Bodybuilding Forums

I've been getting a lot of conflicting debates lately about which is the better method for increasing the chest size. I know that Mark M. speaks well of the Pec Deck and has even brought out some very valid observations regarding it's superiority for being able to build chest mass.

On the other hand, I have seen some posts where the pec deck is down-played and the method encouraged is the flat bench press. In fact, some have down-rated the pec deck so much as to imply that it's for beginners and wimps; which in my opinion is an over-exaggerated statement.

I usually work with the Pec deck myself because I have better control and I also don't need a sparing partner on the last rep to failure to relieve me of the weight.

What are your thoughts on the topic? Does one rank superiority over the other in your opinions or do they both offer the same level of benefits for Pectoral isolation and it's simply a matter of preference?

I'm curious to hear what others hear have to say about it.

Thx!

Not sure why it has to be one or the other. You can use both in the same workout then it doesn't matter does it?

Use bench press with more weight stopping one rep from failure since you don't have a partner to spot. You could then superset with pec deck to failure or do several heavy sets with barbell then go and finish with several lower weight higher rep sets to failure using the pec deck.

Example

Set 1 Bench Press 80-90% 1RM x 3-5 reps
Set 2 Bench Press 80-90% 1RM x 3-5 reps
Set 3 Bench Press 80-90% 1RM x 3-5 reps

Use the same wieght until you can do all three sets to 5 then up the weight

Set 4 Pec Deck weight x 8-12 reps
Set 5 Pec Deck weight x 8-12 reps

Once you can do the same weight to 12 for both up the weight

Bench Press is considered more of a power/strenght movement where Pec Deck is more of a finishing/pump type exercise.