back width and bench grip?

[Vitamin S]

1. i was told by a bber in the gym that the back grows from inside out so he said to widen the back it doesn't matter if you use wide grip on pulls it doesn't work that way. i always thought if i used a wider grip its for width, but he said the back doesn't knw that it only gorws inside out, so he said stick to heavy deads and rows if you want width. i always taht taht was more for thickenss, is this true?

2. is there a point where if a bench grip is too wide one loses power pushing up? i notice if i use a wider grip i can bench heavier then traditional shoudler width apart but if i go to far i actually get weaker on the bench i guess there is fine point for everbody. is there some rule of thumb for this as to how far to position hands. i thought the further apart the less you have to push to complete the bench. i am talking opwerlifting when benching not bodybuilding.

thx.

[Praetorian]

1. He is correct except hs explanation just sucks. The back grows like any other muscle...by adapting to an increased stress. He correctly points out that a wider grip doesnt build a wider back....Dorian has said this for years. A wider grip reduces the range of motion of the lats and thus you get less direct stimulation. A slightly wider than shoulder grip is usually ideal and gives the greatest range of motion. Also palms facing each other usually creates much better direct stimulation on the lats.

2. a wider grip on bench puts more stress on the shoulder joint... a narrower grip puts more emphasis on the triceps. Generally the index finger or the next finger beside it on the line is about neutral.

P