Close grip bench press - MESO-Rx

knockdown · #1 (**permalink**) 11-23-2004, 01:02 PM

Ok guys last nite I went to check out a new gym and I must say that I felt like a child standing in a toy store. They let me workout for that nite so I did chest and tri's. Once I was done with my chest I worked over to a bench and loaded 225 lbs for close grip bench presses. As I started to do my sets I just happened to look over to my right and I see these two dude pumpiing out 315lbs on close grip. So this lead me to wondering if I was just a weak mofo or were they just some strong ass dudes. So my question to you bro's is how much do you guys use for close grip presses?

balls75 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-23-2004, 02:45 PM

225 is respectable...tris are prolly my strongest bodypart, I can get 315 for 5-6 but I have not seen too many dudes close to that. I think it is dependant on how close your hands are together too...some guys consider a close grip hands 10 or12 inches apart, while others (me) do them at thumbs width apart. I do think it is a great excercise though, my tricep workout is basically 2-3 set of close grips and 2-3 sets of pushsdowns or skullcrushers, thats it.

knockdown · #3 (**permalink**) 11-23-2004, 03:36 PM

I forgot to tell you that one of those dude was only 20 ears old

kenneth · #4 (**permalink**) 11-23-2004, 06:13 PM

way to stick to the basics balls! nice to see some others in agreement

Massive690 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-23-2004, 06:51 PM

how far apart do you guys keep your hands on the close grips. my tri's get a major pump but it always seems to hurt my wrists

kenneth · #6 (**permalink**) 11-23-2004, 07:13 PM

i go with the 10-12in. otherwise same here, wrist kills me.

Bob Smith · #7 (**permalink**) 11-23-2004, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenneth

i go with the 10-12in. otherwise same here, wrist kills me.

I consider closegrip to be about 10-14 inches between index fingers. 0-6 inches, IMO, is retarded, unstable, and dangerous.

Before I took time off from the gym, I could 1RM closegrip at 315 with a full pause on my chest.

AnimalMass · #8 (**permalink**) 11-27-2004, 03:12 PM

It doesn't really matter how much you do as long as you realize what a great tricep exercise it is. Just keep doing them heavy and you'll get there.

315 for 5-6 is pretty good though. I'm sure that's about what I could do - maybe a few more.

Matt

steve miller · #9 (**permalink**) 11-28-2004, 10:50 PM

Heres the thing with me i have close griped over 400 lbs before...right now i could probably dfo like 350 for 3-5 reps...i have not done it in like 3 months due to an injury to my sternum (slight fracture),,,,,My point here is i dont do regular bench the last year or so i only did close grip because it was better on my shoulders...it was to the point i could close grip more than reg bench probably...its like anything else if youdo it alot you will get better and stronger at it...thats my opinion

kenneth · #10 (**permalink**) 11-28-2004, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve miller

Heres the thing with me i have close griped over 400 lbs before...right now i could probably dfo like 350 for 3-5 reps...i have not done it in like 3 months due to an injury to my sternum (slight fracture),,,,,My point here is i dont do regular bench the last year or so i only did close grip because it was better on my shoulders...it was to the point i could close grip more than reg bench probably...its like anything else if youdo it alot you will get better and stronger at it...thats my opinion

and close grips in particular seem to start off extremely weak for many people, but like steve just said it will surely fly if you just keep doing them