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Does height affect bench abilty?

6

69Muscle

New member
I'm 6'4" and my work out buddy is 5'6" and that little bastard only has to bring the weight down like 4"s for a full rep, while I gotta struggle like 8" to get my elbows to a 90degree (That's how we count a full rep)...

Is it in my mind that I have to bring it down and up more then him? He can barly lift the weight off the bench because he's so damn short while my elbows are bent lifting it off his bench.

Thanks guys.
 
BAH! Horseshit! :D

Are you telling me that it's the same for a 6'4" guy to bench 235 then a 5'6" guy to bench 235lbs?

My arms are like 5" longer then his.

Example: when I bring the bar down to my chest and back up it travels a good 2 feet. With him it only travels 1 foot. How is that the same?
 
I think it most definatly done but can be overcome to a degree with genetics (ie insertion points etc). Its all about leverage and for example, lets assume everyones bicep attached to the forwarm at the same place. 20lbs at the end of a 16" long forearm would be much easier to curl than 20lbs hanging out at the end of a 22" forearm.
 
I was just fuckin around wit ya bro! yeah, i guess it does matter somewhat, since Force= mass X distance.

But i still think strength is the main part of the equation, dont you agree?
 
I Agree with strength, but assume both people are of equal strength (there's no real way to tell that) the short person would have an advantage IMO.
 
I am 6'4" and I know what you are talking about. My bench has been very hard to bring up to par with my size. People always assume I can get 400lbs or more but I have only recently broken through 365. It is harder for people with long arms to bench I am sure of that. Why are most of the worlds best benchers trolls?
Look at Anthony Clark. Granted there are a few very strong taller guys out there (greg Kovaks for eg) but I am sure he has very favorable tendon attatchment points to amplify his strength.
 
simple as this: short people = shorter arms = easier to move weight with cause it's not as big a distance
 
The shorter guy obviously has an advantage. This having been said, I've seen some amazing benches from dudes with long arms.
 
69muscle, strange question since you know the answer yourself...

69Muscle said:
BAH! Horseshit! :D

Are you telling me that it's the same for a 6'4" guy to bench 235 then a 5'6" guy to bench 235lbs?

My arms are like 5" longer then his.

Example: when I bring the bar down to my chest and back up it travels a good 2 feet. With him it only travels 1 foot. How is that the same?
Click to expand...

It has nothing to do with your height, but the length of your arms.

A guy with short arms will always beat a guy with long arms. That does not mean your buddy if only 5'6 will bench more then Coleman. Because there are other things to consider.

But take 2 guys and none of them is on roids, the shorter guy will always win. Exeptions are making the rule here.
 
Re: 69muscle, strange question since you know the answer yourself...

Jeff_rys said:


It has nothing to do with your height, but the length of your arms.

A guy with short arms will always beat a guy with long arms. That does not mean your buddy if only 5'6 will bench more then Coleman. Because there are other things to consider.

But take 2 guys and none of them is on roids, the shorter guy will always win. Exeptions are making the rule here.
Click to expand...
That absolutely true, but the taller you are the longer your limbs tend to be.
 
It is the arm length that makes a difference.
I am 6'4" myself and yes it is frustrating when it comes to benching or squating.
People with short muscle bellies are going to see gains faster than some one with long muscle bellies but that long muscle is going to look better once it 's developed than the shorter.
Why do you think that most of your top level bodybuilders are on average from 5'8" to 5'11". You do not see very many of the taller competors placing as high because it is harder to develop the same amount of mass to compete. There are a few exceptions to this and that is where gentics comes in.
 
69Muscle said:
get my elbows to a 90degree (That's how we count a full rep)...
Click to expand...

I count that as a half rep... Why don't you forget about how much you’re lifting and perform the exercise correctly?
 
i hate my long arms. Hard to bench alot of weight. Then there is getting a good peak on your bi's is hard with longer arms because the muslce is so long.
 
"I was just fuckin around wit ya bro! yeah, i guess it does matter somewhat, since Force= mass X distance.

But i still think strength is the main part of the equation, dont you agree?"


Bulldog- From a physics point of view
Force=mass*acceleration so if you bench 200kg then
Force = 200*9.8ms squared

Both people move the object with the same force BUT the tall guy uses mroe energy because of the distance traveled.

TRY THIS-

Why don't you (tall guy) just move the bar the same distance as your friend. Use the middle portion of your motion. You will get out the same or more reps than him BUT you will get a shitier workout becuase of your limited range of motion.
Just be thankful you are tall. I am 6 foot and know that plently of 5'6 guys would trade their slight bench press advantage for my height. Anyway who cares how much you bench. This is a bodybuilding forum isn't it?
 
Because everyone cares about how much you can bench. If I look great but bench 185lbs WTF is that? I'll look like a poser.
 
Being tall isn't necessarily going to take you out of the big bench pool. A friend of mine is 6'6" and is in the 500+ range. I've been to several bench meets and have seen many big benches by tall guys.
 
I'm 6'2" and bench has always been my weak lift. Its only logical that arm length is a liability. Tall dudes have to move the weight farther. I'm going to try for a new max of 405 this weekend, but thats after almost ten years of training. I know short dudes that toss that weight around with less time and dedication than me. But, when I'm in the ring I have the reach advantage which is well worth it:)

Just make sure you don't use it as an excuse. Use it as a challenge.
 
69Muscle- I would continue to work on your bench press by trying a powerlifting style workout to increase your bench. Then I would take your long arms over and start deadlifting and blow your shorter friend away. You will have the advantage deadlifting.
 
As much as i would like to say height doesnt matter in a way it does. But not as much as having good genetic leverages. I have a training partner who is 5'6 he benches 500. I am 5'10 and bench over 600. I have to travel farther but it doesnt help him at all. I think the best thing you can do is widen your grip, and thicken your torso. I know at least 10 to 15 guys i compete with that are over 6'3 afew over 6'5 that bench well over 600 and i can name some that are over 6'0 and can get 700. Strengthen your tris and widen your grip , tuck your elbows and stay tight!
 
The reason most people believe height has a lot to do with strength is correct only to a point. The main concept that you should think about is the system of levers. Usually, people who are taller have longer arms. Since the shorter person usually has shorter arms, he or she has a greater mechanical advantage to lift the desired weight. A better comparison is to judge by relative cross sectional muscle area (muscle mass). Regardless of height, people that have a cross sectional area of muscle relative in size to each other usually posses the same ability to lift a similar amount of weight. Alot also has to do with genetics and muscle fiber types. I wouldnt worry too much about this whole ordeal of height and strength. Its good to understand the physiological concepts but your time is better spent focusing on making the best of your training, nutrition and rest.
 
It makes no difference if your'e taller or shorter!! the muscles are longer on a taller man,the shorter man as shorter muscles so it doesnt make a difference.If it would make a difference then the tall man would have as short muscles as the dwarf!! get it?:)
 
I have seen a study that said people with long forearms have trouble benching weather their short or tall. Also I don't think height is really to blame because if one lifter was 5'6'' and the other guy is 6''4 the guy that is 6'4'' if proportioned should have alot wider shoulders, bigger frame, and the ability to carry alot more muscle mass which should equal more strength.
 
If you're going to make a comparison they have to be the same weight. Otherwise you're comparing apples and oranges. Mechanically speaking the shorter guy most likely will have shorter limbs the result of this will be a shorter distance for the bar to travel. This is an advantage. Same goes for the squat. It will be a disadvantage when he gets called to deadlift. But the advantage in the two lifts will make up for the deadlift. If you go to enough powerlifting meets and get to know people in the sport you will notice the better lifters tend to be short and stocky. There are always exceptions to this tho.
 
I'm one of those little guys only 5'6 215 lbs and bench & tries & Flies has always been my thing very strong on all but straight bar curls is my weakness and my taller partner could do the same weight easier so I think the long arms help like having a cheater pipe on something your trying to break lose.
 
well all people are supposed to be proportioned the same. Well with ideal proportions your arm span is your height. So unless the guy is freak with stubby arms.. like a kid that goes to my school his arms hang to like his waist. The tall guy will always have more to push up. When i was benching with my friends im the tallest in the group 6'1 the next tallest was 5'9 and they were all saying look how much farther he has to push it up.
 
Ingram said:
I touch the bar to my chest and then push it back up, that's my idea of a full rep.
Click to expand...


That's a great way to stress the shit out of your rotator cuffs...
 
Also if your taller you can use a wider grip which will shorten the distance. I guess short people might have an advantage because I remember seeing a midget in an old musclemag that was benching 400lbs.
 
"I touch the bar to my chest and then push it back up, that's my idea of a full rep."
"That's a great way to stress the shit out of your rotator cuffs..."

Putting the bar to my chest severly strains my shoulders. I get great gains by just having my arms bent at a 90 degree angle. I do spend more time doing incline then flat bench.
 
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