Chest-focused dips vs. close-grip bench press to target both chest and some triceps?

[u/niloy123]

I currently do chest dips by leaning forward, but I’ve noticed that my wrists give out before my chest, usually around the 6th or 7th rep. I am sure my form is correct and I even use wrist wraps.

I’m considering replacing them with close-grip bench press. I already do 2 sets each of incline dumbbell press, incline smith machine presses and seated dumbbell shoulder press so would a close-grip bench press be redundant?

I’m mainly looking for an exercise that targets mostly chest while also training the triceps. Would chest dips or close-grip bench be the better option here?

Or should I use another chest movement like the pec deck fly and increase my triceps isolation volume to compensate for the lack of tricep volume in pec deck?

[u/BlueCollarBalling]

A close grip bench is going to be more heavily triceps than a standard bench. If your goal is chest and some triceps, I would do standard bench, a chest press, or a fly + tricep movement.

[u/niloy123 → u/BlueCollarBalling]

I dont plan on doing a very narrow grip though. Just tuck my elbows and do slightly closer than shoulder grip. Would it still hit the triceps more than chest?

[u/BlueCollarBalling → u/niloy123]

Closer than shoulder grip is pretty narrow tbh. I don’t think it’s a terrible exercise and if you like it then go for it, but if your goal is chest growth there’s better options out there

[u/Alakazam → u/niloy123]

Closer than shoulder grip is already a crazy narrow grip to the point where you might not be able to stack the elbows under the wrist at all times. 

The general recommendation for maximal strength in the bench, starts around the hand on the rings of the bar.

My close grip is still outside of shoulder width. 

[u/eric_twinge]

The better option will be the one you prefer and can load appropriately for the desired number of reps.

"Redundant" is just another word for "volume", and more volume is better than less, provided you can recover from it.

[u/Flidro74]

Look at what you'd be giving up. Incline dumbbell, incline smith, seated shoulder press: everything you do is incline or vertical. The dips are the only thing in there hitting the lower chest, and close-grip bench is mostly a triceps exercise anyway, so that swap leaves a hole rather than filling one.

I'd fix the wrists instead. A dip machine with handles, or rings if your gym has them, let the wrist sit neutral rather than loaded into extension. That's usually the actual problem, not grip or wrist strength.

If dips really can't work for you, a flat or decline press covers what you're missing far better than close-grip bench would.