripMid RangeBiceps Brachii, Long Head Coracobrachialis
BothLockoutTriceps

Target the Weak Link With the Right Exercises

The next step is to choose what exercises will be right for your unique issue. Don’t be a Chihuahua who does an exercise just for the fun or the change of pace. Real gains come from purposeful application of exercise selection. Now is the time for serious lifting with exercises that will recruit the largest motor unit pools possible to increase strength in the right muscles.

Have a look at table 2 to determine which exercises are right for you.

Target MuscleAssistance Exercises
Serratus Anterior

Incline Front Cable Raises
Front Cable Raises

Anterior Deltoid

Seated Press Behind the Neck
Seated DB Press, Semi-Supinated Grip
Seated Military Press

Pectoralis Major, Clavicular portion;
Subscapularis

Wide-Grip Bench Press to Collarbone
Bent-Arm Flys
Flat Crossovers
Partial Bench Press (Bottom Range)
Functional Isometrics
Incline Press
Flat DB Press, Pronated Grip

Pectoralis Major, Sternal portion

Parallel Bar Dips
Decline Press
Decline Flys (Cables or DBs)
Functional Isometrics
Flat DB Press, Semi-Supinated Grip

Biceps Brachii, Long Head

Barbell Curls
Incline Curls
Standing Cable Curls w/ Elbows behind the body.
Any type of curlswhere the upper arms are in line
with the torso or behind it.

TricepsTriceps Extensions to Neck
Parallel Bar Dips
Skull Crushers
Lockouts in the Rack
Close-Grip Bench Press
Reverse Grip Bench Press
Board Presses

Putting it Together

One thing that makes a major different in gaining strength or overcoming plateaus is knowing how to prioritize the exercises in a workout to make it more efficient at reaching a given goal. In this case, always start with the pressing exercise, and then do serratus/anterior delt work, followed by triceps and finally biceps. This will ensure that your nervous system is able to recruit the most motor units in each muscle group so you will get the most bang for your training buck.