It Was Never About Effort
Two lifters can do the same bench press and load their chest completely differently. Your rib cage depth and sternum angle decide how much tension a press really puts on your chest.
Your Shoulder Decides Too
Which chest exercises work for you depends on how far your shoulder moves overhead, and how well it stays controlled there. Mobility and stability are two different things.
A 2-Minute Self-Check
Three quick overhead checks show whether your shoulder is capping your chest growth, and what to try before you add more weight.