Is it necessary to touch the bar to chest on the bench press?

[ptahm22]

I know that range of motion is essential for muscle development but I kind of have a thin frame. If I touch the bar with my chest, my elbows will be completely under my back making it hard to generate any strength. Some guys have large chests and they too don't make it to touch the chest to bar. Do I have to touch the bar with my chest especially with my thin frame ?

 

[TalkAdmin]

I always do.

 

[macedog24]

It is recommended that you do. One problem I see with this is many people have a tendency to bounce the bar off there chest. I would recommend taking a small hand towel rolling it up so it is about 1" in width and placing it in the middle of your chest, running up and down. Now perform your bench press.
Bring the bar down touch the towel and immediately push upward.
This will teach you total control and no cheating.
This will also help anyone who has shoulder issues .

 

[to7update]

Good tips right there @macedo. The issue is that we should not try to cheat or bounce it, but we should have control and make the correct exercise or else we are wasting our time and we might get an injury. Work hard to get good results.

 

[Hypocrisy86]

Slow concentric and eccentric movement for me. But on stacked (plated) equipment i try not to have handles touch resting/stop position.