Arching in the bench press is not cheating. It is good technique. There is more to arching than just trying to lift more weight. In any bench press variation, whether it is flat, incline, or overhead, arching positions your pecs in a more effective length and alignment to produce force. That means more tension in the muscle and better potential for hypertrophy. It also puts your shoulder blades in a stronger and safer position, giving you better joint support and reducing the risk of injury. So