The incline bench press is an excellent exercise for developing the upper chest. This exercise is done by using an incline bench that's angled between 30 to 45 degrees. The incline bench press targets the upper chest fibers, which are responsible for the development of a well-rounded chest. In this blog post, we'll discuss where to stop the barbell before pushing back up during an incline chest press up.

Firstly, when performing the incline chest press up, it's essential to take note of your bar path. The bar should be lowered down to your upper chest, around your clavicle, and below your chin. Many beginners make the mistake of lowering the barbell too low, below their chest. This puts excessive strain on the shoulders and increases the risk of injury. So, ensure that the bar is lowered to your upper chest.

Secondly, you need to consider the angle of the incline bench. The angle of the bench determines how high you should lift the barbell. If the bench is angled at 30 degrees, you need to stop the bar lower on your chest than you would on a 45-degree angle bench. The steeper the incline, the higher on your chest you need to lift the bar. It's essential to adjust your grip and the touchpoint of the bar to ensure that you are lifting the bar to the correct height.

Thirdly, you need to watch out for the stretching of the chest muscles. The stretch on the upper chest muscles is what causes growth and development. If you don't lower the bar far enough, you'll miss the stretch in the upper chest muscles. So, it's essential to lower the bar down to your upper chest to feel the stretch of the chest muscles.

Lastly, you need to focus on form and not on the weight you're lifting. Many people make the mistake of focusing on lifting the heaviest weight possible. This puts them at risk of compromising their form during the exercise, which can lead to injury. Instead, start with a weight that you can handle with proper form and gradually increase the weight as your strength improves.

In conclusion, when performing the incline chest press up, it's crucial to lower the bar down to your upper chest, around your clavicle, and below your chin. You need to adjust the height of the bar according to the angle of the bench. Ensure that you are feeling the stretch in your chest muscles, and focus on form rather than weight. An incline chest press up is an excellent exercise for getting a well-rounded chest. Use these tips to perform the exercise correctly and safely.