Paused Bench Press - Pavel Style

[Fazc]

Here is an article by an old buddy of mine, some of you might recognise him as having written for HG in the past:

Purposeful Primitive Online Blog Archive Pause Bench Presses ? Pavel Style

Some discussion was raised on the speed of eccentrics in Bench Pressing, this article covers that.

[Off Road]

Marked for reading later...

[big_swede]

Very good post F. Thanks!

[LtL]

Very well written and insightful article. Thanks Fazc.

LtL

[ILoveLifting]

Wouldn't lowering heavy weights quickly with a less than firm grip be dangerous?

[Off Road]

Sounds like the exact same technique I use for pin presses. I will have to give it a try on my regular benches, except the fast negative sounds kinda spooky. But I'll set the pins just under the chest so I just have to deflate to hit them.

[jslep]

good read but i don't know...........this goes against everything i thought i knew and when the weight is enuff to crush a mans sternum do i really want to play the "loosey goosey" approach.

[Fazc]

My only answer to the question of danger is that most of what we do as competitive lifters is dangerous, there's no way around that. But it's a matter of weighing up the risks vs rewards on an individual basis.

For me a faster eccentric actually produces less shoulder strain that a slower descent, there's less time under tension and more strength left to press upward. Also I don't feel a thing on my sternum with a faster descent. So for me the trade off is worth it.

I would certainly try it to get a proper idea before dismissing it however.

[markievicz]

great link, thanks for posting Faz

[LtL]

I'd add that I too don't feel any pain whatsoever upon touching with a fast eccentric and would agree with Fazc that a slow eccentric hurts me more especially in my shoulders and elbows.

LtL