Chest exercise

[chimewolf]

I've just recently starting weight lifting.

When I do chest exercises I feel more sore in my arm/shoulder than in my chest.
Chest exercise done is bench press.

Is this a sign I'm not doing the exercise right? or is that how it's supposed to feel? or should I start with a diffrent exercise?

Thx in advance for any help.
-CW

[arpeejay]

I'm sure others will have other things to say but...

Sounds normal to me.

You use your arms and shoulders as well as your chest so you're definitely going to feel it there too. Eventually you'll feel it in your chest, too, but if you've never worked chest before it may take a while for that mind / body connection to kick in.

It's a great foundational exercise; keep it up!

xoxo

Richard

[toleatherman]

I'm curious. As you are starting your rep.. where is the bar? Is it above 'nipple line' -which can concentrate the pects or above shoulders (which will place undo pressure on shoulder joint or arms?) A slight adjustment AND taking the motion slow in both directions should hit your chest really well.

[Hulk2be]

I've been lifting for a couple years now, and I've never been able to master the traditional bench press either. Like you, whenever I do bench press, it turns into a shoulder exercise, and the only training related injury I've gotten has been a shoulder one that I got doing a bench press.

Something I've learned about bodybuilding is that every body is unique, and just because something works for 99 guys, doesn't mean it will work for the 100th.

What I have done rather than use a barbell for the bench press, is I use two dumbbells instead. That way, I can slightly alter the position of each arm individually until I feel it in my chest, unlike a solid bar that locks your hands into place.

[Frankly]

As Hulk said, try out with dumbells, and instead of pressing straight up i like to have the dumbells meet on their edges, not flat. This means that when you press up at the top you are squeezing your pecs together and rotating your hands so the dumbells meet on the corners.

One way to really feel it too is when at the bottom of the reps, hold the stretch for a second, and when at the top of each rep, hold the contraction and squeeze your pecs. you'll feel it way more in your pecs afterwards.