cant feel chest being worked

[FullBodyReject]

why cant i feel anything in my chest during a bench press? i do about 80% of my max and i dont feel a thing in my chest, just my arms...

 

[Scott_Free]

How close/wide is your grip?

 

[gbpackerfan]

Two things you can do:
1. Take a wider grip.
2. Place your elbows farther from your body when you lower the weight, this will de-emphasize the triceps.

 

[Hoss]

If you still don't feel anything, then it usually means your triceps are much weaker than your chest. In that case you would want to isolate the chest before doing the bench press, i.e. a cable fly..

 

[malkore]

I would try DB presses before cable fly (or any fly). DB press gives you a pressing movement, coupled with a fly type move, and you can squeeze the pecs at the top of the rep more easily for maximum contraction.

 

[liecheatsteal]

i had that same problem. so i tried supersetting the bench with db flys or pushups, it really got the burn going for me, and the pushups especially helped failure come quicker for the next bench set.