Bench press alone: getting out of the rack

[AK49]

Coach,

I work out at home alone like many others. I don't have a spotter but I do have a good squat cage with safety bars. I can position the bars so I will not get hurt if I drop the bar when bench pressing. The Book says to start with eyes forward of the bar and to have the spotter help get the bar out of the rack and over the chest. When I do this alone with a lot of weight on the bar, I feel like it is putting my shoulders at risk. I have to press up and pull forward to get the bar out of the rack. Given this, is there any issue with positioning myself so the bar is over my neck? This makes my press out of the rack more vertical and much easier on my shoulders.

Thanks

[Mark Rippetoe]

It's fine to do this, just make sure you don't hit the hooks with bar on the way back up.