Leg press question

Jaynostic · 07-17-2008, 12:51 PM

Hey, quick question for you guys. I have been looking at some other folks leg press numbers and I am damn near ashamed of what mine are, and I am trying to locate th issue. First of all our leg press machine is damn near vertical I would say 5-10 degrees off, it just seems to be at a much steeper angles than the excercise pictures around here show. I am wondering if this is why the amount of weight I can lift is low. I mean on extensions I have no problem doing 200 lbs but I can only rep out 250 on the press, what gives?

Mainelineman65 · 07-17-2008, 12:55 PM

yea, i think you hit the nail on the head there. the angle definitely makes the lift much harder. if you want to really compare your strength to others then id use squat, its better for you anyway.

TribalJMD · 07-17-2008, 02:12 PM

yep, angle. My gym has 3 different leg press machine, seems like the one's there range from like the 10* like you mention to 45ish. It is definitely harder on the steeper one, and the one at less of an angle can give more of a confidence boost cause then you can pile on the 45s

ironwill2008 · 07-17-2008, 02:17 PM

I wouldn't worry too much about what others are doing; just work within yourself, and train as hard as you can. If you're looking at numbers on the internet, be aware that e-stats are usually 10-20% higher than real life!

rplass · 07-18-2008, 03:12 PM

To compare vertical leg press to 45deg, divide by .7071 which is in your case 250lbs/.7071 = 354lbs equivalent vertical to angled, a difference of over 100 lbs, feel better?

chazzy1864 · 07-18-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironwill2008

I wouldn't worry too much about what others are doing; just work within yourself, and train as hard as you can. If you're looking at numbers on the internet, be aware that e-stats are usually 10-20% higher than real life!

+1

Leg press is very easy to skew also. Not everyone does a full ROM (if you just look at 90% of the guys in the gym). ALso angle can really change the dynamic of the lift.

If you have to compare a lift, choose squats, and only with people who do the same ROM as you (hopefully to at least parallel).

throwdeep · 07-18-2008, 03:43 PM

i see alot of guys at the gym cheat by not going down all the way on their leg press, so they say that they can do more. but ours is adjustable angle not vertical

-Lucifer · 07-18-2008, 03:53 PM

Compare your squat poundage, not your leg press.

ZzW3iZ · 07-18-2008, 05:16 PM

ignore stats from others on leg press, it's far to easy to hype up the weight and ROM is usually off. If its squat and someone challanges it, tell them to touch their butt to their heels, guaranteed the will fail.

Ryanmcd · 07-18-2008, 05:21 PM

When I 1st started working out I did right at 600 on the leg press. I play double bass drums for 12 years so my legs are strong. When I went to do squats 135 almost killed me so I stuck with squats. After 6 months of squats and currently at 265 I will say my legs have gotten a LOT stronger and I don't even fool with the leg press machine.