Benedictine Monk
Level 3 Valued Member
Sorry everyone who believes this topic has been beaten to death. I'm here to beat it some more.
For several years, I've taken great pride in my moral superiority in not bench pressing, believing the bench is responsible for destroyed rotator cuffs, the decline of western civilization and the disappearance of endangered species world wide. I was comfortable with my moral preeening and insufferable bench less bubble.
Then I read Pavel's article on which press is best and I'm depressed. And though I'm depressed I'm also lazy. So, given I have a barbell for deadlifts and a floor and an aversion to drastic muscle hypertrophy that will cause me big payments to my Italian tailor. (I like him, but not enough to bankroll his retirement fund *all* *by* *myself*) I am being tempted by the darkside to do floor presses. If I buy any equipment, it would be dipping bars to do dips. So, here are my questions:
(1) Is there a screening progression for when one is ready to bench or floor press with a barbell?
(2) Given the bench or floor fixes your scapula in place, is a winging scapula a problem for the bench or floor press?
(3) I seem to remember Pavel writing awhile ago that Russia's lack of bench press mavens in the past meant that rotator cuff injuries were unknown unless someone had been shot or fell off a cliff (which is really just a large bench carved out of stone). Just curious if there's a little nuance to that opinion.
(4) If picking the weighted bar dip as a substitute for the bench or floor press, is there a screen for whether your shoulders are ready and some type of guidelines for the proper width for the bars based on shoulder width?
I should point out I was content doing deadlifts on the daily dose deadlift plan and TGU's the same number of days and patting myself on the back for my good sense in avoiding the bench, but after reading Pavel's article I am second guessing that decision. Feel free to talk me out of my indecision and get me off the cliff any way you think best.
Kirk out.
For several years, I've taken great pride in my moral superiority in not bench pressing, believing the bench is responsible for destroyed rotator cuffs, the decline of western civilization and the disappearance of endangered species world wide. I was comfortable with my moral preeening and insufferable bench less bubble.
Then I read Pavel's article on which press is best and I'm depressed. And though I'm depressed I'm also lazy. So, given I have a barbell for deadlifts and a floor and an aversion to drastic muscle hypertrophy that will cause me big payments to my Italian tailor. (I like him, but not enough to bankroll his retirement fund *all* *by* *myself*) I am being tempted by the darkside to do floor presses. If I buy any equipment, it would be dipping bars to do dips. So, here are my questions:
(1) Is there a screening progression for when one is ready to bench or floor press with a barbell?
(2) Given the bench or floor fixes your scapula in place, is a winging scapula a problem for the bench or floor press?
(3) I seem to remember Pavel writing awhile ago that Russia's lack of bench press mavens in the past meant that rotator cuff injuries were unknown unless someone had been shot or fell off a cliff (which is really just a large bench carved out of stone). Just curious if there's a little nuance to that opinion.
(4) If picking the weighted bar dip as a substitute for the bench or floor press, is there a screen for whether your shoulders are ready and some type of guidelines for the proper width for the bars based on shoulder width?
I should point out I was content doing deadlifts on the daily dose deadlift plan and TGU's the same number of days and patting myself on the back for my good sense in avoiding the bench, but after reading Pavel's article I am second guessing that decision. Feel free to talk me out of my indecision and get me off the cliff any way you think best.
Kirk out.