How much can you bench press?

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Playing football in HS and then lifting routinely heavy early in college, I maxed out around 315 (three plates per side). Im tall and have long arms, so that was a stretch for me... Easy to do 8-10 reps on the Smith machine, hard just free, so was 1-2 reps just holding the bar free (shows the importance of the stabilizer muscles). Usually Id do sets up to 225 (two plates per side). Then I started rowing in college, and bench press was pretty useless. I dont think Ive touched more than 185 (one plate and a quarter per side), and dont do sets with more than 135 (one plate). I was a 48L suit jacket as a Senior in HS, and still wear that size today. My waist has gotten a bit larger than the size 34 I wore then... But I havent hit size 40 thank goodness... Do need to shed a pants size though. New year's goal?

I should do more pushups though...
 
aquariuscsm said:
Dead weights are all I've ever done.
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Yeah machines stabilize the weight which makes it easier.

We had a bench press machine that I could push 255 pounds 6 times.

I had a guy bring in chains and wrap then a around a machine with a straight bar on it.. he did push ups with that setup... Certainly hard to do because of hardly any stabilizing being present.
 
bbhero said:
Yeah machines stabilize the weight which makes it easier.

We had a bench press machine that I could push 255 pounds 6 times.

I had a guy bring in chains and wrap then a around a machine with a straight bar on it.. he did push ups with that setup... Certainly hard to do because of hardly any stabilizing being present.
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wrap a chain … are you sure it was not a straight razor ? C’mon man, let’s do push-ups 😷
 
4WD said:
wrap a chain … are you sure it was not a straight razor ? C’mon man, let’s do push-ups 😷
Click to expand...

You got to go to the next level and do handstand push-up. Basically push up position against a wall and walk your feet up backwards til you're basically vertical, then do a few pushup. Then you're basically pushing up.

gfh77665 said:
Curious, when you all say bench press, is it with a machine or dead weights?
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A real bench press is basically with the 45 pound bar and various weights. The machine doesn't really count because you can do more weight on the machines because you don't need to stabilize it as you do a bar. I suppose if you want it to be really hard, then doing it with dumbbells is even harder.
 
gfh77665 said:
Curious, when you all say bench press, is it with a machine or dead weights?
Click to expand...

Free weights only.

And no bouncing the bar off your chest, wearing a bench press shirt, etc.

A 45 lb bar with plates on said bar. You lift the bar off the rack, lower it to your chest, pause, press it back up, and place the bar back on the rack.
 
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02SE said:
Free weights only.

And no bouncing the bar off your chest, wearing a bench press shirt, etc.

A 45 lb bar with plates on said bar. You lift the bar off the rack, lower it to your chest, pause, press it back up, and place the bar back on the rack.
Click to expand...

Agree on all counts. A 45# bar on a smith machine is different than a “bench press” machine. But it still gives you some advantage by stabilizing the weight and helping those muscles.

I’d argue that dumbbell bench press also counts.
 
JHZR2 said:
I’d argue that dumbbell bench press also counts.
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Dumbbells are a much harder press than a bar. Probably because it's more involved. You just grab the bar above you but with dumbbells, you have grab them first, then lie down and press them and sit up and then drop them. You can't exactly give up on them at the end and just drop them when you're done, probably pull a muscle if you did that.
 
Wolf359 said:
Dumbbells are a much harder press than a bar. Probably because it's more involved. You just grab the bar above you but with dumbbells, you have grab them first, then lie down and press them and sit up and then drop them. You can't exactly give up on them at the end and just drop them when you're done, probably pull a muscle if you did that.
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Absolutely. The same as my comment about the Smith machine making BP easier, dumbbells are harder still because it takes even more stabilization.
 
Wolf359 said:
You got to go to the next level and do handstand push-up. Basically push up position against a wall and walk your feet up backwards til you're basically vertical, then do a few pushup. Then you're basically pushing up.


A real bench press is basically with the 45 pound bar and various weights. The machine doesn't really count because you can do more weight on the machines because you don't need to stabilize it as you do a bar. I suppose if you want it to be really hard, then doing it with dumbbells is even harder.
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True indeed...

Dumbbells are tougher...

Just laying back and then pressing them up for the first rep can be tough....

My friend Nick could do 120 pound dumbells in each hand... He was Stout and short and had short arms... All which make it easier for people built like that to get really really strong.

I got to where I could handle 75 pound dumbells in each hand and press them 5-6 times. I started out able to get 35 pound dumbells and press them.

Tricep pull overs is a tough yet good exercise... I did use a 95 pound dumbell and did that quite good. Key part.... Keep your elbows still... No swinging and movement at that joint... Makes it tougher and using the muscle you are supposed to be working on.

Arnold lift is tough too....
 
JHZR2 said:
Agree on all counts. A 45# bar on a smith machine is different than a “bench press” machine. But it still gives you some advantage by stabilizing the weight and helping those muscles.

I’d argue that dumbbell bench press also counts.
Click to expand...
I can hit 100# dumbells for a few reps (9 was my best), 265-275 bar. FWIW
 
Was never much into the weights not sure what I can bench. However I have really strong legs combined with my upper body I can out lift quite a few gym rats I know.. and these are guys that swear they can bench press an old Buick.
 
435 lbs. single rep - competing at 198

Never a single drop of anything illegal, and un-equipped.

Competed in Strongman competitions for many years, winning several, and doing quite well.

My body now pays for it...seven surgeries later and arthritis in my early 40's, but I finally listened to my surgeon and have fallen back to daily cardio only...but I sure do miss moving some weight.
 
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02SE said:
Free weights only.

And no bouncing the bar off your chest, wearing a bench press shirt, etc.

A 45 lb bar with plates on said bar. You lift the bar off the rack, lower it to your chest, pause, press it back up, and place the bar back on the rack.
Click to expand...
Yep, free weights here as well. Until I started playing football in HS. Coach wanted me to be a running back. He said with my weight, height, and low center of gravity, I was ideal. I tried it in my freshman year but transferred to LB the rest of HS.
When I joined the ARMY, I was 210 lbs of rock solid muscle. The DI's said if I EVER went near weights I would be pushing up Ft. Leonard Wood for my whole 11 weeks of BT! They ran me so much and made me do so many pushups, until THEY were tired! o_O
 
No max lifting here,I'm into this for the long haul so for joints etc,I don't need to be seeing a max effort lift.
 
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