bench press bar path

Training Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hi,

I am trying to practice my bench press technique and from what i can tell most recommendations are to press the bar back towards the bench and that the bar path is not stright up and down.However, i don’t really understand how that is done as pressing the bar back and up is a bit awkward for me.I feel like if i try to press the bar back i need to have my elbows in front of the bar.

Am i supposed to push the bar back in a diagonal path or is that technique done by flaring the elbows at first and then pressing the bar up.

I made a little videos here to show what i mean. So the first rep is me pressing the bar back and up in a diagonal path.The second rep is with elbow flare and then press up.

Any advice is appreciated.

2

What you did in the first rep is preferable here.

3

Thank you Austin, i’ll try that.