Dude get away from the bar and use dumbells. I bet you will have full range of motion with a nuetral grip dumbell bench. I had the same issues with my separation.

As far as goals are concerned, I don't see a reason to barbell bench unless your a powerlifter. you can get plenty strong with dumbells, a bit safer (no spotter required to go heavy) and you can easily change grip/elbow position if you have shoulder issues.

To be honest, I know guys that have a sick chest physique wise, and they just do different types of flies. The pectoral muscles job, after all, is to bring the humurus across your chest (fly motion). I'm not advocating not to use it, but if that shit is hurting your shoulder, then don't risk it. DB bench is a compound movement as well.

edit: to anyone that is having shoulder issues, whether its rotator or impingement.. double up on your rear delt work. face pulls, rear delt DB flies, reverse pec deck, band pull aparts. Do em.. alot. Don't wait for 'shoulder' day or whatever. Do them as much as possible.

I pretty much stick to dumbbell bench (incline usually). My main problem is in getting the dumbbells up, though. That initial move from bells resting on thighs to sitting back, rotating them up, then pressing them for the first time isn't always smooth and often leads to failure on a weight that I can technically press.

In other words, I can actually press a heavier weight than I'm capable of getting into the pressing position. I feel like this limits my ability to have as good of gains as I should with dumbbell chest exercises.

Any advice on cleaning up the movement to get the bells into pressing position? I could always ask for a spot and some assistance in getting the bells up for the initial press, but I usually prefer to work independently.

I often have the same issue, although I'll usually do the flat bench dumbbell press. I find that a bit easier as I can essentially just fall back with the weights in hand. It doesn't require so much work as to raise it to your shoulders on incline.

But still.. Annoying.

Age. Do lots of heel drop stretches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmfSJmXLpo4

Excellent. I'm going to rest for a couple more days and then try this.

Try and get to where you are holding the stretch for 3 minutes a few times a day.

Don't wait until things are too bad to start. I am looking at my second achilles reconstruction. :-(

You wouldn't be in this situation if you had just eaten some quest bars.

I'm engaging in a general sedentary lifestyle. Fitness is something I do once a month.

hell yeah flat is so much easier to just rock back and get the weight up. Incline is a bit harder but if you can't 'knee swing' it up and press from a dead stop, its probably too heavy. I pretty much make sure the inside of the dumbell touches my pec every rep, with a slight pause. I used to do all my BB benching with a full pause when I was running 5/3/1.

Right on! :thumb:

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T7k-VsCYlR0?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Please, dude ain't got SHIT on ol' 176.

Achilles has improved a bit, but still needs rest. I need to look at some new shoes, however.

In the past I usually wore New Balance or Asics for my wide feet, as they come in wider widths. The achilles tendon issue is giving me pause and making me look at better overall running shoes, however.

Any advice?

Run barefoot. It's what the hipsters do.

Sick gains, bro.

http://i.imgur.com/p1DRLke.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/V0Wd3iD.jpg