Alright, so I've started working with what some call "the power crew" at my gym. It's comprised of two older ex power lifters and a guy a bit older than me whose started working out with them. Since then I've been trying to get my bench up with them and one of the older guys mentioned to me that I need to work on my lats more (which I've been trying to do, but I always have issues with back exercises and don't feel sore). Anyways, I can pick up a ton of weight, but when it's sitting on my chest I struggle getting it off, so my weak point is at the bottom of my press, so looking for tips on strengthening that area of my press and maybe ideas on why I'm not feeling any muscular soreness or help with it in general.

Edit: Also would like to note, since working out with them my right side (and I'm right handed actually) has been falling, first time this has happened, but also first time I've had partners so I'm able to overload beyond max to get my body used to the weight.

I have two options for you to help with that sticking point. Firstly I would incorporate paused reps into your bench routine. With this you pick a weight lighter than what you would normally press, I recommend working at 70% of your 1RM and then pause 1 inch above your chest for about a second then press the weight. I would recommend doing 4 sets of 6 reps of this.

The second option is to do reverse band bench press. Reverse Band Bench Press. This will allow added reverse tension to the bottom of the movement will help overcome the inertia.

Another large component to this issue is how you're approaching the lift itself. Three quick questions to easily assess:

1) Are your elbows tucked or flared?
2) Do you perform the lift with tremendous full-body tension?

3) What are you doing with your feet?

Great suggestions @Daniel_Meyer

@Braser, if you answer @impulse's questions that would really help.

In the mean time, this video on form may help you as well.  Check it out below.

Sorry guys, thanks for the help so far, life has just been busy and I haven't had a chance to come up for a breath really.

1) Are your elbows tucked or flared?

Tucked, probably about as much as Scott's are in the video, my elbows have always been pretty good in my opinion, the guys I'm lifting with haven't said they were bad either, those are both even too (I don't have one tucked and another flared) so thats not any reason for the one side seemingly stronger lately.
2) Do you perform the lift with tremendous full-body tension?

3) What are you doing with your feet?

Kinda putting two and three together, I've been using a lot more full body work since lifting with these guys. Before hand I wasn't using my feet hardly at all, if at all. Since then I have been driving from my feet. I usually place my feet flat on the ground rather than tucked and on my toes like in Scott's video, usually just outside and pressed against the feet of the bench with the bench we use, which I'm gussing has similar width to the feet at the end of the bench in Scott's video.

@Daniel_Meyer Since working out with them I've actually been able to use reverse bands, as well as normal bands. I don't own any of that stuff so I've been able to use theirs which is nice, hopefully that will help some!

These are all good suggestions. Personally I like the pause bench press to help get through a sticking point or the spoto press which is a pause except an inch above your chest instead of on your chest. Using resistance bands or chains is another great way to overload the weight at a certain point of the movement. My last suggestion involves the smith machine (I know the dreaded smith machine). Just trust me and give it a chance. Set up the smith machine like you're going to bench press and start with a relatively light weight. In order to build explosiveness from the bottom, bench like normal but literally throw the weight, yes actually let it go. Check out this video for a better explanation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn-WjbWQ8lo

Yeah I agree. I love doing the paused reps on my bench presses.

Yeah, I don't wanna sound like I'm reiterating what everyone's already said, but one thing that's always helped me was this (addressing chest first, then back):

(FYI, I hit chest twice a week, Monday and Thursday, normally)

Monday: Heavy, typically something like 10x4, 2-3 minute rest. Afterwards, I hit incline for 5x6, as heavy as I can maintain with proper form, same amount of rest (but really, just listen to your body; there's nothing wrong with longer rest if you need it)

Thursday: Fairly light. I only work up to about 70% of my 1RM through something I call a "Build and Strip" method.

Kinda works like this:

Start with the bar, hit 20 reps

Increase weight (remember, keep it light, but still challenge yourself, obviously), 15

Increase again, 12

Increase again, 10

Once you finish 10, you strip the weight back to where you did 12, then back to 15, then back to the bar with 20. You get a crazy amount of reps in, but from my experience, that one day of light weight/tons of reps really gets me ready for my heavy days on Monday.

Of course, since you mentioned you have issues with your back when the bar comes down, I like to hit back that same day, but also make sure I do an exercise or two before hitting bench, that way it's ready to go. Bent over rows and chinups have worked wonders for me, and I feel like a lot of people neglect lat pulldowns (not saying you do, but they're one of the best for really tearing the lats up). Be sure to keep your thumb off of the bar when you do the pulldown, too, that way it takes more pressure off of your bicep and you can really punish your lats. Hope that helps!

Good to hear! Just in relation to the tucked vs flared elbow position its completely up to you how your elbows travel. In a general population tucked elbows do release stress through the shoulder joint however the way by which your elbows naturally travel will dictate the path of least resistance which often correlates to safer shoulder positions. I wouldn't necessarily copy other people thinking that one way is the right way, its often down to trial and error to find the perfect technique.

It also dictates the degree of muscle contribution by the 'trinity' (Pec, Delt, Triceps). Flared out completely is a more bodybuilder-centric lift that focuses primarily on utilizing the pec major, whereas tucking the elbows to a roughly 45 degree angle (as you mentioned, each person is very individualized on this) draws on less-pec but all told more muscle mass but integrating more delt and triceps.

Thanks for all the help!

Great post Noah. Remember, there is no such thing as "too much" information.

If you like build and strip then you would definitely love my BURN SETS!

I didn't really hear mentioned that people forget bench press isn't just an exercise for your pecs and you triceps. You back is also heavily involved. Are you using you're back as well? It should be tense when you bench, as it acts as a stabilizer when you bench. Don't just focus on working your lats for your upper back, I like this video, he does a very good job at explaining it, even though he does let his elbows flare, he's not wrong about the back. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrYfvU01O7g However, some of the things I would like to suggest, is to focus not just on pressing up, but exploding up from the chest, hence it being power lift. There are also a few things I like to do when I hit plateaus, and to help me at the bottom, which is where almost everyone gets stuck. You can use boards, narrow your grip to strength the triceps, or widen it to focus on your chest, sometimes working the weak area you don't lift from will help, you can use bands, as often they make you explode more from the bottom, you can also do partial reps, where instead of only going half way do, only go half way up. These are just a few suggestions I have. And of course, as any good powerlifter will suggest, you can also improve any lift by taking the weight down to fix your form. I don't care who you are, even Scott Mendelson, you have to take time to improve your form and it will ALWAYS makes you stronger. Strength follows good form!