Is the machine chest press better than the bench press?

Neither is objectively better, but the machine provides more stability and isolation, making it safer for beginners or those training to failure.

Where should I feel the burn during this exercise?

You should primarily feel the tension across the middle of your chest and slightly in the back of your arms.

It is best to stop just short of a full lockout to keep the tension on the chest muscles and protect your elbow joints.

Chest

A controlled, stable way to build upper body strength and isolate the pectoral muscles with minimal joint strain.

Follow the sequence — setup is half the lift.

Adjust the seat height so that the handles are aligned with the middle of your chest.

Sit back firmly against the pad with your feet flat on the floor and your shoulder blades retracted.

Grasp the handles with a full grip, ensuring your wrists are straight and your elbows are slightly below your shoulders.

Exhale as you push the handles forward until your arms are nearly straight, avoiding locking out the elbows.

Pause for a second at the peak of the movement to maximize muscle tension.

Control the weight as you slowly return to the starting position until the handles are just in front of your chest.

Fix these first — they cost reps, kilos, and joints.

Flaring the elbows out parallel to the shoulders, which increases joint stress.
Arching the lower back or lifting the hips off the seat to generate momentum.
Allowing the weight stack to crash down between repetitions instead of maintaining control.
Shortening the range of motion by not bringing the handles back far enough.

The primary movers do the work; the stabilizers keep the path honest.

ChestPrimary

TricepsSupport

Anterior DeltoidsSupport