![Quote](https://startingstrength.com/resources/forum/images/misc/quote_icon.png)
Originally Posted by
Daverin
It IS a part of the program for a reason: if you can do it safely, it allows you to progress raw pressing strength faster than the press alone, which can help further progress the press itself.
If you are worried about shoulder health in the bench, just modulate factors like form and frequency. An emphasis on factors like narrow-medium grip, low touch point, and relatively high external rotation and correspondent elbow tuck tend to put your shoulder in a safer range to work with. And less bench frequency means more time to recover from any motion that may lend to overuse.