solarbear
Level 6 Valued Member
Might give the nod to bench press for beginners. It allows you to move more weight and get into some real weights faster. Which in turn grows your strength quickly, especially when you first start lifting. I found when I first started lifting I mostly did Bench Press. I was lifting in the basement with my Dad's plastic York weights and a page with about 8 exercises on it that came with the set. When I went to a gym and started to do other exercises, I could use a much larger weight than one might expect. Bench seemingly had also built rows, shoulder press, curls, etc.
OHP might be an overall better exercise for many/most athletic endeavors (there is something about lifting weight over head that seems to build great strength) and one I would move onto or include (why not do both if you want?) once you move into the intermediate phase of your lifting career.
To me both are great exercises. I give the nudge to BP when you first start lifting and to OHP once you advance and are maybe looking to improve on the sporting field.
OHP might be an overall better exercise for many/most athletic endeavors (there is something about lifting weight over head that seems to build great strength) and one I would move onto or include (why not do both if you want?) once you move into the intermediate phase of your lifting career.
To me both are great exercises. I give the nudge to BP when you first start lifting and to OHP once you advance and are maybe looking to improve on the sporting field.