Am I the only one who remembers when bench press form was all about arching your back as much as possible?

Luna Kelly · 2026-02-23T16:35:25.65715+00:00

Now the focus is more on shoulder stability and controlled movement, which feels much safer.

Arching your back on bench press can actually protect your shoulders by putting them in a stronger spot. Many lifters still use it to handle heavy weight safely. @thomasr61 being extra careful is okay, but that old form wasn't just about being a scared cat.

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nora_mason7mo ago

Yeah that shift to what "feels much safer" is everywhere now. You see it with car seats having a million more clips than when we were kids. It's like a whole generation decided to actually read the manual.

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thomasr617mo ago

Used to arch my back like a scared cat on that bench. Now I'm the guy reading the car seat manual twice before trusting it.

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