Lifting benchmarks

[JuicePimp]

Since many guys use the bench press as a major jugde of strength, How long of serious training did it take you guys to bench 225? 275? 315? 405? etc? Seems to me that most can get to 225 in one year of serious training, but then it seems that many never progress much beyond that. So post up, I am currious, how long was it for you? I would have done a poll, but more interested in your comments.

Thanks.

 

[matto18]

i'd bet that genetics play a HUGE role in this...

 

[JuicePimp]

Dang, the first response and not even an answer.

Sure genetics, play a role, esp. at the heaver weights, but so does training. I just wondered at what point in peoples training they got there.

 

[ViperHMS]

Hummm too many different aspects that interfer with the lift over the years. Bench has always been my weakest point as far as strength, but i'll attempt to answer for you here.

When i was 14 I touched my first weights, 120lbs & I could bench 95. By 16 I was at 145, but again not a serious lifter at the time, just worked out for football. By 17 I think I was doing 185 and I got stuck at that weight for a while. By 18 I was at about 205 at 145lbs. 19,20,21 are a blur of working out, partying, working 80-90hrs week etc so weights were not a priority. But I do remember hitting 250x2 probably around 20yrs @ 155-160lbs. Sometime in there i didn't work out for over 9 months due to injury and being lazy. I'm 22 now and I don't know what my max is but I check my progress by my last set of bench press on Chest day. I'm hitting 245x7 now @ 190lbs. I do this after about 6 sets of 5-8reps of varying weights. Hope this somewhat answers your question.

Viper

 

[matto18]

still, JuicePimp, genetics is gonna throw everyone's answers all over the place. i don't really see what you're looking for here, besides just curiosity about everyone's lifting history.

 

[JuicePimp]

Yup, I am currious. And with the number of people here, we could get a decent survey of peoples progress, genetics aside.

 

[Goldprospector]

I dont really know what kind of time frame that it took, but I know I got into s serious weight lifting plan at age 14 for playing football....we trained with weights 3 times each week. I do know that shortly before my 16th birthday, I got my "250lb CLUB BENCH PRESS" t-shirt. and by the end of the same school year, 11th grade, I got my 300 club shirt. I got 350 some time in my senior year at 17 years old. But I don't have any idea of a max that I can do now. I trained most of my years out of school, but after a serious leg injury and 2 years out of training, and being committed again for 1 year...I am sure I can bench 350...but again, I don't do a max now. I am up to 295 @ 5X5 now.

 

[JuicePimp]

Yup, I hear you goldprospector, I dont max out at all now. It seemed like the most important thing back in HS, but now, I just usually count my last working set as my max for reps too. 350 in HS is pretty amazing though. I hit 225 senior yr and I thought that was great.

 

[The Terminator]

Even at my strongest I am lucky to get around 300 lbs...At 180...lean
Benching always was one of my weaker lifts...(and quite franlky I think there are better choices for good chest development)

 

[JuicePimp]

Even at my strongest I am lucky to get around 300 lbs...At 180...lean
Benching always was one of my weaker lifts...(and quite franlky I think there are better choices for good chest development)

Should have known there would be a whiner. LOL.

Actually you are right, there are other good chest exercises, I just chose this one to use for my question since it is the most commonly quoted standard by which people seem to measure themselves.