How hard/common is a 1.7xbw bench?

[Lizzy3200]

I’m weighing in at ~168lb and my PR is 280lb (from 2-3 months ago) and I’m on the Verge of hitting 290lb and should be able to within the next 4 weeks. So I’m around 1.7xbw on the bench.

Honestly, how hard is that? I’ve never actually been to a gym or have ever competed so I don’t know. I’ve just been lifting in my basement for the past 3 years. People like to say that 1.5x is strong and 2.0x seems elite from my understanding.
For common people it’s probably high but what about in competition?

[air2fakie]

Somewhere between strong and elite.

[WolfRose7]

Multipliers don't really work well across classes.

Lower bw lends itself to a higher multiplier, so we can't really compare with anyone except people who compete in your weight class, and then we can only compare it if you've had the lift passed in a competition.

This isnt to say its not good, but the social comparison doesn't make much sense because you can't compare apples to apples

It's better than when you benched less and worse than what you'll bench at the end of the year

[EliKoehn]

Multipliers don't really work well across classes.

Lower bw lends itself to a higher multiplier, so we can't really compare with anyone except people who compete in your weight class, and then we can only compare it if you've had the lift passed in a competition.

This isnt to say its not good, but the social comparison doesn't make much sense because you can't compare apples to apples

It's better than when you benched less and worse than what you'll bench at the end of the year

Agreed.

However, as someone quite heavy to whom this reasoning applies, that is nevertheless quite a good ratio for OP's bodyweight even if assessing performance by such a metric necessarily favor's the lighter lifter. A 290 bench at 170 is very good, IMO; better than someone chubby putting up a 3 plate single.

Calculations such as the Wilks score attempt to compromise this phenomenon of a bodyweight ratio favoring the light and absolute strength favoring the heavy, by factoring in weight class and existing tiers of records. AFAIK you would need to posit squat and deadlift numbers to get a total score, but there are other approximations you can use to get an idea of your relative strength, such as this one:

https://strengthlevel.com/

Assuming you're 24-39 years old, achieving a comp 290 at 170 pounds would be quite good indeed, 87th percentile according to this site.

[coachcalande]

Skip legs completely and your numbers go way up 😂

[EliKoehn]

Skip legs completely and your numbers go way up ������

You're not serious, right?

My bench has actually only improved the more I've squatted/deadlifted.

[WolfRose7]

Agreed.

However, as someone quite heavy to whom this reasoning applies, that is nevertheless quite a good ratio for OP's bodyweight even if assessing performance by such a metric necessarily favor's the lighter lifter. A 290 bench at 170 is very good, IMO; better than someone chubby putting up a 3 plate single.

Calculations such as the Wilks score attempt to compromise this phenomenon of a bodyweight ratio favoring the light and absolute strength favoring the heavy, by factoring in weight class and existing tiers of records. AFAIK you would need to posit squat and deadlift numbers to get a total score, but there are other approximations you can use to get an idea of your relative strength, such as this one:

https://strengthlevel.com/

Assuming you're 24-39 years old, achieving a comp 290 at 170 pounds would be quite good indeed, 87th percentile according to this site.

It's who you want to compare yourself too at the end of the day.

Is it better than most regular gym goers (at least non-competitive ones) for sure.

Is it close to any records, probably not.
The British drug tested for that weight class is 218.5kg

[EliKoehn]

It's who you want to compare yourself too at the end of the day.

Is it better than most regular gym goers (at least non-competitive ones) for sure.

Is it close to any records, probably not.
The British drug tested for that weight class is 218.5kg

True enough, but there is a vast swathe of territory between merely above average and record-setting for a major world country.

Merely "advanced" at a weight class is universally respectable and something to be truly proud of, I think; but that depends on one's own ambitions.

[MyEgoProblem]

You're not serious, right?

My bench has actually only improved the more I've squatted/deadlifted.

Totally serious..
Especially with any coefficients or bw multipliers you choose.

Think about 2 guys. Both weight 90kg.

Guy a has big legs and a proportion upper body.

Guy b skips legs and has much bigger upper body yet still weighs the same..

Who will bench more? The guy with much bigger pecs, triceps and delts for the weight class. As he would probably be 2 classes heavier with legs.

Citations? Almost all bench only powerlifter who basically cheese the weight class brackets

[jademonkey]

I just hit 1.7 this month, but I really want 3 plates. Then 2.0x and I'll feel strong... maybe. I see big guys at the gym benching 3 plates for reps and feel weak until I look in the mirror and realize they are 3 inches taller with like 35 lbs more fat.

Some people just wanna be strong, but IDGAF how much you lift if you're huge and fat lol.