I actually love doing most of my incline work with cables
Just curious what rep and set range you may be doing for your Heavy Incline
Also are you doing it as your first main lift or after benching
Thx
Curd
I used to do barbell incline, but found the movement too restrictive/taxing on shoulders. I do all my chest movements these days with dumbbells save for reverse grip bench. It's the only bench movement I enjoy. That said, these days I don't do 'heavy' anything. Ironically, my incline was often on par and at one time better than my flat bench. I think the mechanics of the movement suited me better.If were talking sbout powerlifting then incline BB would obviously be 2nd or 3rd movement after ur conventional flat bb bench type movements for the day.
Dan Bell said heavy incline BB improved his bench more than anything. I found that very surprising.
For me Personally ive always been god awful at incline pressing. I'm talking when I coule flat bench 405 x 7 I could online incline 315 x 5 or 6. Mind you I spent almost zero time on it but still.
For bodybuilding and chest development I find incline is your best compound movement for chest development. Although id rather do it in the Smith or dbs if you can have spotters hand them to you properly.
I'm with ya... To touch my chest on incline bb I have to go index fingers about an inch outside of the ring.I used to do barbell incline, but found the movement too restrictive/taxing on shoulders. I do all my chest movements these days with dumbbells save for reverse grip bench. It's the only bench movement I enjoy. That said, these days I don't do 'heavy' anything. Ironically, my incline was often on par and at one time better than my flat bench. I think the mechanics of the movement suited me better.
Are you unable to rebuild your core? Or, are these surgeries recent? My left shoulder, AC joint, and certain tissues have wear and tear issues, so I don't overtax my shoulders. The last thing I need is an injury that keeps me out of the gym. I do my flat dumbbell and flat flyes, periodically adding in some inclines. I'll also add in some dips, but it's very controlled, taking care to not allow my upper arms to go past perpendicular with my chest/parallel with the floor. I get some decent upper (outer) chest engagement from standing military press. It's one of my primary lifts, which I'll alternate w Z-presses. I don't do seated dumbbell or barbell shoulder press. Occasionally, I will do high incline seated barbell, but also in a cage with pins.I'm with ya... To touch my chest on incline bb I have to go index fingers about an inch outside of the ring.
I've always gotten more out of dB work for any pressing. Nothing improves my flat bb bench like heavy dips 6-12reps failure and flat dB press whatever biggest DBs they have to failure.
Only problem I have now is most gyms don't have big enough DBs for a heavy flat press for me.... Incline and shoulder press I need help getting them up unfortunately (I have zero abdominal strength due to several surgeries so kicking the dbs up is a pipe dream above 90lbs)
I'll give this a try, thanks for the mention. I prefer the low incline as it places less stress on the low back. I often put a wide and low box down for my feet. Not to eliminate the low back arch, just to minimize it a bit.On my rack at home ive been doing a lot of very low incline pin presses. My strength has increased a lot doing this, especially after my rotator cuff tear last year
I can build my core as a whole but my abs are toast forever. Too many surgeries slicing right thru the middle of them.Are you unable to rebuild your core? Or, are these surgeries recent? My left shoulder, AC joint, and certain tissues have wear and tear issues, so I don't overtax my shoulders. The last thing I need is an injury that keeps me out of the gym. I do my flat dumbbell and flat flyes, periodically adding in some inclines. I'll also add in some dips, but it's very controlled, taking care to not allow my upper arms to go past perpendicular with my chest/parallel with the floor. I get some decent upper (outer) chest engagement from standing military press. It's one of my primary lifts, which I'll alternate w Z-presses. I don't do seated dumbbell or barbell shoulder press. Occasionally, I will do high incline seated barbell, but also in a cage with pins.
As this past week has been my first lifting workouts since the end of March everything is slow, light, and high reps w plenty of warm-ups and post workout stretching. These days it's all about utility and functionality.
Ive always hated the smith until about a year ago when I switched to planet fitness to save $.I do it once a month, outside of that I use smith machine for incline bb, and of course dumbbells twice a month as well
Yeah ours is a vertical for sure I prefer thatIve always hated the smith until about a year ago when I switched to planet fitness to save $.
Incline Smith is now a staple of my chest routine.
Although I wish i had access to a vertical Smith not the stupid angled ones. I hate that.