Dr Mel Siff Blog

.

You may recall my referring before to Dr Tom McLaughlin’s book on the
biomechanics of bench pressing (“Bench Press More Now”) — well, here is an
interesting paper that he and a colleague wrote on the biomechanical
differences between novice and expert bench pressers.

————————

Madsen N, McLaughlin T

Kinematic factors influencing performance and injury risk in the bench press
exercise

Med & Science in Sports & Exercise. 16(4):376-81, Aug 1984. Read more…

This is a lot of disagreement on the correct way to bench press efficiently.
Does one press the bar

1. directly upwards in a vertical line,
2. somewhat downwards away from the face
3. in a backward arc over the head ?

Some years ago, Dr Tom McLaughlin did a great deal of biomechanical research
into the bench press and examined this issue (see his book “Bench Press More
Now”). In doing so, he identified at least three different patterns of
action for the “novice”, the “light expert” and the “heavy expert”. He
specifically commented that seldom does any lifter who stops in the sticking
point manage to successfully complete the lift, so that efforts spent to
battle through this point simply waste energy.

Let’s hear your comments on your preferred way of bench pressing and later I
will share Dr McLaughlin’s ideas on the subject with you. In particular,
Dave Tate from Westside Barbell might like to share his extensive experience
on this topic with us.

Dr Mel C Siff
Denver, USA