Chest Presses

[Equalizer]

I have a couple questions on chest presses I hope some of u guys can help me with. That is, those of u who have performed both types.

1. Can u use more weight with a free bar barbell bench press of any angle or with a smith machine with everything being equal? ( The smith I have access to is the type with a slight angle)

2. Can u use more weight on a flat bench press or on a decline press, either with a free bar or smith machine?

 

[Incognito1]

It depends on the type of smith machine.
I've noticed on some smith machines the bearings are tighter than others, it also means that the bar wont slide as freely and causes the weight of the overall press it alot more than a free bench.

 

[rivered]

I can lift a bit more declined then flat, and bit more flat then inclined. I don't use smith machines because I like to develop my stabliizer muscles. I also prefer dumbbells over using a bar.

 

[kinglewy]

I recently purchased a smith machine for my basement and I love it, on the incline presses it really lets me zero in on the upper pecs, when I do them on a regular incline my front delts get exhausted way too early.

 

[jm425]

You can do a little more weight on the smith. You will always be able to do more weight on decline compared flat bench based on physics.

 

[nategeezy82]

Of course you can lift more with the smith machine. Smith machine is a waste of space. You're forced to move the bar in an unnatural range of motion, you don't have to balance the bar so a lot of the weight is put on your joints instead of the muscle. Stick with the barbell, or better yet, dumbells

 

[Powerbuilder]

Of course you can lift more with the smith machine. Smith machine is a waste of space. You're forced to move the bar in an unnatural range of motion, you don't have to balance the bar so a lot of the weight is put on your joints instead of the muscle. Stick with the barbell, or better yet, dumbells

I actually lift les on the smith machine because pressing in a straight line upwards feels very unnatural. When I first started I definitely pressed more on the smith though.

You lift more on decline because its a shorter range of motion and because the majority of people's delts aren't developed enough to lift the same weight as the load stress goes more and more onto your delts as you go from decline to flat to incline. I say majority because there are some freaks out there with kettelbell sized delts.

If the original poster is asking advice as to what's best to do my advice is everything. Switch it up every chest workout.

 

[stephenj37826]

I actually lift les on the smith machine because pressing in a straight line upwards feels very unnatural. When I first started I definitely pressed more on the smith though.

You lift more on decline because its a shorter range of motion and because the majority of people's delts aren't developed enough to lift the same weight as the load stress goes more and more onto your delts as you go from decline to flat to incline. I say majority because there are some freaks out there with kettelbell sized delts.

If the original poster is asking advice as to what's best to do my advice is everything. Switch it up every chest workout.

I do drywall and it amazes people that I can incline a bit more than flat and flat more than decline. I guess pushing those boards up over 15 yrs has made my shoulders pretty tough lol.

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