Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Why can't you bench what you can Dip?

  • 21-08-2008 4:17pm
    #1
    Patto
    Closed Accounts Posts: 405 ✭✭


    I can Dip, maybe 12 reps of body weight, I can just about bench my body weight, why is this? Isn't it pretty much the same movement with a similiar load?

    It seems to me most people have stronger support in their upper back when dipping. Most people, including me, don't have the same support in their middle and lower back (I thinking traps here) to support a similiar load when bench pressing.


Comments

  • #2
    amazingemmet
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,057 ✭✭✭amazingemmet


    Shorter rom is the main thing really. Try compare what you can dip to your close grip decline bench and they'll roughly be the same.


  • #3
    farva
    Closed Accounts Posts: 298 ✭✭farva


    I'd say that I probably can (or could before I went travelling and drinking for the summer!!). I could bench 115kg max, and was doing sets of 4 X 8 reps at 90kg. For dips I did tricep dips (way tougher than chest IMO.) - 4 sets of 8 reps at bodyweight (70kg) + 20-25kg. The last time I tried doing a set of chest dips to see what I could get at bodyweight, I got about 30. I admit I've never tried it and probably wouldn't bother but I wouldn't be suprised if I could knock out at least 1 dip with bodyweight + 45kg.


  • #4
    Transform
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,394 ✭✭✭Transform


    Shorter rom AND involvement of triceps more on the dips really.

    Benching is quite over rated really and still a 'new' exercise (doing benching on a bench has only existed for the past 60 years) relatively, compared to overhead pressing, dips and back work which were done prior to then

    Look at all the drug free guys from before the mid'60's who all did very simple full body programs with emphasis on increasing strength on back and legs being vital to progress.

    Benching is great for chest development but not everyone is best suited to getting a great chest from working on it just the same way as not everyone is going to make lots of progress on their squat but they are more suited to deadlifting.


  • #5
    Patto
    Closed Accounts Posts: 405 ✭✭Patto


    Good point about the decline bench. I could always bench more in the decline position.

    I don't think the shorter ROM fully explains the descrepency. I still wouldn't be able to bench body weight for 12 reps with half rom, nothing near it in fact.

    I reckon either the pressing muscles are stronger or the stabilising muscles in your back are stronger or both.

    Most people will have their upper traps well trained from shrugs and deadlifts and provide a very solid base for a dip or decline bench. Most peoples mid and lower traps are weak and neglected and have very poor scap control thereby providing a weak base for a standard bench.

    Becuase of the line you dip or decline bench you cannot put as much load on your ant. delts, so you must be using something else, sure the triceps come into it more, but I reckon you can get at your chest and lats easier as well.


Advertisement