Replacing half my bench pressing with incline dumbbell pressing ??

Kracken

Member
I'm currently doing an upper lower split, with upper on Tuesday and Friday. Both days I do bench pressing 5 sets of 5. I am considering replacing one of those with incline dumbbell press to hit the top of my chest harder. I'm wondering if that will leave both exercises with insufficient volume for strength increase or if it will still work my whole chest, although perhaps more slowly?
 
I quit straight bar pressing a few years into my bodybuilding. Weren't doing much for my chest but they were wearing out my shoulders. I found DB and weighted dips did more for my chest. Haven't laid under a bar in decades.
 
Okay! I just got back from the gym. They changed the cages and no longer have straight safety bars, just slings for squatting. Bad day, got myself pinned. Very embarrassing.

Setting that aside, I'll take the advice y'all gave me and completely replace my bench press with incline dumbbell press. There are many advantages to that beyond the physical ones.

I recently had rotator cuff surgery, and although my shoulder has never felt better I don't want to mess it up again. I do need stronger arms and chest for my sports and I can do incline DB press at home. So all good.

Follow up if you guys don't mind: Will incline DB press work my arms much? Or will I need to add something for that? I do not compete, I'm just looking to stay strong for sports. I tend to ward compound movements for efficiency.
 
Follow up if you guys don't mind: Will incline DB press work my arms much? Or will I need to add something for that? I do not compete, I'm just looking to stay strong for sports. I tend to ward compound movements for efficiency.
I definitely have an arm pump after a few heavy sets but wouldn't use that as an excuse not to train arms also. That said, I train purely for looks and not sports performance. My typical chest/arm day goes something like: 45deg DB press -> some kind of fly -> 75deg EZbar french press -> Hammer curls. Then usually finish with some light tricep & bicep isolations just for fun.
 
DBs are solid—and that’s strictly how I run incline bench too.
That said, flat bench is still key if you want a fully developed chest.

If a straight barbell on flat bench isn’t clicking for you, try a cambered bar. The increased ROM keeps more tension on the chest and takes stress off the shoulders.
 
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