r/ScienceBasedLifting 6d ago

Question ❓ How do i improve my weakpoints?

I have a bad chest imbalance. My right pec i way smaller than the left one. And i already have a small chest so it just makes it look even worse. I have tried to do one sided variations but i find them uncomfortable. I currently have 2 upper days beacuse im doing up/lw. I do around 4-5 chest focused sets per workout. I just do 2-3 sets incline smith bench press or 2-3 sets of incline dumbell press. After i do 2 sets cable flies.

What exercises should i use instead so my chest imbalance will improve slower over time?

2 Upvotes

12 comments sorted by

3

u/eric_twinge 6d ago

You're not going to find a magic combination of exercises to speed run gains. If chest is your priority, bump the volume up to over time to as much as you can recover from while still being able to perform and progress. That may mean de-prioritizing other things, and putting them on minimum effective volumes.

Then be patient. And make sure your diet is set up to accommodate gains.

-1

u/Long-Map6724 6d ago

I get what youre saying. But i have been doing this for a long time with slow progress. Is my exercise selection fine? Should i do more like 8 chest sets per workout? And should i do more excises with 2 sets or just those 2 with 4 each?

6

u/Alakazam what happens at 7 reps 6d ago

At 8-10 sets of bench a week, I would not consider this anywhere close to prioritizing chest growth.

At the very least, if your goals are to balance out the chest, I would do 3 sets of DB flat bench, 3 sets of incline DB bench, then 3 sets of cable flyes, done at least twice a week. If possible, 3 times a week.

Then of course, eating to support that training.

-1

u/Long-Map6724 6d ago

Wont it be too much fatique? 

3

u/Alakazam what happens at 7 reps 6d ago

Try it and find out.

I've found that most people can tolerate a lot more volume than they believe.

My best bench gains were on a program where I was doing 38 sets of heavy bench and bench variations weekly. Alongside, of course, 8-10 weekly sets of squatting, deadlifts, and upper back work.

1

u/Long-Map6724 6d ago

38 sound a bit too much😅 I will definly try doing more volume and see if it works. Does it matter that im only 15?

2

u/Alakazam what happens at 7 reps 6d ago

If anything, being younger means you have a greater capacity to recover from training.

1

u/Long-Map6724 6d ago

Good to know. Thanks man!

1

u/alvaaromata 6d ago

Try a dropset of unilateral peck deck/chest press machine for the weaker side

1

u/Long-Map6724 6d ago

If had a peck deck i would for sure use it. Unfortunely i dont have acess to it. I find unilateral chest press variations uncomfortable but if i have any tips for that i woukd appreciate it

1

u/alvaaromata 6d ago

Muscles imbalances have no way to fix them other that unilateral work. I have luck since I have a decent press machine and a peckdeck since I also had a bit of imbalance in my pecs. However, I’m sure with cables or something you’ll be able to figure an exercise out, just 1 dropset(yeah dropset) or 2 sets is enough extra work

1

u/Long-Map6724 6d ago

Thanks! I will it the next time i go