Are there any jacked dudes left doing Barbell Bench Press regularly? I mean…. I’m sure there’s like 2 or 3 of them left out there somewhere but every single behemoth I see on social media and in real life abandoned the Flat Barbell Bench for Machine or Smith Press... longgggg agoshow more

For those of us jacked and getting older, I’m 42, the Smith Machine is an absolute wonder. Bench, shoulder press, squats… it’s absolutely amazing and there’s no reason NOT to use it. The risk of injury when you’re lifting heavy increases with weight and age, not worth it.

Barbell still builds the stabilizers I need for combat sports. Machines isolate better, but the barbell bench remains essential for my training.

Can you name me the “stabilizers” it builds?

spotted a guy the other day that hit 315x8 for 3 sets on flat bench they exist

1 of the 2-3

lmao. i do love bench tbh but the dumbbells do seem to give me a better pump

The internet told me he's a pussy because he trains with machines. And his form sucks because it's too good.

Lmfao

I don’t see many jacked dudes doing a barbell bench at the gym anymore, yet our gym hasn’t replaced any of them yet.

I still love dumb bell bench and incline DB bench but honestly the stimulus I get from smith inclined or regular kinda blows it outa the water. I’m going back next meso to smith just cuz I’m bulking so growth trumps my ego/love of DB benching

Smart play

Anyway that's a god damn very perfect execution

Man, the shoulders on this monster.

I did 315x4 x2 today Ath Smith machine. Failed on 365, kept me humble with goals

I use smith machine but i always get pain on my right shoulder when i try to progressively overload. Once i go 185 and up 2 days later major aggravation in my right delts. What should i do? Incline dumbbell press works but no bench??

Something is likely off with your setup / execution

I’ll record my next reps.

I do it but just because I want to hit 315 just to check that off the list. I definitely don’t prefer it to machine or even dumbbell.

I’ve gladly moved onto mostly machines and cables. Cleaner reps., more control, and just as good of a pump. 👍👍👍

You’ll be better off for it 🤝

And my man, I got you to thank for it. Never been stronger, with less pain from avoidable niggles.

Max is a biiiig bastard! 🫡

Two guys in my gym who are roided to their gills, said they don't do hack squats and smitch machine presses, because "The machines are for girls." Many people lift only for ego, I guess.

I do both. Im chasing a certain goal for bb bench though. Nothing to do with hypertrophy. I have always wanted to hit 315 for 8. Im getting close. After that, ill prob stop

Due to your recommendation I switched to a Smith machine bench since i normally am by myself. It feels so odd that you can't push fast.

I’m working on a 315 bench pr by new year so I am utilizing it regularly but that is the only reason I’m doing so currently…

Two biggest benefits of abandoning the bench press for the machine for me is safety (duh) and the ease of doing progressive overload. I might still warm up with a traditional bench press though.

Are we still doing the bench for a big chest or the smith? So many different options on social media. And everyone brags about how much they bench but they’re not even big lol

Lol As far as pressing variations go: Well built machine press > smith press > barbell/db

Why has the bench press always been a staple ? lol

First mover advantage / widely accessible

I stick to the smith. Easier to control, and better contractions. Like you mentioned. Btw love your posts, very practical with good reason.

Thank you for your support 🙏🏻

I do them sometimes for fun and I think they are not that bad. Like sometimes you just have to go to the gym and do bench press raw. But I do agree on the long term machines are just simply better.

Strong!

yOu nEEd bArBeLl tO sTaBiLize yOuR jOiNts

My gym doesn’t give you the option. Only smith cages or hammer-smith machine. Not that I’m complaining.

Especially when going to the gym by yourself, I aint tryna grab a spotter every time I lift lmao

I don't even do barbell bench anymore. It is too hard on my shoulders, all I do for chest is dumbbell presses (incline and flat, 50s as of late), and chest press machine, and peck deck. That's it.

All the biggest guys in my gym don’t. If they barbell press, it’s incline.

I’m an American ghost watcher. I have a page to see what’s going on. Your shit popped many times and you need to man up and do compound lifts.

If your goal is to be really strong, you should do bench press; if your goal is to parade around oiled up in a thong, the Smith machine is a better option for you

Yeah thats just not true

It’s the socks that gives him the added strength

@eric_bugenhagen i’m sure

As if gym was not bad enough in promoting only raw muscle development without control, moving over to machines makes the problem even worse.

We lift in very different gyms