Seriously. Is it because it's the easiest of the big 3? (in my opinion anyway)
After being on rippetoe's for a few months, I don't see the bench press as anything special. I mean sure it's a compound lift, but I personally see a set of heavy strapless, beltless deads a much better indicator of strength.
Also, why do people seem to get stuck on the bench so much? Of all my lifts (squat, bench, dead, overhead press, power cleans), power cleans have to be my most challenging, week in and week out.
Strange phenomenon ..
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08-20-2006, 01:13 PM #1
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why do people make such a big deal of the bench press??
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08-20-2006, 01:20 PM #2
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- Location: Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, United States
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I think a lot of the Bench's popularity comes with the fact that it is a relatively easy exercise to perform correctly and it's not as taxing a movement like squats and deads. It's popularity is driven by a lot of "Monday Warrior" mentality; folks who venture into the gym once, twice a week at best, and are sure to do one thing...bench.
However, it's not unusual to see more serious lifters, be they bodybuilders or powerlifters, who rank other exercises above the bench. I like the bench a lot simply because it's a big compound movement but not as much as other compound movements like deads and squats.Monday Bench
Tuesday Rest
Wednesday Drink beer
Thursday Drink more beer
Friday Bench
Saturday celebrate benching by drinking beer
Sunday plan for benching
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08-20-2006, 02:46 PM #3Originally Posted by 45BIG
Dude, you must honestly not hang around here much... the bench press is one of the most hated exercises on this board. A ton of people here use dumbells, bb incline, and dips 1000x more than the bench press. So, you are not quite "cool" for bashing the bench press... happens everyday.
I am not one of those people... bench press is my favorite lift... always have been.
power cleans are hard to progress on because it is such a technique driven exercise.
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08-20-2006, 02:48 PM #4Originally Posted by 45BIG
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08-20-2006, 04:16 PM #5
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Originally Posted by dbcb314Monday Bench
Tuesday Rest
Wednesday Drink beer
Thursday Drink more beer
Friday Bench
Saturday celebrate benching by drinking beer
Sunday plan for benching
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08-20-2006, 07:53 PM #6
bench pressing is sooo damn easy compared to squats and deads... I train to failure on bench press, and it barely even hurts...
I just hit a sticking point about 1/3 the way up, grunt and squirm a little bit trying to get it up, and then ask for help from my spotter. It barely even hurts...
Now squats, going to failure on those, your quads feel like their about to melt...
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08-20-2006, 08:03 PM #7Originally Posted by dbcb314I hate POGs that pretend to be hard ass warriors
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08-20-2006, 08:15 PM #8Originally Posted by smallasian721
harsh day for my rich loser 185 pound friend on D-bol and the entire BSN Mass Stack when he puts up more then me on the bench (myself weight at 250). hooting hollering screaming thinking hes the super ****. i wasnt about to chew his ass out about roids (im pretty sure if 24hr gets notice of it, maybe only specifically if its in the building but none the less, they suspend you)
so.........
i went to the squat rack and busted out 365 8 times. he refused to squat, saying he "did legs the day before and didnt want to ruin his split this week" COMPLETE BS he struggles to put up 225
its all about the squat
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08-20-2006, 08:29 PM #9
bench press >>>> incline bench press >>>> deadlifts >>>>> poop >>>>>> squats
bench pressSPRAINED WRIST as of 10-6-06 (waiting for it to heal)
Current stats
height = 5'7
weight = 230 pounds
waist = 38 inches
arms = 16.5 inches (PR)
bench = 170X6 (4 sets) MAX = 200(PR)
GOAL stats
height = 5'7
weight = 240
waist = 34 inches
arms = 19 - 20 inches
bench = 260 X 6 (4 sets) MAX = 315
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08-20-2006, 08:33 PM #10
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08-20-2006, 08:41 PM #11
its hard to explain....it just "fits" the mentality of most people......for one, yes, its easier than squats or deads
back before benches became popular the overhead press was all the rage.....you werent a man unless you could put 200 over your head
before that it was the "bent press""Humility comes before honor"
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08-20-2006, 08:41 PM #12
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08-20-2006, 08:44 PM #13
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08-20-2006, 08:48 PM #14
Because when people think of bodybuilders/weightlifters they usually think of 1 or 2 things, big chest (which I don't have, atleast pecwise lol) and big arms. I know its sad, but its true because I've asked people what they think of weight lifting and they say, "oh man, anyone who lifts must have a big chest and swole arms!" and thats what a majority of society thinks. Sure some might think big legs, a sixpack, and a nice chisled back too but most people (mainly the younger crowd in high school) think bb's are guys with a big upperbody and no lower body, I've seen em. Luckily my legs aren't twigs, still need to get bigger tho!
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08-20-2006, 09:06 PM #15
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08-20-2006, 09:16 PM #16
incline bench press is probably a better indicator of pushing strength
considering when you push your body is at a 45 angle.
also TJ is right everyone and their mother has heard of the bench press. Its just widely known and more popular so most casual lifters and non lifters assume its the ultimate test of strength.
it really is a good exercise though but i still think incline press is a better indicator of pushing power.SPRAINED WRIST as of 10-6-06 (waiting for it to heal)
Current stats
height = 5'7
weight = 230 pounds
waist = 38 inches
arms = 16.5 inches (PR)
bench = 170X6 (4 sets) MAX = 200(PR)
GOAL stats
height = 5'7
weight = 240
waist = 34 inches
arms = 19 - 20 inches
bench = 260 X 6 (4 sets) MAX = 315
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08-20-2006, 09:17 PM #17
- Join Date: May 2006
- Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- Age: 40
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Originally Posted by mardydagymjunky
As far as compounds go, squats and deadlifts activate a LOT more of your body than any bench press ever will. I won't even mention oly lifts.
I'm not saying it's not important, it is. What I'm saying is that people use the bench press as a benchmark of overall strength. Which is a problem. I've seen VERY few people at my gym, for example, do the big 3. It's usually the big 1.
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08-20-2006, 09:17 PM #18Originally Posted by md3sign
Here's my take on it: IMO, overhead presses (military press, push press/jerk, clean & press, etc.) and also weighted dips are a greater test of upper body strength as opposed to lying flat on your back pressing a barbell so if you're only interested in building the chest, DB presses will get the job done with less risk of pec tears, shoulder injuries, etc.
You should see the weird looks I get from guys who ask me if I bench and I answer "no." I don't think I've missed out on any chest size or upper body strength (since I do lots of shoulder pressing and weighted dips), and I've never had a shoulder injury, so for me the choice is easy.
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08-20-2006, 09:18 PM #19
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08-20-2006, 09:30 PM #20Originally Posted by md3sign
And in the sport of powerlifting, there's a simple explanation for the use of bench shirts and it's not just to put up bigger numbers: torn pecs are common with heavy raw benching.
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08-20-2006, 09:39 PM #21Originally Posted by _Dominik_
I guess the difference is you cant replace squats and deads, but you can replace upper body pushing movements.
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08-20-2006, 09:40 PM #22Originally Posted by _Dominik_
Well for one the olympic lifts are much harder to perform. Technique also plays a bigger role, so for upperbody pushing strength, bench press makes more sense.
Dips aren't popular in general because a lof of people simply can't do them(even though 99% of this forum supposedly does weighted dips) and aren't especially interested in weighing themselves down... same as pullups.
Overhead presses just happen to involve smaller weights and don't have nearly as much popularity as the bp. Standing barbell overhead presses are about as rare as deadlifts in my gym.
As far as strongmen, I hope they would include a benchpress event. They could keep the same style as their squat/deadlift competitions(one set, adding weight each rep) It doesn't have to be the focus of the competition, but as a single event, why not? Ofcourse there are some nice and some not so nice explanations for that one...
Edit: they have sumo competitions and tug of war in strongman for christ's sake. Benchpress couldn't be all that bad.Last edited by AHTTG; 08-20-2006 at 09:42 PM.
"It seems like your goal is not to help."
log: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=147517853&p=960218773&viewfull=1#post960218773
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08-20-2006, 10:31 PM #23Originally Posted by AHTTG
Dips aren't popular in general because a lof of people simply can't do them(even though 99% of this forum supposedly does weighted dips) and aren't especially interested in weighing themselves down... same as pullups.
True, I can count on one hand the number of guys I've seen doing them weighted, but the simple fact is it's a lot like a decline press which is what bench turns into once you factor in a big arch. I'm a big fan of dips as you know and I genuinely don't feel I'm missing out on upper body strength (front delts, tris) by doing them instead of bench. Incline DB takes care of my chest development.
(cont...)
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08-20-2006, 10:36 PM #24
AHTTG: Overhead presses just happen to involve smaller weights and don't have nearly as much popularity as the bp. Standing barbell overhead presses are about as rare as deadlifts in my gym.
Well that's because most people don't see a reason to do them. Everyone has a hard on for bench. The bar is conveniently sitting there waiting for them to flail away. Some gyms have a seated military press bench, and even if they don't, with a power rack there's no excuse not to do them either standing or seated.
As far as strongmen, I hope they would include a benchpress event. They could keep the same style as their squat/deadlift competitions(one set, adding weight each rep) It doesn't have to be the focus of the competition, but as a single event, why not? Ofcourse there are some nice and some not so nice explanations for that one...
I'll be honest with you, I don't really miss it. When I first started training I thought bench was an impressive test of strength but the novelty has long since worn off. Seeing someone press a heavy barbell over their head will always be more impressive to me than someone lying flat on their back all suited up and surrounded by spotters. I'll be honest, I hardly pay any attention to bench in PL because seeing a bar move a few inches bores me.
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08-20-2006, 10:38 PM #25
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08-20-2006, 10:42 PM #26
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08-20-2006, 10:42 PM #27
I should of clarified. I don't mean a pler style, suited, arched bench press. I mean a normal "raw" lift with a small(natural or whatever they call it) arch, or better yet no arch at all.
Besides, dips don't have the same accuracy of measurement like a benchpress. You have to factor in the bodyweight as part of a lift.
I see your point about overhead pressing, it's important, no doubt about that. But, raw upper body strength would be better determined by a lift that utilizes more muscle groups(I emphasize upper body because legs are obviously involved in a push press...)
I kind of do miss the bench press in strongman competition because that's one of the lifts that I actually do myself and it certainly beats the heck out of strongman sumo. The nice way of putting it would be that strongmen is about feats of strength and functional strength, not strength in a weightlifting gym... but there's always the thought that they simply want to avoid the inderect competition from plers(although as unfair as that would be) or even football players."It seems like your goal is not to help."
log: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=147517853&p=960218773&viewfull=1#post960218773
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08-20-2006, 10:46 PM #28
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08-20-2006, 10:49 PM #29Originally Posted by SDFlipStyle
Seriously though, I think you could build a pretty damn solid routine around those two exercises. For legs in a bw based routine, you could always get a hip squat belt for squats (spine isn't being loaded up with weight).
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08-20-2006, 10:54 PM #30Originally Posted by AHTTG
plus the bench press is probably boring compared to other stuff they do
also, maybe they fear the 'worlds strongest men' wouldnt seem so strong in a familiar event like bench press......how could they claim to be the "worlds strongest" when a couple dozen powerlifters can outbench 'em???"Humility comes before honor"
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