The Bench Press
Effects of changing the incline and changing grip width
The barbell bench press has often been described as the “king” of upper body strength assessments.
It is utilized to assess strength in powerlifting competitions via a 1-repetition maximum (1RM) and muscular strength/endurance in the NFL combine.
To this day, it remains one of the first upper body exercises taught to novice lifters internationally.
Bench Press Overview
The barbell bench press can be utilized to build the endurance, strength, and power of both horizontal and vertical pressing movements.
Sport-specific movements that may benefit from a strong/powerful bench press include blocking in football/rugby and checking in hockey/lacrosse.
The bench press also serves as an excellent exercise for those with chiefly aesthetic and hypertrophy goals. Furthermore, training the bench press undoubtedly serves a role in the injury-risk reduction seen with strength and conditioning programs, due to the effects of increased bone-mineral density, muscular performance, tendon stiffness, and joint conditioning.