Is incline or flat bench harder?

Author: Alec Corwin  |  Last update: Saturday, August 16, 2025

Why is incline bench press harder? Some people find that the incline bench press is harder than flat bench presses because the front delt likes to dominate the movement and tends to take away from the action of the upper chest because of how close in proximity these two muscles are.

Is incline or flat bench easier?

Yes, incline bench press is generally considered to be harder than flat bench press. This is because the incline angle places more emphasis on the upper chest and shoulders, which are typically weaker than the pectoral muscles targeted in the flat bench press.

Can you go heavier on incline or flat bench?

In summary, most individuals can generally bench press the most weight on a flat bench, followed by decline, and then incline. However, individual strength levels and training experience can affect these outcomes.

What bench press is hardest?

While the flat bench press is a great exercise for building your chest, it is also one of the most challenging to do properly.

Which bench is the easiest?

Let's cut right to the chase — yes, decline bench is easier than flat bench.
  • Now, before all the flat bench purists start sharpening their pitchforks, let me explain why a decline bench is indeed easier.
  • You don't have to lower the bar as far down to your chest, which means less distance for the bar to travel.

Can The Incline Bench Replace The Flat Bench & Overhead Press?

Is 135 a respectable bench?

The average male beginner might aim to bench press 135 lbs. A beginner female, on the other hand, might start with a 65 lbs lift. Remember, these are just averages—individual capabilities vary significantly.

Is 225 a rare bench?

Studies say only about 0.4% of the population can bench 225. So the answer is very rare.

Why is incline press so hard?

The angle reduces your ability to optimally engage the whole pec muscle. Instead, it places a disproportionate stress on the upper pecs and shoulders. In essence, the incline angle introduces a new challenge, much like hoisting that suitcase onto a higher shelf.

Is 315 a hard bench press?

Almost every guy can bench press 135 pounds when they're just starting out. After about 8-12 months of training, many can work their way up to bench pressing 225 pounds. However, very few ever reach 315 pounds – aka three big plates.

What do most guys bench?

The average Bench Press weight for a male lifter is 217 lb (1RM). This makes you Intermediate on Strength Level and is a very impressive lift. What is a good Bench Press? Male beginners should aim to lift 103 lb (1RM) which is still impressive compared to the general population.

Which exercises target the lower chest?

Best lower chest exercises
  • Dip Plus.
  • Straight Bar Dip.
  • Jackhammer Pushdown.
  • Standing Cable LC Press.
  • Kneeling x Press.
  • D2 Flexion Crossover.
  • Incline Twisting Pushup.
  • Decline Cable Dip.

What is a 60 degree incline press?

As a compound exercise, the high incline press entails pressing a weight upwards while reclining on a bench set at an elevated angle, typically between 30 to 60 degrees. This positioning makes it a superior exercise for honing in on the upper chest and boosting overall upper body strength.

Why can't I feel my chest on the incline bench?

If you can't feel your chest when you're doing an incline press, it could be because you are tucking your elbows too far in on the way down, which over-activates your triceps, and doesn't allow you to get a full range of motion ❌ To fix this, bring the dumbbells outs and let them clear your chest, or when you begin to ...

Why decline bench?

Decline bench pressing increases tricep engagement by increasing the angle of the elbows and stretching the triceps muscles. This stretch causes the triceps to work harder to lift the weight!

How rare is a 405 squat?

Only 1 Out Of 50 People Go To The Gym, So 0.00012% Of The World's Population Can Squat 405lbs… That's 3 Out Of Every 25,000 People.” #LegDay #Squats #Weightlifting #StrengthTraining #Exercise #Outlier #JoeRogan #Discipline #Consistency #SuccessHabits 🗓️ #CompoundEffect 📈 #SRTF.

Why do I lift less on an incline bench?

The incline angle typically ranges between 30 to 45 degrees, which changes the plane of motion and requires a different recruitment pattern of muscle fibers. This angle puts extra stress on the shoulders and upper pecs, making it harder to lift the same amount of weight compared to a flat or decline bench press.

Is 20 degrees good for an incline bench?

The ideal bench angle for incline bench press is a range: 15-45 degrees. But here's why 15 degrees might not always be ideal depending on one significant factor. The greater you naturally arch, the higher the incline l'd recommend.

Should you go heavy on incline press?

Starting weight for this chest press variation should be with a lighter weight instead of heavy weight for strength gains. As you get stronger in this popular exercise, you can increase your rep range and your sets over time.

How rare is a 405 deadlift?

Only around 12% of lifters ever get there, and most of them take at least 5 years. Once you can do a few reps with four plates on the bar, most people will think you have an impressive deadlift. I can do eight reps with 405, and that's usually enough to earn some compliments.

What percent of men can squat 315?

If we look at advanced lifters, only 1 in 6 guys ever squats 315 pounds, even after over a decade of weight training. Thus, if you can squat three plates, you're probably one of the stronger guys at the gym.

How common is a 135 bench?

After a year of lifting weights, 56% of guys could bench more than 135 pounds, but only 5% could bench 225. A third of guys were still benching less than 135 pounds.

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