In our guide to bench press training, we’ve looked at which bench press barbells are best suited to different training needs.
But there’s no denying that the best bench press exercises are those that work the abdominals, and we’ve found that many people find that the flat bench press is the best way to get that extra vertical core work.
So it’s only natural that we wanted to do a test of our own, so we went back to the gym and trained with our friends and relatives.
The result?
We came away with the following recommendations:Bench Press Bats: Bats work the abs by raising the center of gravity and keeping the spine upright.
In the past, the Bats have been a favorite for many, but they’ve also been criticized for not being as effective for squatting as they could be.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; squatting is the prime movement in most bench press routines.
However, if you’re looking for a good alternative, a good barbell for squatging should be a heavy, solid-grip, metal barbell with a few of the best features we’ve talked about here.
The Good Barbells We Recommend for SquattingThe Good Bars are the barbell of choice for squat training, and they are very popular with powerlifters.
Here’s why:Bones and Joints: The best barbell we recommend for squat squatting has the same spine and joint angles as the Bands we recommended in our bench press guide.
This means that the joints that support your glutes, hamstrings, and calves can be strengthened without the use of external devices.
This also means that you’ll be using the most strength of your core and upper body.
The Bad Barbell: The bad barbell is a barbell that’s too heavy for squatbing, and you’ll have to make some adjustments to your program if you want to get good results.
For this reason, we’re recommending the C1 Barbell, which is designed to work the chest, arms, and legs.
The C1 is lighter than the B1, but it still has a lot of extra weight, so you’ll need to work on getting more reps in the weight room if you plan to squat heavier.
The Bottom Line: There are some bars that are designed specifically for squat lifting that can be too heavy, but if you have the right equipment, you can make the most of them.
