There is no real benefit to decline over flat except for the stabilizers. Decline involves the shoulders(deltoids) and the traps to an extent, which most consider a hindrance. The pec-major is one big slab of muscle.
I see that now, thanks. Does the flat bench build shoulder thickness in all heads, is it a good exercise for those?
The bench is over rated in my opinion ... has its place for sure but is more about bragging rights. "How much do you bench?" is the first question everyone asks when your discussing weight lifting ...
It's one of the major compound exercises long with DLs and squats. Don't blame the exercise for the individual's ego.
Are overheads better than the upright row for mass building delts? I use a ton of weight thru a small range of motion-bellybutton to chin- just love the way it feels delt-lat tie in. sort of a dumbell "lateral raise" but with real barbell weight. but which iyo is better--overheads or up row?
Upright rows were invented with surgeons in mind. Few exercises are as damaging to the shoulders as upright rows. They should only be done by people who have no use for their rotator cuffs.
Really? Why do you say this? Have you injured your "cuffs" in this manner, or coming from a theoretical bio mechanical POV?
I was writing why I don't do URs, but did a wiki and it sums it up. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upright_row My routine has stayed the same (save for periodization) for years: Day 1: ATG squats, bench, weighted dips Day 2: off Day 3: DL, biceps, seated rows (and variations) Day 4: off Day 5: Overheads (seated/standing), abs Day 6: off Day 7: Repeat I do no other isolation exercises (calves, forearms).
My rotator cuffs are compromised due to poor exercise form in my youth and actually adhering to exercises in the manner in which they were supposed to be performed, that have since been determined to be detrimental. These include upright rows, bench press to the neck (don't ask) and shoulder presses behind the neck. Also, I had the bad habit of cheating too much towards the end of the set when I was younger, employing all manner of "body English." Yes, I did upright rows many years ago, but I cannot tell you specifically how much they contributed to my shoulder impairment in isolation.