I think in thibs vids where he is pressing - Maybe the I,BB video - I swear his traps are shrugged. Even if he didn’t realize it at the time, he might have been doing it.
Anyone tried this technique (with heavy weight)?
Also, do you always touch the bar to your chest? I’ve read at another forum that this works well for short-armed benching, while long armed trainees should lower until elbow is inline with the top of the bench, since its shoulder work below that. What do you think?
If you want to self diagnose your bench take a look at this video series by Dave Tate. I have pretty bad shoulders but a few weeks after making these modifications I’m pain free on the Incline and Flat Bench Press.
Like all big lifts, the Bench Press will always be a work in progress and you should always aim to make yourself as efficient as possible.
Good Luck