Muscle Gain Forum

Every time I bench, the bar drifts up toward my neck. Is this killing my shoulders or am I still safe?

If it’s drifting that high, you’re putting a lot of stress on your shoulders. Aim lower, like nipple line.

Think “tuck elbows” and bring the bar down mid-chest. Neck-level bench is a rotator cuff killer.

Yeah, shoulders do feel sore after. Guess I’m pressing wrong.

Rule of thumb: bar path should be a slight curve, not straight up and down. Touch mid-chest, press back toward eyes.

Watch powerlifters none of them touch near the neck. That should tell you something.

I benched high for years, tore a cuff. Don’t repeat my mistake.

Record yourself from the side. Sometimes it feels right but looks way off.

Lower bar = bigger pec stretches. That’s what you want anyway.

Got it. Next session I’ll try to land mid-chest and see if it feels better.