Bench Press vs Pause Bench Press

Maximizing Your Chest Workout Plan

Contents

Planfit users log Bench Press more often — 38,526 sessions vs 85. Compare Chest form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Customize Your Chest Workout: Explore the Benefits of Bench Press and Pause Bench Press for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Bench Press vs Pause Bench Press : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Bench Press more often — 38,526 sessions compared to 85 for Pause Bench Press.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Bench Press and Pause Bench Press differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Bench Press and Pause Bench Press Differ

What differsBench PressPause Bench Press
Difficulty3 of 55 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users38,526 sessions85 sessions

Related comparisons

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How to Bench Press

Bench Press gif

Bench Press muscles worked: Chest

Form

  1. 1. Slowly lower the barbell until it touches below your chest.
  2. 2. At this time, your forearms should be perpendicular to the floor.
  3. 3. Slowly lift the barbell back to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. If the barbell does not touch your chest, please lower it as much as possible without overexerting yourself.
  2. 2. Be careful not to let your shoulders come forward of your chest, as this can put strain on your shoulders.
  3. 3. Please be careful not to let your hips come off the bench.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Bench Press, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Bench Press Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Bench Press methods?Exercise Guide

How to Pause Bench Press

Pause Bench Press gif

Pause Bench Press muscles worked: Chest

Form

  1. 1. Slowly lower the barbell until it touches just below your chest.
  2. 2. Pause for about 1-2 seconds at the lowest point.
  3. 3. At this time, your forearms should be perpendicular to the floor.
  4. 4. Slowly lift the barbell back to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. If the barbell does not touch your chest, please lower it as much as possible without straining.
  2. 2. Be careful not to let your shoulders come forward of your chest, as this can put strain on your shoulders.
  3. 3. Please be careful not to let your hips come off the bench.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Pause Bench Press, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Pause Bench Press Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Pause Bench Press methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Chest, Bench Press or Pause Bench Press?

Planfit users log Bench Press more often — 38,526 sessions against 85 for Pause Bench Press. Both train Chest, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

What equipment do Bench Press and Pause Bench Press need?

Bench Press needs a barbell, and Pause Bench Press needs a barbell.

Which is easier to start with?

Bench Press is the easier place to start. Move to Pause Bench Press once your form holds up.

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