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Questions and answers about sports

Will incline press target shoulders more than chest?

3 min read

Asked by: Anna Browning

Bench press works mostly chest, incline bench works both to the same extend (45 degree angle) and overhead press works mostly shoulders. You can see the worked muscles in the order of percentage involved here: Bench press.

Does incline bench work chest or shoulders more?

Bodybuilder Mike Francois agrees that incline benching is great for hitting the upper pecs and “a grip that is just a little bit wider than shoulder’s width really hits my upper pecs best.” Incline bench helps put your shoulders in a safer position for pressing.

Does incline press work shoulders?

It also works your shoulders and arms.



Aside from giving you an impressive set of pecs, the incline dumbbell press also helps in developing and strengthening your deltoids and triceps.

Why do my bench presses do my shoulders more than chest?

Your shoulders hurt more than your chest.



You want to make sure that throughout the range of motion, your shoulders are retracted down and back,” says Tyler Holt, MusclePharm athlete, and bodybuilding coach. This helps your chest do more of the pushing rather than your shoulders taking over the range of motion.

Why do I feel incline bench more in my shoulders?

Research shows that the correct angle of the Incline Bench Press should be 30 degrees from flat to target the upper chest. Many people will stay much too upright in the starting position when performing this chest exercise, and effectively wind up hitting their shoulders too much.

Can incline bench replace shoulder press?


To replace the overhead press is not going to be a good idea because there again just like the flat bench. Has certain muscles that it works more than the incline.

Is incline bench enough for front delts?

The bench press produces very high muscle activity in the anterior deltoid, nearly as high as in the pectoralis major (Schick et al. 2010). This is true of horizontal bench presses, but it’s particularly true of incline bench presses. Inclines will target both the anterior and middle delts the most.

Does bench press use shoulders?

Bench presses work several different muscles in your upper body, including the chest, shoulders, and arms. Although the muscles worked may vary slightly depending on the specific variation that you perform, bench presses can target the following muscles: pectoralis major. anterior deltoid.

Should incline bench touch your chest?

In general, yes, you should try to always touch your chest on the Incline Bench. The only time you shouldn’t touch your chest is if you lack the mobility to keep your shoulders in a stable position throughout the movement. You can do this by keeping your shoulder blades retracted at all times.

What does shoulder press work?

The shoulder press is one of the best exercises for strengthening your shoulders and upper back. The biggest benefactor of the shoulder press is the front portion of your shoulder muscle (anterior deltoid) but you’ll also be working out your deltoids, triceps, trapezius and pecs.

How do I stop my shoulder from Incline benching?

5 Tips To Eliminate Shoulder Pain During the Bench Press

  1. Alter Your Grip Width. …
  2. Keep Your Shoulder Blades Retracted. …
  3. Try the Low Incline Bench Press. …
  4. Increase Your Overhead Pressing Volume. …
  5. Perform Posterior Shoulder Soft-Tissue Work.


Should my shoulders be sore after bench press?

You may experience shoulder pain due to your posture with bench press. If your shoulders are rounded forward during bench press they will be more internally rotated. This will cause impingement or excessive stress on the rotator cuff muscles.

Why does incline dumbbell press hurt my shoulders?

There’s a chance your grip is either too narrow or too wide. A grip that is too wide increases stress on the shoulders. A grip that is too narrow can increase stress on the elbows. Another easy modification—grip width should be no wider than 1 and a half times your shoulder width.