Bench Press: Time to move to fractional plates?

[SteveL]

My right shoulder has issues but is getting stronger and far less pain than it was say even eight weeks ago. Now at most it gets sore after each set rather than pain and not noticeable at all an hour post workout.

Twice in six weeks it has taken me three weeks to make 5lbs gains on my bench press so I haven’t had to reset. I'm wondering if I should just keep that up until I miss at three weeks or is it time to move to fractional plates which I did buy. I can go up in .5lb, 1lb, 1.5lb and 2lb increments if I so desire.

I suppose based on what I’ve read its okay to keep the 5lb increases until I can’t make it after three weeks and then reset but was wondering what the collective wisdom/experience here has to say.

Thanks.

[Caleb Krieg]

What is your height/age/weight and how much did you bench on your last bench workout? In general 5lb jumps on the bench press don't last long and most people try to continue with them for longer than they should. If it's taking you three workouts to make all your worksets you should be using smaller jumps. Also, how long are you resting between sets?

[SteveL]

What is your height/age/weight and how much did you bench on your last bench workout? In general 5lb jumps on the bench press don't last long and most people try to continue with them for longer than they should. If it's taking you three workouts to make all your worksets you should be using smaller jumps. Also, how long are you resting between sets?

Height 5'9.5 I was 5'10"
age 58
Weight: 169! I'm excited over that as that's the heaviest I've ever weighed. So I'll keep stuffing myself.

Current work set weight on the bench press is 155lbs which I just managed this weekend. I rest eight minutes between sets.

[Caleb Krieg]

Make 2.5 or 2 pound jumps. How much of a grind is 155? It might take you doing a small reset and then working back up by 2.5 pounds a workout to resume progress on your bench depending on how close to a miss you are... Also, I'm glad to hear you aren't resting 2 minutes between your sets.

[SteveL]

Make 2.5 or 2 pound jumps. How much of a grind is 155? It might take you doing a small reset and then working back up by 2.5 pounds a workout to resume progress on your bench depending on how close to a miss you are... Also, I'm glad to hear you aren't resting 2 minutes between your sets.

I struggled with the 155lbs this weekend and just made it. I like the idea of a modest reset and then going up by 2lbs and seeing how it goes. Thanks everyone!

One of the nice things about getting older is I don't need to have everything right NOW, I'm okay with small increments of progress over time.

[Robert Santana]

Please stop with the 5 lb jumps, reset, switch to 2 lb jumps, and eat a fuckin cheeseburger. 169 ain't gonna cut it for the bench press but it's good to hear that it's better than it was