Bench Press problem?

I’ve been lifting consistently for probably around 4 years or so. I’m around 6’5 280lb still trying to get leaner. My bench press strength is decent, currently can do 315 for 7 sets of 3 reps. My problem is my butt always comes up off the bench. I can’t seem to create any arch without my butt coming off the bench. Its not even an extreme arch like you see from some powerlifting pictures.

I’m tall and have very long arms, so I wonder if it is something to do with that?

Should I just try to lower the weight and bench with no arch at all?

Continue benching the way I currently do? I have no plans for any competing, so that’s not an issue.

Thanks for any help and advice

Is your butt lifting during the lift or is it off the bench from the start?

If it’s coming off of the bench during the lift you could try squeezing your glutes as hard as you can (imagine dropping your soap in the prison shower :smile: ) from the moment you start lowering the bar, and keep it tight until the lift is completed.

There is also the possibility that this weight is too much for you to do properly and your body instinctively lift the butt off the bench to give you better leverage as it’s the only way not to die under the bar.

So let me ask you this: during your warm-up/ramp up sets, is your butt also coming off of the bench? If it is not, then that 315 is just too much for you right now and you should stick to the heaviest weight you can bench without lifting your butt of the bench. That doesn’t mean that you will get weaker… you are simply using leverage and shortening the range of motion to get 315. If you can get 285 with proper form it will actually be more productive from a development and long-term strength perspective.

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Its hard to explain, I have recently did 385 for some single rep sets. For warmup sets i use no leg drive and just lay flat. But when Im actually trying to do my working sets, i try to set up a proper arch and then my butt lifts off.

Its almost likes its impossible for me to arch my back but keep my butt down if that makes sense, I don’t know why.

Should I have my feet in a position that causes a lot of tension in my inner thighs area?

My guess is that you lack thoracic mobility. So when you raise your butt off the bench you are not really “arching” you are simply changing the angle of your whole body.

As such my recommendation is to work on thoracic spine extension mobility but in the meantime stop ego lifting and bench while flat. Just focus on contracting the upper back harder during the eccentric and lift your chest up (imagine trying to bring your chest to the bar) to stay more stable.