proper leg position during flat benchpress?

[Maximum6]

I was wondering how much of "bend in the legs" is most effective in allowing "leg drive" during flat benchpress?

I searched "leg drive"on bodybuilding.com and they say around 80degree bend in the leg.

then i searched around the web and most say to scoot your leg as far back as you can without your heel coming off the ground

My benchpress position follows what THE ONE says to do in his article ;
1. good base
2. back arched
3. ribcage high
4. scapula squeezed together
5. shoulders pulled down

I look like this guy when benchpressing..except i lower the bar higher above the nipple area...for less tricep/lat....and more stretch overload in the pecs.

www.healthmad.com/Fitness/Powerli....ch-Press.213497

[youngblood]

If you're BBing, then you don't necessarily need to worry about leg drive- it's more about the feeling of "pushing your body away from the bar." This allows you to focus on the pecs a bit more.
Using your legs, as they do in PLing, will allow you to use more weight, but that's the end goal for them. BBing it's more what you LOOK like you bench, rather than what you actually bench.

[Sal Paradise]

YEP ^^^^^
What that guy said!!
I think YoungBlood hit the nail on the head.

It all depends on what you're trying to achieve with the lift.
Max lbs or max development.


Sal

[Maximum6]

you're right.

but me personally, rather have leg drive for that final rep when it really is taxing.

plus i'm wondering why they pull their feet back towards them...instead of keeping their legs squre 90degrees...

wouldn't they get more power by having the legs pass 90degrees? i.e. how people do 1/4 squats...they get more weight on.

[youngblood]

Apr 7, 2009 5:29:46 GMT -5 Maximum6 said:

plus i'm wondering why they pull their feet back towards them...instead of keeping their legs squre 90degrees...

I'll take a guess and say they pull their feet back so they can arch their back. Arching their back creates less distance to push which equates to more weight and maybe the difference between 1st and last.