Interesting bench press data

[LostArra]

talking about the the top 1% of genetic potential -these guys would be great athletes no matter what you had them do.

Interesting that Durant was not impressive at any part of the NBA combine including vertical jump, agility test and quickness drills. His elite basketball skill set (and height) completely overshadow his lack of athleticism.

Also impressive that he even participated in the combine knowing he would not fare well. While it didn't hurt his draft status he has since recommended that potential top players not go to the combine.

The shortcomings of professional athletes reminds me of my favorite coaching line.
Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips was asked if he was concerned that his star running back Earl Campbell could not complete the pre-season 1 mile run. Phillips replied "if it's 4th down and a mile I'll take him out"

 

[coyotecreek]

The most I ever benched was 225. I was 23 or 24 years old and weighed 160 lbs.

I could also run a sub 6-minute mile. I wonder how many with a 225+ bench can also run a sub 6 mile?

I'm now 47 - 155 lbs and don't mess with heavy weights or run anymore!

 

[Skerhunter]

The most I ever benched was 225. I was 23 or 24 years old and weighed 160 lbs.

I could also run a sub 6-minute mile. I wonder how many with a 225+ bench can also run a sub 6 mile?

I'm now 47 - 155 lbs and don't mess with heavy weights or run anymore!

I wouldn’t worry about the mile time - I would doubt many ppl could even run a mile!

I’m not shocked by the data - a large portion of the population can’t lift that much to begin with and the majority that can quits exercising in their 20s and loses the ability.

I will say that I see a lot more older dudes moving an unsafe amount of weight now that trt has become more popular. Pretty impressive what you can do in your 40s/50s with the test levels of a 20 yr old!

 

[Balderdash]

Sadly, the same is true in the fire service, new guys are usually fit... for a while. Fortunately I have stayed fairly injury free and at the ripe "old" age of nearly-50, can still bench 225 for reps, though only a few before my form starts to suffer. If form was a consideration though (armpits tucked, using minimal lats) I can certainly see where the 3% might come from.

Do you have fit for duty programs?

We don't specifically, but most of our "old" guys over 40 are in pretty good to very good shape. Some don't necessarily look it, but many of us also work/ed construction and can really dig deep when it's time to get to work on scenes; a lot of young folks get humbled when they can't keep up with their pretty gym bods. "Water muscles" a really tough retired guy I worked with used to pejoratively call the gym rats.

By and large I'd say our folks are in much better shape than the average person, and it's pretty rare that I've had someone fail a situation due to being out of shape. We train a lot and are busy enough on runs, so I feel like I have a pretty good feel for the crews' capabilities.

 

[Poser]

Interesting that Durant was not impressive at any part of the NBA combine including vertical jump, agility test and quickness drills. His elite basketball skill set (and height) completely overshadow his lack of athleticism.

Also impressive that he even participated in the combine knowing he would not fare well. While it didn't hurt his draft status he has since recommended that potential top players not go to the combine.

The shortcomings of professional athletes reminds me of my favorite coaching line.
Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips was asked if he was concerned that his star running back Earl Campbell could not complete the pre-season 1 mile run. Phillips replied "if it's 4th down and a mile I'll take him out"

I didn't know that about Durant. Some folks have crazy "physical intelligence" and develop voodoo level skills. For the most part, I would imagine NBA players have genetically superior fast twitch muscle fibers and higher than average neuromuscular recruitment (the ability to recruit all of the muscles in the body in explosive efforts) levels.

 

[Maverick1]

Didn’t realize I’ve been “elite” for over 35 years. Ha. LOL.

A better measure, IMO, is percentage of one’s body weight, or what is called body weight ratio.

For example: Benching 225 for a person that weighs 240 pounds isn’t really impressive. For someone that weighs 125, that would be more impressive.

 

[Poser]

I could also run a sub 6-minute mile. I wonder how many with a 225+ bench can also run a sub 6 mile?

If you look at world class, olympic level sprinters, the vast majority probably bench press quite a bit. Granted, they aren't specializing in the distance of a mile, but the ability to run or jump explosively fast is often hinged on a high degree of neuromuscular recruitment: these athletes are able to recruit as much as 96% of the muscles in their bodies to contribute to a single effort. When you watch a sprinter sprint, you can literally see their upper body muscles working/contributing to their speed:

 

[Hnthrdr]

Sadly, the same is true in the fire service, new guys are usually fit... for a while. Fortunately I have stayed fairly injury free and at the ripe "old" age of nearly-50, can still bench 225 for reps, though only a few before my form starts to suffer. If form was a consideration though (armpits tucked, using minimal lats) I can certainly see where the 3% might come from.

The brothers and I were lifting the other day, and mulling over how sad it is that many rigs don’t even have 2 people on them that can bench body weight for reps, squat body weight for reps, and a high rise training evolution say 40 floors without coring out or just not being physically able to do it ( my city has been on a huge DEI hiring kick and loves putting duds out there) … yes we are meatheads on my shift and we take an extreme amount of pride in it haha, but out of the 10 assigned the O’s and engine engineer have let them selves go bad, the muckers are still all in good shape, should be the norm but tends to be the exception which is sad.

 

[30338]

Most I ever benched was 265. Currently doing reps at 185 but injury free. Like incline bench a bit better. I don't have a spotter when I lift in the basement but may try 225 sometime when I do. Getting closer to 60 and prefer injury free reps these days. Got 7 pullups on first set this am. Gotta get that back to 10.

 

[Maverick1]

 

[coyotecreek]

If you look at world class, olympic level sprinters, the vast majority probably bench press quite a bit. Granted, they aren't specializing in the distance of a mile, but the ability to run or jump explosively fast is often hinged on a high degree of neuromuscular recruitment: these athletes are able to recruit as much as 96% of the muscles in their bodies to contribute to a single effort. When you watch a sprinter sprint, you can literally see their upper body muscles working/contributing to their speed:

I agree 100%. I'm not sure what the point of this thread is other than most people don't take care of their bodies. There is much more to overall fitness than lifting heavy weight and sprinting as I'm sure you all would agree. I don't have the genetics to get big, thankfully I have a high metabolism. I eat as healthy as I can and work out for general fitness and hunting. Never cared about lifting for glamour purposes. If that's your thing go for it. Not trying to start an argument.

 

[Poser]

I agree 100%. I'm not sure what the point of this thread is other than most people don't take care of their bodies. There is much more to overall fitness than lifting heavy weight and sprinting as I'm sure you all would agree. I don't have the genetics to get big, thankfully I have a high metabolism. I eat as healthy as I can and work out for general fitness and hunting. Never cared about lifting for glamour purposes. If that's your thing go for it. Not trying to start an argument.

Well, see, the point of the thread is to celebrate being a member of an extremely elite club that is only attained by less than 1 percent of the population. Its a bit lonely at the top. You should join our club

 

[5MilesBack]

NBA players tend to have a very difficult time squatting to depth -their proportions are often crazy: being 6'7 with insanely long legs makes that not an easy movement.

That's me. It's a geometry thing. But if I used a Smith machine and put the bar further down my back instead of across my shoulders, I could parallel squat over 300 pretty easily back in the day. I could also max out the stacks easily on the front leg extension while watching the short guys with huge thighs struggle with that, probably a physics lever kind of thing as well.
My long lean muscles were never great for benching, but I could pull more weight in a seated row than I could bench. And these days even at almost 60 I still excel in the mountains for a month long elk season. Those long lean muscles just work for that kind of stuff.

 

[coyotecreek]

Well, see, the point of the thread is to celebrate being a member of an extremely elite club that is only attained by less than 1 percent of the population. Its a bit lonely at the top. You should join our club

I mentioned earlier that I'm in the "club" or at least I was when I was much younger. I now renounce my citizenship because I don't give a @#$%

I'd put a smiley face here, but I don't know how to do that stuff!

 

[Poser]

That's me. It's a geometry thing. But if I used a Smith machine and put the bar further down my back instead of across my shoulders, I could parallel squat over 300 pretty easily back in the day. I could also max out the stacks easily on the front leg extension while watching the short guys with huge thighs struggle with that, probably a physics lever kind of thing as well.
My long lean muscles were never great for benching, but I could pull more weight in a seated row than I could bench. And these days even at almost 60 I still excel in the mountains for a month long elk season. Those long lean muscles just work for that kind of stuff.

I have an occasional backcountry skiing partner who is 6'4, long and lean -works Search and Rescue. His stride when skinning is crazy and he totally kicks my ass. I'm not taking anything away from his fitness because he would be faster than me if he were 5'10, but you tack on that long legged stride and I can't keep up. I'm 6 foot, but my height is a bit more focused in my torso than my legs.

 

[Balderdash]

The brothers and I were lifting the other day, and mulling over how sad it is that many rigs don’t even have 2 people on them that can bench body weight for reps, squat body weight for reps, and a high rise training evolution say 40 floors without coring out or just not being physically able to do it ( my city has been on a huge DEI hiring kick and loves putting duds out there) … yes we are meatheads on my shift and we take an extreme amount of pride in it haha, but out of the 10 assigned the O’s and engine engineer have let them selves go bad, the muckers are still all in good shape, should be the norm but tends to be the exception which is sad.

Same here. We had someone in HR who thought toxic masculinity was the worst evil facing humanity. Really special trying to teach some of these folks how to start a chainsaw when there's just no way they can actually pull the rope hard enough to get it going, let alone being able figure out how to appropriately apply the choke. Fun, too, watching the "get out of the way dance" that ensues whenever a person or something heavy needs to be lifted or moved.

Makes good social media fodder is about all. Our union does a day in the life training day with media and the local politicians every few years. They dress them out in the full fireman costume, give them a bundle of hose, parade them up a few flights of stairs, pull a dummy a few feet in a smoked out room, etc. Has opened a few eyes, but for a lot of folks the reality that there's a job to be done doesn't enter in the hiring decision process in the first place.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Same here. We had someone in HR who thought toxic masculinity was the worst evil facing humanity. Really special trying to teach some of these folks how to start a chainsaw when there's just no way they can actually pull the rope hard enough to get it going, let alone being able figure out how to appropriately apply the choke. Fun, too, watching the "get out of the way dance" that ensues whenever a person or something heavy needs to be lifted or moved.

Makes good social media fodder is about all. Our union does a day in the life training day with media and the local politicians every few years. They dress them out in the full fireman costume, give them a bundle of hose, parade them up a few flights of stairs, pull a dummy a few feet in a smoked out room, etc. Has opened a few eyes, but for a lot of folks the reality that there's a job to be done doesn't enter in the hiring decision process in the first place.

Yep and bottom line is always stronger people are generally more useful and harder to kill… they are also better at keeping others from dying or getting killed. I know exactly who I want to come to my home in case of emergency, I want the most yoked out, capable men on the planet. Full stop.

 

[dylanvb]

I am trying to get into the 405# club at the moment. 225 is warm up range for me. My lifting style isn't anything impressive in my opinion but I have increased my PR by 25# in 25 days which was nice. I am sitting at 375# bench atm and at 215 body weight.

 

[Poser]

I am trying to get into the 405# club at the moment. 225 is warm up range for me. My lifting style isn't anything impressive in my opinion but I have increased my PR by 25# in 25 days which was nice. I am sitting at 375# bench atm and at 215 body weight.

Damn, dude. adding 25 lbs to your bench with those numbers is impressive. I know at that level, progress slows ways down.
Over the years, I have noticed that around 275 lbs is a hard wall for many people as the programming becomes so critical. You can get to 275 lbs a bunch of different ways, but you'll only get past that with a handful of programs and almost nobody will get past that just bench pressing when and what they feel like doing.

 

[SloppyJ]

I am trying to get into the 405# club at the moment. 225 is warm up range for me. My lifting style isn't anything impressive in my opinion but I have increased my PR by 25# in 25 days which was nice. I am sitting at 375# bench atm and at 215 body weight.

Took me 2 solid years of heavy training to get there but it's doable. Right around the same bodyweight. Good luck man!