Tip: Can't Do This? Then Hold Off on Bench Presses Search Skip to content Menu Menu follow us Store Articles Community Loyal-T Club Loyal-T Points Rewards Subscribe to Save Search Search The World s Trusted Source & Community for Elite Fitness Training Tip Can t Do This Then Hold Off on Bench Presses Pass this relative strength test with flying colors before you bench press Many people can' t even if they think they can by Dr John Rusin May 3, 2017October 18, 2021 Tags Chest, Push-Up, Tips, Training Ten Perfect Push-Ups Can you do 10 perfect bodyweight push-ups? If not, then you haven't earned the right to bench press. The push-up and the bench press are both forms of horizontal pushing, but the two have very little in common other than the direction of force. What differentiates them is the stability the push-up requires that the bench press doesn't. During the push-up your body is in a position that requires stability of the hips, pelvis, spine and shoulders working together. This posture-dependent position is advantageous to train because it requires full body tension and stability. It's also a powerful diagnostic test that'll identify weak links and dysfunction that may predispose you to pain and injury. You'll plateau if your weak point on the bench press is posterior shoulder and pillar stability. If you can't stabilize the shoulders, you can't press maximal weights off your chest. That's why the push-up test can diagnose stability deficits. Pass it before you hit the bench and you'll have a foundation that'll actually yield results. The Test Do 10 push-ups with your chest grazing the floor at the bottom and your elbows coming into full lockout at the top. Before you butcher your way through 30+ reps, make sure you're doing actual push-ups. Don't make these mistakes: Lumbar extension (hips sagging down) during the press Elbow flare (shoulders fly up into elevation) during the press Asymmetries (rotation of shoulder and/or body) at any point To pass this test your reps must be perfect. If you can knock out 10 without a problem, hit the bench. Just remember to keep a closed-chain horizontal press (like the push-up) in the mix for your accessory work. If you can't hit your reps, or you have to cheat your way through by hyperextending your spine or flaring your elbows, identify the weak link holding you back, improve it, and use the push-up as your indicator lift for full-body tension and stability. Get The T Nation Newsletters Don' t Miss Out Expert Insights To Get Stronger, Gain Muscle Faster, And Take Your Lifting To The Next Level related posts Training Tip Monster Glutes Meatier Hamstrings Build an athletic butt and strong hamstrings with these clever exercise variations. Training Gareth Sapstead December 22 Training Tip Fix Your Power Clean with Altitude Landings Here's how to use altitude landings to find the right stance for the power clean and perfect your form. Exercise Coaching, Tips, Weightlifting Christian Bosse December 9 Training Resurrecting the Oak - Part 1 Arnold Schwarzenegger did a lot of things wrong. He performed endless sets of leg extensions thinking that he was "cutting up" his thighs. He believed that pullovers would spread the rib cage and pull-ups would widen the shoulder girdle by spreading the scapulae. Training Chris Shugart July 2 Training Tip Are Sumo Deadlifts Cheating Some people think they are. Here's why they're wrong. Deadlift, Exercise Coaching, Powerlifting & Strength, Tips Tony Gentilcore November 4