Powerbuilding without bench press?

Training Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hello,

I’m currently in the third phase of the beginner template and I’d like to do Powerbulding I next.

However, my problem is that the bench in my gym doesn’t have any kind of safeties and I can’t expect to have someone available to spot me every time I train. So I’m not comfortable benching with high RPE.

Would the powerbuilding template work well, if I simply replaced the bench press with the overhead press? As I’m not a powerlifter, it wouldn’t really matter to me if I focused on the overhead press for now.

During the beginner program, I have been using dumbbell bench press and machine chest press, but I’m not sure if those are worth focusing on as the main lift.

Thanks

2

That’d be a fine substitution. I’d still do some horizontal pressing in there, e.g. incline or flat DB work, but in place of some of the supplemental lifts rather than OHP, which you’ll do as a main lift. You can also bench in a power rack to have safeties if you’re in a commercial gym.