Bench Press Training Articles

The raw bench press can be demanding lift in both strength and technique. Having all associated muscle groups adequately trained ensures the athlete can complete the lift successfully and has the durability necessary to withstand the demands of both training and competition. 

Mon Jan 15, 2024

A common misconception about Westside Barbell is that the training is 100% gear-focused. This is not true. When it came to geared lifters, Lou insisted that they train to become as strong as possible, raw and in gear. His mindset was that improving raw bench press strength and muscle mass would only help improve the shirted bench press. The success Lou had developing geared bench pressers proves that theory correct.

Wed Oct 04, 2023

One variation that is frequently used is the pin press bench. This joint angle-specific exercise focuses on and develops anterior shoulder and tricep strength. As athletes perform and benefit from this exercise, they will notice an ability to lock out heavier weights in the bench and overhead press and produce greater force from 90 degrees to lock out as the arms extend during sports competition.

Mon Jul 24, 2023

Developing a strong upper torso is an essential aspect of strength training. No matter the sport, athletes will benefit significantly by improving the strength of their shoulders, upper back, pecs, triceps, biceps, and forearms. Not only will strength and athletic performance improve, but the upper body will also become more resistant to injury.

Wed Jun 21, 2023

When programming exercise variations, it is crucial to remember that you want to get the most gains out of the least amount of variation. This means sticking to the standard variations without adding further variation to the exercises as long as you continue to PR and make gains. As much as a new exercise variation can be entertaining, don’t trick yourself out of what is currently working just because you are bored or found a new exercise on social media. 

Wed Apr 05, 2023

The bench press is an exercise that is a staple in practically any type of training program. It doesn't matter whether you are an athlete, a powerlifter, or someone just looking to get stronger; the bench press is one of the most effective exercises when focusing on building strength and muscle in the upper torso. However, to ensure this exercise is maximally effective, it is crucial to understand what qualifies as proper execution of a bench press. 

Thu Dec 08, 2022

It is now week four of the four-week bench press PR program, and it is time to establish a new bench press PR single. Over the past three weeks, we have worked at different levels of volume and intensity while challenging our press strength and technique using exercise variation. Now it is time to see if the work we have put in will pay off as expected. 

Tue Nov 29, 2022

While it is true that mastering the Conjugate Method from a programming/coaching perspective can take many years and calls for the individual to understand the theory and application along with all of the nuances involved, proper execution of the methods is a relatively easy task to accomplish. As much as a beginner can benefit from traditional linear-style periodization, they can benefit even more from a Conjugate Method program.

Fri Nov 25, 2022

Ideally, an athlete should be rolling into the training week feeling adequately recovered and ready to handle some heavy weights. This week, we will work up to our first max-effort single attempt of the four-week PR training plan. This week will test an athlete's most significant weakness in the bench press.

Sat Nov 12, 2022

As you accumulate training time, you may reach a point you cannot consistently hit a PR lift when you train a max-effort exercise.

Fortunately, this is not that big of an issue. The intention of max-effort training is to lift the heaviest weight possible, with the goal being to recruit the greatest number of motor units possible. By achieving maximal motor unit recruitment, we can improve absolute strength, eventually leading to a new PR lift being established.

Fri Nov 04, 2022

At Westside, we have a few different ways we go about training the triceps. To maximize your results, you must train the triceps in a few different ways to improve strength, size, and muscular endurance. Effective tricep training includes more than a few sets on the cable press-down machine after your main exercise. 

Fri Oct 14, 2022

The incline bench press is one of the most effective upper body exercise variations you can perform to develop the chest, shoulders, and triceps. At Westside, it is not uncommon to see athletes performing various incline bench press exercises using barbells and dumbbells.

Tue Sep 27, 2022

As many strength athletes know, the bench and overhead press can be two challenging exercises to master. Both involve the shoulders heavily, which are the most moveable joints in the human body. Because of this, it is important to focus on rapidly building the upper body muscle groups that support the upper back, shoulders, and arms.

Fri Sep 09, 2022

Putting together dynamic effort training can sound complicated when truthfully, it is relatively easy. Here is how we recommend putting together your first dynamic effort training wave.

Fri Aug 19, 2022

The structure of a dynamic effort upper training day is similar to the structure of a dynamic effort lower training day in two ways; both follow a three-week wave schedule, and both follow the same basic order of exercises. 

Here is how to properly structure your dynamic effort training.

Wed Aug 17, 2022

Over the years, Westside Barbell has produced many world-class benchers. This includes multiple 600lbs raw benchers and geared benchers that pressed 800lbs, 900lbs, and even 1000lbs in competition. It is safe to say, Lou mastered the art of building the bench press.

Wed Jul 27, 2022

A weak back is one of the most common reasons lifters fail a lift or injure themselves. Many fear training their back correctly due to misinformation spread by inexperienced individuals. At Westside, we constantly perform heavy good mornings and barbell rows, all while maintaining a low injury rate.

Mon Jul 25, 2022