bench pressing

do you guys like bench pressing with your elbows tucked inward [more emphasis on your triceps] or flaring them outwards [more emphasis on your pectorals]?

 

Keeping your elbows closer to your body doesn't mean you're putting more emphasis on triceps, in fact it's actually ideal form for bench pressing. Some people can flare their elbows and still hit their chest well however (and many do so regardless of it being less effective). If your form isn't on point however you can bench more which you see lots of people doing, lifting their egos rather than actually making gains.

Personally, if I don't have perfect form then I don't feel it at all in my chest. Perfect form = Small arch in back, shoulder blades pinned together, not flaring elbows much at all with controlled reps.

To activate your triceps more instead of your chest you'll want to play with your grip instead AKA doing close grip bench.

 

Pardon me, that's what I was trying to convey . Whenever I tuck my elbows inward, I usually have to have a closer grip distance; however, when i do wide-grip bench pressing, it is rather difficult to keep them tucked in - hence the flaring outwards.

But overall, I tend to prefer tucking my elbows in.

 

You want to avoid your elbows flailing out. When I see someone do that, I automatically think they're a beginner. Keeping the elbows locked and in position will do you wonders.

 

either they're beginners, or they are doing wide-ass-distance grip bench pressing on purpose (supposedly to target the chest more), making it harder to tuck the elbows inside the body zone.