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Floor Press vs Bench Press: Which is Better for Your Strength Training Goals?

by Wendy

Exact Query Answer

Both presses create strength in the upper body. The Floor Press does, however, concentrate on the triceps and puts less stress on the shoulders than the Bench Press. The latter provided a wide range of motion for chest development.

INTRO

It involves a collection of exercises that aid in muscle building and enhances strength-based endurance. Of the lot, floor press and bench press happen to be two such major exercises. In this blog, both are explained and contrasted in terms of their benefits, techniques, and suitability towards certain training goals.

Knowing the Basics

What is a Floor Press?

Floor press is performed when a person lies on the floor and presses a barbell or dumbbells. It is done mainly as a triceps exercise that puts less stress on the shoulders since it uses limited ROM.

 This exercise thus comes very handy for those lifters who have some problem in their shoulders and want to build upper body strength without risking their shoulders.

What is Bench Press?

Bench presses involve lying on a bench to press either a barbell or dumbbells. In other words, this involves greater range of motion and thus can be rated higher than any other exercises which bring out the chest and improve upper body strength. 

Bench press is considered one of the core exercises in powerlifting and bodybuilding. It is considered a great movement for building mass and strength in the chest, shoulders, and triceps.

Floor Press vs Bench Press ComparisonVariation and Resources

Exercise Variation

Floor Press:

This exercise allows one to isolate triceps and even maintain shoulder stability.

Lower Body: 

Minute involvement of the lower body

Core: 

One needs to engage the core for stability.

Bench Press

Upper Body: 

The parts it targets are the chest, shoulders, and the triceps.

Lower Body:

Lower body involvement includes leg drive.

Core:

Core needs to be stabilised in this movement.

Accessibility and Ease

Home Gym Considerations

Floor press is more home workout-friendly because it uses less equipment and less space. Bench press requires a bench and space, which is best suited for a well-equipped gym. 

Gym Equipment Availability 

This factor comes almost the same since both exercises are highly adopted and supported by most gyms. 

Ease of access to benches and barbells goes without saying. Safety and Ease of Use 

Beginner Safety Floor Press

It’s relatively safer for beginners since it has a reduced ROM and less potential danger to the shoulders.

In floor press, it’s way easier to control the weights and hold the proper form.

Bench Press

It requires proper technique not to get hurt. Most of all, it puts a lot of pressure on the shoulders.

Beginners should seek assistance to perform this exercise with correct form.

Advanced Training Techniques

Progressive Overload

Both exercises can progress overload by increasing weight and intensity over time.

High-Intensity Training

Suitable for advanced lifters who are looking to push their limits, with modifications to make this exercise harder.

Effectiveness in Building Strength

Gain in Strength

Floor Press for Triceps Strength

Emphasises triceps; hence, excellent for lockout strength and upper body power.

Bench Press for Overall Strength

Helps in lifting heavier weight and thus promotes whole upper body strength and muscle mass.

Functional Training

Everyday Movements

While both exercises guarantee functional strength, bench press brings out a better workout for the upper body.

Sport-Specific Training

Bench press is preferred for sports requiring upper body strength and power. However, floor pressing is useful for isolated triceps work.

Pros and Cons

Pros of Floor Press

Less stress on the shoulders.

Triceps can be targeted.

Minimal equipment is needed.

Pros of Bench Press

Fuller range of motion.

It is an exercise that works out the upper body comprehensively.

Heavier weights can be lift when bench press is done .

Floor Press Cons

Shorter ROM.

Not quite as effective at building a chest.

Bench Press Drawbacks

Your chances of having a problem with your shoulder increase .

More equipment and space is needed.

Choosing Your Weapon

Goals and Preferred Level of Experience

Best for the Novice

Floor press is a good choice because of how safe it is, along with its ease of use.

Advanced Lifter

It really is only best for the advanced lifter going heavy and seeking maximal gains in muscle tissue, period. Goals of Training Endurance: The floor press. Building Muscle: Bench Press is the best overall at building muscle.

Strength and Power

Both are roughly equally as powerful of an exercise, but for tricep strength, it’s floor press all the way.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is the Floor Press or Bench Press Better for Your Shoulder Health?

In general, the floor press is easier on your shoulders, due to limited ROM that puts less stress on them.

Can anyone start bench pressing safely? 

Yes, but it’s always important to learn proper technique or guide for beginners in order not to experience any kind of injuries.

How does the floor press benefit the development of the triceps? 

Because the floor press lowering volume increases the triceps engagement by reducing its range of motion; hence, normally it’s an effective move for the building of triceps strength.

What Exercises Go Well with Bench Press?

Variations of a bench press are complementary exercises to a bench press: incline bench press and close-grip bench press, dumbbell flyes. They train from completely different angles and work out the muscles differently.

What variation of bench press can be best done at home?

Because of their demand for space and equipment, floor presses are more feasible to perform at home.

Conclusion

While both the floor press and bench press have advantages, that could help you is based on your strength training regime in respect to your goals. 

You are now empowered to choose the best exercise that will help realise your fitness goals better and develop your overall strength training program based on these differences.

 

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