Ah, the age-old question: what's the difference between a bench press and a chest press? I'm glad you asked, my friend, because I happen to have some thoughts on the matter. Read more to find which one is right for you.
First off, let's start with the basics. Both exercises are designed to work your chest muscles, but they go about it in slightly different ways. The bench press is a classic powerlifting exercise that involves lying flat on a bench and lifting a barbell off a rack before lowering it to your chest and pushing it back up again. The chest press, on the other hand, is typically done with a machine or dumbbells and involves pushing weight away from your body while sitting or standing upright.
Now, before we dive into the advantages and disadvantages of each exercise, let's take a moment to appreciate their names. Bench press. Chest press. One sounds like something you'd find in a weight room, while the other sounds like something you'd order at a fancy restaurant. "Yes, I'll have the chest press with a side of truffle fries, please."
But I digress. Let's get down to business and compare these two exercises, shall we?
Advantages of Bench Press
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Builds upper body strength: The bench press is a great exercise for building upper body strength, particularly in your chest, shoulders, and triceps. It's a compound exercise that engages multiple muscle groups, making it an efficient way to get stronger.
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Increases bone density: Weight-bearing exercises like the bench press can help increase bone density, which is important for overall health and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
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Improves power: Because the bench press is a powerlifting exercise, it can help improve your explosiveness and power, which can be beneficial for athletes in a variety of sports.
Disadvantages of Bench Press
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Requires equipment: To do a proper bench press, you need a barbell, a bench, and a rack. This can be expensive and/or take up a lot of space in your home gym.
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Can be intimidating: Let's face it, the bench press can be intimidating, especially for beginners. Lifting heavy weights off your chest can be scary if you're not used to it, and the risk of injury is higher if you don't have proper form.
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Can be hard on your shoulders: Because the bench press puts a lot of strain on your shoulders, it can be a risky exercise if you have any shoulder issues or imbalances.
- Can be hard on your wrists: Many weightlifters that are new to the gym, don't execute with good first or keep their wrists in a neutral wrist position, leading to wrist pain. Don't worry.. there are ways to protect your wrists during workouts.
Advantages of Chest Press
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Easy to learn: The chest press is a relatively simple exercise that can be done with a machine or dumbbells. It's a great option for beginners or anyone who's intimidated by the bench press.
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Targets chest muscles: The chest press is a great exercise for targeting your chest muscles specifically, which can be helpful if that's a particular area you want to focus on.
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Safer for your shoulders: Because the chest press is done with a machine or dumbbells, it puts less strain on your shoulders than the bench press does. This makes it a safer option if you have any shoulder issues or imbalances.
Disadvantages of Chest Press
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Limited range of motion: One downside of the chest press is that it has a limited range of motion compared to the bench press. This means that you may not be able to work your chest muscles as effectively.
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Not as efficient: Because the chest press is a single-joint exercise, it's not as efficient at engaging multiple muscle groups as the bench press is.
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Can be boring: Let's be real, the chest press can be pretty boring. There's something exciting about lifting heavy weights off your chest that just can't be replicated with a machine or dumbbells.
So, there you have it, folks the comparison and advantages/disadvantages of chest press vs bench press.
If you have any concerns about good form, check out our wrist wraps that prioritize a neutral wrist position.. you can even leave your Apple Watch on!