Bench press

[twang]

Every man between 15 and 65 years old. Have them perform their 1 rep max in benchpress. What's the average? I'd say 140 lbs.

/twang

[cookie]

What would the rules be for this 1 rep max test?
Competition rules?
With a pause on the pectoralis?
Touch and go?
Bounce aloud?

[JMP300z]

140 is too high....ive been working out for a long time and have helped upwards of 20 people start out (mostly around 18-24 ages but some older). Most of them had trouble w/ 115.

Id say 130 is probably closer if you take into account all the people that can max a hell of a lot more.

-JP

[InchoateHand]

Are you serious? I'd guess that would be it if it was ONLY 15 and 60 year olds.

[twang]

[ QUOTE ]
What would the rules be for this 1 rep max test?
Competition rules?
With a pause on the pectoralis?
Touch and go?
Bounce aloud?

[/ QUOTE ]

They may peform the press anyway they'd like. I don't think it would matter much for the overall results if some pro bounced a bit too much.

/twang

[Duke]

[ QUOTE ]
What would the rules be for this 1 rep max test?
Competition rules?
With a pause on the pectoralis?
Touch and go?
Bounce aloud?

[/ QUOTE ]

Nah, you can only bounce quietly and to yourself.

~D

[tworooks]

lets get some personal maxes in this thread going.

im 16, touch and goed 315 when i maxed out the other day.

EDIT: I weigh 195 right now

[slickpoppa]

My max is 230, but I only weigh 140 lbs right now.

[Nick-Zack]

[ QUOTE ]
lets get some personal maxes in this thread going.

im 16, touch and goed 315 when i maxed out the other day.

EDIT: I weigh 195 right now

[/ QUOTE ]

Steroids are very very bad at your age!!

[tdarko]

that avg is too high if you are entering 65 yr old's into the experiment. my guess would be around 95 lbs.

[Cornell Fiji]

I maxed at 250 even (full extension, bounce off the ribe, full extension) the summer I graduated from highschool (I weighed 145 lbs.) I then tore my rotator cuff playing Sprint Football (http://cornellbigred.collegesports.com/sports/m-sprintfb/corn-m-sprintfb-body.html) (varsity lightweight football) at Cornell.

I would be lucky to put up the bar and a set of plates (135) now.

Any non weight lifter would have trouble getting 135, if we are including men up to 65 I would say that the all mens average would be somewhere around 100. An interesting follow up question:

Would the average American aged 16-65 max out at more or less then the avgerage of the world combined. I would go with America due to the 3rd world contries that are low on food supplies.


-Steve

[BWebb]

Just started going to the gym regularly again and chest is my weakest area by far. I'd be lucky to get two plates up.

[NorCalJosh]

what would be more interesting is what the average bench press would be if you ASKED them what their average 1 rep bench max was, and then had them do it. i'd bet the actual weight would be a solid 40-50 pounds less than what the supposed average would be.

[J_V]

Way way too high.

[NorCalJosh]

yeah, but he's 16 so you know that he's lying.

[Duke]

You're probably right, since some (well not a whole lot, but maybe .1% of all people?) can go > 270, and very few have maxes below zero.

~D

[Guy Incognito]

I think it would be higher than most of the guesses here. I can do 270, and I'm not exactly huge (6'1", 180). I let one of my slightly-built, non-lifting friends try out my bench once, and he got up 135 twice. I would put the average around 150.

[JaBlue]

what about the 3rd world countries that have pretty much all of the citizens performing manual labor?

[James282]

[ QUOTE ]
Every man between 15 and 65 years old. Have them perform their 1 rep max in benchpress. What's the average? I'd say 140 lbs.

/twang

[/ QUOTE ]

You people are nuts. Most people do NO weight training. I'd say the average is probably 70-90.
-James

[tworooks]

[ QUOTE ]
Steroids are very very bad at your age!!

[/ QUOTE ]
maybe thats why my weiners so small...

[ QUOTE ]
yeah, but he's 16 so you know that he's lying.

[/ QUOTE ]

thing is, im not lying. i dont give a [censored] if you believe me or not though.

[Duke]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Every man between 15 and 65 years old. Have them perform their 1 rep max in benchpress. What's the average? I'd say 140 lbs.

/twang

[/ QUOTE ]

You people are nuts. Most people do NO weight training. I'd say the average is probably 70-90.
-James

[/ QUOTE ]

You're likely correct for the median, but there are approximately 3 people in the world who are unable to bench at least 45 pounds.

I haven't touched a weight in 12 years and could likely do 175 or so.

~D

[Wayfare]

Touch and go = one rep?

[James282]

I'd be stunned if an average 65 year old could bench 50 pounds.
-James

[JMP300z]

max 250, wt 155.

again I agree that 140 is way high and am thinking I may have even been way high in my initial response.

JP

[tworooks]

[ QUOTE ]
Touch and go = one rep?

[/ QUOTE ]

touch and go is to tap the chest and put it back up. there are some people who bounce it hard off the chest, which makes it easier because of momentum, and in competitive competitions they have to rest it on the chest for a certain amount of time, which makes it a lot harder. touch and go is right in between of those.
but yea, it is still one rep that i was talking about

[tworooks]

well im not sure how good this information is, but:
[ QUOTE ]
Pounds the average 175-pound man (aka : average weight, average height is 5'9 1/2) can bench-press one time:

Age 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69
Lb 180 158 143 128 116


[/ QUOTE ]
link (http://www.pipeline.com/~dada3zen/average.htm)

[gamblore99]

I've been working out for some time and I have no idea what mine is.

I currently do four sets of freeweights for chest.
1st set 12 reps, 40 pounds each arm
2nd set 11 reps, 40 pounds each arm
3rd set 8 reps, 40 pounds each arm
4th set, 10 reps, 35 pounds each arm

Can anyone give me an estimate of what my max bench would be?

[twang]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd be stunned if an average 65 year old could bench 50 pounds.
-James

[/ QUOTE ]
Cmon -- a 12 year old girl can bench 50. Have you seen Clint Eastwood? He looks pretty strong.

/twang

[snowbank]

Can anyone give me an estimate of what my max bench would be?

On a flat bench a good estimate is whatever you can rep 10 times. Take that amount and add 50 pounds and it's usually pretty close to what you would be able to max.

Ex: If you can bench 155 10 times. Then your max of just 1 rep might be around 205.

[Uston]

You're likely correct for the median, but there are approximately 3 people in the world who are unable to bench at least 45 pounds.

Think about this statement for a minute. People are morbidly obese. They have heart conditions. Severe rotator cuff problems. It's far closer to three million than three in the US alone.

[Diplomat]

[ QUOTE ]

I haven't touched a weight in 12 years and could likely do 175 or so.


[/ QUOTE ]

True, but you aren't exactly built like a box of match sticks. The average must be much lower, given all the people who cannot even get out of bed, nevermind lift weight.

-Diplomat

[Alobar]

wow, there is some SERIOSULY misguided answers in this thread. To you people saying it slike under 130, you do realize that would mean most males cant even do a single pushup. Im sorry, but this just isnt true

I would put the average prolly around 150-160

I Dunno what my max is anymore, I havent really lifted in a long time. I would guess its prolly about 200. The best I ever did was 310 and I weighed 180 at the time.

[Michael Davis]

"wow, there is some SERIOSULY misguided answers in this thread. To you people saying it slike under 130, you do realize that would mean most males cant even do a single pushup. Im sorry, but this just isnt true"

I don't see how this makes sense. I can do lots of pushups but I can't bench 130.

-Michael

[Michael Davis]

"wow, there is some SERIOSULY misguided answers in this thread. To you people saying it slike under 130, you do realize that would mean most males cant even do a single pushup. Im sorry, but this just isnt true"

I don't see how this makes sense. I can do lots of pushups but I can't bench 130 (although maybe one rep).

-Michael

[cookie]

[ QUOTE ]
I've been working out for some time and I have no idea what mine is.

I currently do four sets of freeweights for chest.
1st set 12 reps, 40 pounds each arm
2nd set 11 reps, 40 pounds each arm
3rd set 8 reps, 40 pounds each arm
4th set, 10 reps, 35 pounds each arm

Can anyone give me an estimate of what my max bench would be?

[/ QUOTE ]
Try it out, if you naver have benchpressed with a barbell, then its almost imposible to tell

[tworooks]

[ QUOTE ]
but I can't bench 130 (although maybe one rep).

[/ QUOTE ]

well, this thread is about the average male's one rep max.

[Uston]

wow, there is some SERIOSULY misguided answers in this thread.

No doubt. Yours is the most misguided yet. There are a bunch of guys who work out at my gym who can't put up 150 or more. These guy are young and seemingly healthy, even though they're a bit skinny. How much do you think their fathers and grandfathers could bench?

[cookie]

Age 19 weight 77 kg (169.785)
Bench raw with a pause: 100kg (220,5)
Touch and go with a benchpress shirt on: 115 kg (253.575)
Squat raw: 125 kg (275.625)
Squat in full eqipment: 175 kg (385.875)
Deadlift raw: 165 (363.825)
Deadlift in equipment: 170 (374.85)

Meet results: None yet, but Ill atend to my first meeting 14. may

[tworooks]

[ QUOTE ]
Touch and go with a benchpress shirt on: 115 kg (253.575)


[/ QUOTE ]

what is a benchpress shirt. does it really help to do 30 pounds more, or is that mostly attributed to doing a touch and go as opposed to a pause at the chest?

[cookie]

[ QUOTE ]
"wow, there is some SERIOSULY misguided answers in this thread. To you people saying it slike under 130, you do realize that would mean most males cant even do a single pushup. Im sorry, but this just isnt true"

I don't see how this makes sense. I can do lots of pushups but I can't bench 130 (although maybe one rep).

-Michael

[/ QUOTE ]
At the bottom of a push up you are liftning about 70 % of your bodyweight, this lowers throughout the concentric(probably speled wrong) fase of the lift.
I think around 110 is pretty close to the average

[cookie]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Touch and go with a benchpress shirt on: 115 kg (253.575)


[/ QUOTE ]

what is a benchpress shirt. does it really help to do 30 pounds more, or is that mostly attributed to doing a touch and go as opposed to a pause at the chest?

[/ QUOTE ]
Its takes some of the bottom of the lift, which is my weakest part, it was a pretty large shirt I had on, due to the fact it was my first time pressing in a shirt, like 4 numbers to big, beu it takes really good tecnique to make a good benchpress in a shirt.

The guy on this picture has a benchpress shirt on, but you dont really want to use one unless you do competitions...
http://www.motion-online.dk/fora/gallery/1110832710/gallery_3788_277_4437.jpg

[Reef]

[ QUOTE ]
I've been working out for some time and I have no idea what mine is.

I currently do four sets of freeweights for chest.
1st set 12 reps, 40 pounds each arm
2nd set 11 reps, 40 pounds each arm
3rd set 8 reps, 40 pounds each arm
4th set, 10 reps, 35 pounds each arm

Can anyone give me an estimate of what my max bench would be?

[/ QUOTE ]

free weights and bar are very different. Still, I'd estimate maybe 135.

[InchoateHand]

If true, that's really pathetic. They work out at your gym regularly and can't put up 150 lb.? Is this the Special Olympics Training Center?

[ QUOTE ]
wow, there is some SERIOSULY misguided answers in this thread.

No doubt. Yours is the most misguided yet. There are a bunch of guys who work out at my gym who can't put up 150 or more. These guy are young and seemingly healthy, even though they're a bit skinny. How much do you think their fathers and grandfathers could bench?

[/ QUOTE ]

[ChromePony]

I think a lot of you who lift weights even remotely regularly forget what it was like before you did, although maybe you were only 4 or 5 at the time. Bench pressing uses a lot of muscles that don't get much exercise in the daily routine of lots of Americans, sitting at a desk, watching TV on the couch, even running and cardio stuff. Sure most 20 year olds can handle one rep of resonable weight, but you start throwing random 55-65s on the bench cold and watch out. That being said i'll weigh with 115.

[Wayfare]

[ QUOTE ]
I've been working out for some time and I have no idea what mine is.

I currently do four sets of freeweights for chest.
1st set 12 reps, 40 pounds each arm
2nd set 11 reps, 40 pounds each arm
3rd set 8 reps, 40 pounds each arm
4th set, 10 reps, 35 pounds each arm

Can anyone give me an estimate of what my max bench would be?

[/ QUOTE ]

You should start increasing your weight with each set and lower the reps as the weight increases. I started at 50's on each arm about three months ago now I do 95's, or 225 on the barbell.

[Uston]

They're just skinny high school kids. No clue how long they've working out. I don't think there's anything abnormal about it. I could barely put up 135 when I was in HS. A couple of years later 135 was a warm-up set.

[James282]

[ QUOTE ]
If true, that's really pathetic. They work out at your gym regularly and can't put up 150 lb.? Is this the Special Olympics Training Center?

[ QUOTE ]
wow, there is some SERIOSULY misguided answers in this thread.

No doubt. Yours is the most misguided yet. There are a bunch of guys who work out at my gym who can't put up 150 or more. These guy are young and seemingly healthy, even though they're a bit skinny. How much do you think their fathers and grandfathers could bench?

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

When I used to work out regularly, my BP was very low. I was a cross-country runner and in excellent shape, but I guess I belonged in the special olympics because I didn't have a high bench press, huh? I did reps of 120-130, but could crush people who had BPs around 225 and 250 in all leg exercises, and I was not nearly as far off in other upper body exercises. Since I've stopped running, though, I've filled out a little more in my upper body, but haven't touched a bench press bar in ages. Still, I remember going to the gym and probably being about average for all of the people who worked out in our gym. Possibly below average but definitely not by much. So even if the average among the people who worked out at my gym was 150, there were still hundreds of people who never went to the gym, and sit around either being hugely fat or playing world of warcraft all day. I think I could probably beat them. Then you want to put 15 year olds in the mix? Gimme a break, 15 year olds will almost definitely have an average below 60, especially kids today who just sit inside all day.
-James

[Nick-Zack]

No way is a push up doing 70% of your body weight. I would say it is less than 50%.

[Alobar]

[ QUOTE ]
15 year olds will almost definitely have an average below 60,

[/ QUOTE ]

dude, im sorry...you are just flat out wrong. So wrong it borders on obscene.

your typical 9th grader I admit is a huge pussy, but 60 pounds is waaaay to low an estimate. When I was in 9th grade, I was a skinny little bitch so I would be the low end of the spectrum, and we were required to lift weights in basketball, I maxed 95lbs. I would hate to think of anyone that age who could have done less than that.

You average adult female could bench press 60 pounds, and a 9th grade male is stronger than an average adult female.


And to which ever poster said they could do lots of pushups, but couldnt max 130. You either weigh about 95 pounds, or you are kidding yourself. Go to the gym, warm up, get a spotter, and I guaruntee you could do ONE rep of 130 pounds.

[Alobar]

Well I spent about 10 minutes googling this stuff. According to maxxim magazine the average adult male can bench press his own body weight. I found about 20 different body building forums that all had it anywhere from from 80-93% of body weight.

The average adult male is 180lb

[Vince Young]

[ QUOTE ]
Gimme a break, 15 year olds will almost definitely have an average below 60

[/ QUOTE ]
Double that. Most 5th graders could bench 60.

[gumpzilla]

[ QUOTE ]
Well I spent about 10 minutes googling this stuff. According to maxxim magazine the average adult male can bench press his own body weight. I found about 20 different body building forums that all had it anywhere from from 80-93% of body weight.

[/ QUOTE ]

I highly doubt the 100% of body weight statistic that you say is average there. Do they mean that this is average for people who work out, in which case I think that's probably true? Or just average for the entire population, in which case I think it's highly unlikely?

[Rduke55]

I agree. Typically a beginning weightlifter of average wt. I would guess can bench 95lbs.

My wt. 200lbs. and I can touch and go 375.

[Rduke55]

I really do think that a lot of people are way overestimating a person's bench. For someone who has never done it it's nowhere near (w/in 15%) their body weight.

[ibstudly1]

27 yrs old wiegh 290 bench 410 leg press over 1000

[Subfallen]

Whenever I lifted weights I weighed like 170 and did 6x190. Now all I do is fingertip pushups. 3x70 every day.

[housenuts]

i think the average is more like 110

[Reef]

[ QUOTE ]
Whenever I lifted weights I weighed like 170 and did 6x190. Now all I do is fingertip pushups. 3x70 every day.

[/ QUOTE ]

I like one arms so much better. 3 x 20-12

[Reef]

[ QUOTE ]
27 yrs old wiegh 290 bench 410 leg press over 1000

[/ QUOTE ]

sup bro material

[Reef]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I've been working out for some time and I have no idea what mine is.

I currently do four sets of freeweights for chest.
1st set 12 reps, 40 pounds each arm
2nd set 11 reps, 40 pounds each arm
3rd set 8 reps, 40 pounds each arm
4th set, 10 reps, 35 pounds each arm

Can anyone give me an estimate of what my max bench would be?

[/ QUOTE ]

You should start increasing your weight with each set and lower the reps as the weight increases. I started at 50's on each arm about three months ago now I do 95's, or 225 on the barbell.

[/ QUOTE ]

you must be pretty big to start out with. This is not normal progression for someone who, say, weighs a buck-fifty

[Reef]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Gimme a break, 15 year olds will almost definitely have an average below 60

[/ QUOTE ]
Double that. Most 5th graders could bench 60.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd be willing to put money against this statement.

[Reef]

my guess would be 95.

I think guys in general way overemphasize bench. They get a huge max, but have shitty squat, deadlift, curl, military press, row, etc...

My deadlift is at ~300 and I weigh under a buck-fitty. I've got to doing something wrong because my straight leg (only using back) deadlift is about ~265. My legs must be weak.

[slickpoppa]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Gimme a break, 15 year olds will almost definitely have an average below 60

[/ QUOTE ]
Double that. Most 5th graders could bench 60.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd be willing to put money against this statement.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'll also put a lot of money against that.

[Rduke55]

You're not neccesarily too far off here. My straight leg deadlift is a lot closer to my regulation one than I would of guessed. It's all posterior chain muscles (lower back, ass, hamstrings, etc.) that really determine your deadlift (excepting grip for some people of course /images/graemlins/tongue.gif). Straight leg takes quadriceps, adductors, etc. out mostly so it doesn't take as much out as you would think (but it does take some).

I'm always impressed by a big overhead press.

[nbake]

I've seen a 6 year old put up 45 pounds...He was a thick little kid, but he was just messing around. I really hope the average dude 18-65 could do 120.

[cookie]

[ QUOTE ]
my guess would be 95.

I think guys in general way overemphasize bench. They get a huge max, but have shitty squat, deadlift, which are the important ones. Curls are just lame and for retards!
My deadlift is at ~300 and I weigh under a buck-fitty. I've got to doing something wrong because my straight leg (only using back) deadlift is about ~265. My legs must be weak.

[/ QUOTE ]
FYP /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

What is your height, its pretty important to determine what way you can deadlift in with the highest outcome.
In whoch part of the deadlift are you having trouble?
Bottom, middle or lockout?
How much do you squat?

[GrekeHaus]

[ QUOTE ]
I've been working out for some time and I have no idea what mine is.

I currently do four sets of freeweights for chest.
1st set 12 reps, 40 pounds each arm
2nd set 11 reps, 40 pounds each arm
3rd set 8 reps, 40 pounds each arm
4th set, 10 reps, 35 pounds each arm

Can anyone give me an estimate of what my max bench would be?

[/ QUOTE ]

I can't remember the exact formula, but for reps >1, your 1-rep max should be about:

weight + 0.04*reps*weight

The 0.04 is actually something like 0.0396 or something like that. Of course, this is just an estimate anyway and it varies from person to person based on how many reps you usually do.

[tbach24]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Every man between 15 and 65 years old. Have them perform their 1 rep max in benchpress. What's the average? I'd say 140 lbs.

/twang

[/ QUOTE ]

You people are nuts. Most people do NO weight training. I'd say the average is probably 70-90.
-James

[/ QUOTE ]

You're likely correct for the median, but there are approximately 3 people in the world who are unable to bench at least 45 pounds.

I haven't touched a weight in 12 years and could likely do 175 or so.

~D

[/ QUOTE ]

There's a pair of kids at my school (7 total people) who can put up 45 barely...I can do like 135.

[Blarg]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
15 year olds will almost definitely have an average below 60,

[/ QUOTE ]

dude, im sorry...you are just flat out wrong. So wrong it borders on obscene.

your typical 9th grader I admit is a huge pussy, but 60 pounds is waaaay to low an estimate. When I was in 9th grade, I was a skinny little bitch so I would be the low end of the spectrum, and we were required to lift weights in basketball, I maxed 95lbs. I would hate to think of anyone that age who could have done less than that.

You average adult female could bench press 60 pounds, and a 9th grade male is stronger than an average adult female.


And to which ever poster said they could do lots of pushups, but couldnt max 130. You either weigh about 95 pounds, or you are kidding yourself. Go to the gym, warm up, get a spotter, and I guaruntee you could do ONE rep of 130 pounds.

[/ QUOTE ]

Push ups are really different from benches. When I was a 13 year old kid I could do 175 pounds benching, but wasn't all that great in push-ups. When I was 18, I could do push-ups endlessly, for a seriously insane amount of time, but 175 lbs benching wasn't all that easy for me.

Many exercises are extremely specific that way in how they develop you.

I remember reading in this one book about a guy who said he had often challenged people to do this or that physical strength test he could do, and topped them all, and he had seen others who could do that too. But what really impressed him was a guy he met who said not that he would do his own thing and you couldn't top it, but that he could match or better anything YOU picked to challenge him in. And then proved it. I agree. Those two things are worlds apart.

[Reef]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
my guess would be 95.

I think guys in general way overemphasize bench. They get a huge max, but have shitty squat, deadlift, which are the important ones. Curls are just lame and for retards!
My deadlift is at ~300 and I weigh under a buck-fitty. I've got to doing something wrong because my straight leg (only using back) deadlift is about ~265. My legs must be weak.

[/ QUOTE ]
FYP /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

What is your height, its pretty important to determine what way you can deadlift in with the highest outcome.
In whoch part of the deadlift are you having trouble?
Bottom, middle or lockout?
How much do you squat?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm at 6 ft

I can say the lockout is easiest.. probably bottom part is the toughest

Haven't really maxed out on squat, since I'm lazy.. I will usually use the machine with cables that hold a bar and go all the way down to where my butt touches the ground- 135 to 185 sets. Or else I do leg press- 4 plates on each side for a set of 6-8. Basically, I don't do legs as hard as I should.

[Reef]

[ QUOTE ]
You're not neccesarily too far off here. My straight leg deadlift is a lot closer to my regulation one than I would of guessed. It's all posterior chain muscles (lower back, ass, hamstrings, etc.) that really determine your deadlift (excepting grip for some people of course /images/graemlins/tongue.gif). Straight leg takes quadriceps, adductors, etc. out mostly so it doesn't take as much out as you would think (but it does take some).

[/ QUOTE ]

my ass lifts goot

[ QUOTE ]
I'm always impressed by a big overhead press.

[/ QUOTE ]

ya, this former wrestler in my schools gym (not an athletic one) takes his weight in dumbells and does a set of 10.. touching shoulders and lock out.

I have a hard enough time maxing my own weight with a bar, which is far easier than equivalent weight in dumbells.

[Reef]

[ QUOTE ]
I've seen a 6 year old put up 45 pounds...He was a thick little kid, but he was just messing around. I really hope the average dude 18-65 could do 120.

[/ QUOTE ]

that kid is an anomoly

[YTV]

[ QUOTE ]
wow, there is some SERIOSULY misguided answers in this thread. To you people saying it slike under 130, you do realize that would mean most males cant even do a single pushup. Im sorry, but this just isnt true


[/ QUOTE ]

I weigh 200 pounds can do about 50 pushups continous, but i know i cannot bench more than 120-130.