How much do you Bench Press?

[OngBak]

Barbell bench press, please mention height, weight and how long you have been training

 

[BackInTheGame78]

Unsure now as I haven't used free weights in several years. My PR was 380 lbs x 2 reps at 188 lbs and 5'8".

At that time was training for 5-6 years straight seriously, but has previously trained for 10-12 years before taking a few years in between.

 

[OngBak]

Unsure now as I haven't used free weights in several years. My PR was 380 lbs x 2 reps at 188 lbs and 5'8".

At that time was training for 5-6 years straight seriously, but has previously trained for 10-12 years before taking a few years in between.

Thats mad impressive. And No free weights? Why and what did you switch it for

 

[Clockwerk50]

200 lbs would be my max.

 

[BackInTheGame78]

Thats mad impressive. And No free weights? Why and what did you switch it for

I had always used free weights up until COVID hit and all the gyms closed, at which time I bought heavy resistance bands and loved them so much that I never went back.

No difference in size and my joints feel a heck of a lot better without the constant pounding.

The PR was a few years prior to COVID when I still was going to the gym.

 

[RoadKing_Rabbit]

JUST got back into it (3 weeks), I'm 5'11 167 lbs pushing up 185 3x for 4 sets. (1rm unknown atm. est 210?)

 

[Bible_Belt]

135 when I was 14. Steadily downhill ever since.

 

[The Duke]

3 sets of 5 with 225lbs and I am 5'10", 165lbs. Took me a long time before I could bench more than my body weight. Been lifting weights 15yrs plus. Its really easy to pull something these days.

 

[Plinco]

Most I've ever done was 225lbs when I was 175lbs, 5'10'' without shoes.

Today, 155lbs 8 reps, I weigh 168lbs. My max is probably 185lbs to 195lbs

 

[FlexpertHamilton]

Last year I was doing 225lbs for 5 reps around 6' 185lbs. I've never actually tried more weight than that, as I strongly prefer doing dips, I'm not a big fan of benching.

Would be a more interesting topic if you asked about max deadlifts or squats.

 

[OngBak]

I had always used free weights up until COVID hit and all the gyms closed, at which time I bought heavy resistance bands and loved them so much that I never went back.

No difference in size and my joints feel a heck of a lot better without the constant pounding.

The PR was a few years prior to COVID when I still was going to the gym.

Im not much of a fan of barbell bench press either, I used to do dumbell bench press before since it replicates the natural movement and is much more healthier for the body overall including your joints, but had to switch to progress since our Gym has them only with max weight 90lbs.

Do you believe you would be able to bench press your max again after the switch or after a short amount of time?

 

[OngBak]

Last year I was doing 225lbs for 5 reps around 6' 185lbs. I've never actually tried more weight than that, as I strongly prefer doing dips, I'm not a big fan of benching.

Would be a more interesting topic if you asked about max deadlifts or squats.

How good are your Dips? Deadlift and the traditional Squats are Exercises that I dont do, for legs I prefer Hack-Squat

 

[BackInTheGame78]

Im not much of a fan of barbell bench press either, I used to do dumbell bench press before since it replicates the natural movement and is much more healthier for the body overall including your joints, but had to switch to progress since our Gym has them only with max weight 90lbs.

Do you believe you would be able to bench press your max again after the switch or after a short amount of time?

Probably not. I doubt I would even try...there was a point in time where I was obsessive about constantly pushing myself past my limits which led to me doing some absolutely crazy workouts and becoming strong enough to qualify to do powerlifting. My Big 3 at that time was 1,420 lbs(380 bench, 565 dead, 475 squat).

However, I ended up wearing my joints out, so now my goal is much more focused on working out intensely and pushing volume rather than pure overall strength/size.

As I've gotten older, I'm much more cognizant of the maintenance work it requires to simply keep lifting and working out the way I do and lifting super heavy doesn't really fit into that anymore.

 

[BPH]

At 6'0" 225lbs I'm doing 4 sets of 10 with 205lbs and 60 seconds between sets as my work weight on chest days, which I do twice a week.

I don't know what my max is. Maybe 2 years ago I decided to experiment and was able to do 290lbs cleanly, but 300lbs was a bit sloppy, so I don't count it.

 

[plumber]

currently 5' 10" 75 Kilo, Press 130 Kilo 3 reps of 8. When i was 18, very very long ago same height and 130lbs, Press was 305 lbs ONE time only, personal best. Now its just for fun and giggles. During mid life it went WAY down.

Joints don't like it now.

 

[Bible_Belt]

The mma guys I knew were into light weight, high reps. When you're at the gym doing sets of 25 bench presses, people stare. Then after some guy will come up and ask, "bro.....you need some help, bro?"

 

[BackInTheGame78]

The mma guys I knew were into light weight, high reps. When you're at the gym doing sets of 25 bench presses, people stare. Then after some guy will come up and ask, "bro.....you need some help, bro?"

I did 26 reps at 225 once just because I wanted to see what I could do comparative to the NFL players at the combine...needless to say I actually kicked most of their asses for players around the same weight, although they would have destroyed me on the football field

 

[FlexpertHamilton]

How good are your Dips? Deadlift and the traditional Squats are Exercises that I dont do, for legs I prefer Hack-Squat

Pretty good. I can pretty easily crank out a few supersets of 12 pullups and 30 dips with a slow tempo and good form. At my best I was resorting to doing weighted dips with an 80lb (for less reps) but might start using the chain belt next time, not a fan of it though.

 

[BackInTheGame78]

How good are your Dips? Deadlift and the traditional Squats are Exercises that I dont do, for legs I prefer Hack-Squat

Dips I used a weighted dip belt with 160-180 lbs and crank out reps.

 

[Thebestthereeveris]

at my peak 475 and 405 for 11. Now prob like 425 lol