Why is the bench press "the test?"

[bblazer]

In the real world, I am a humble teacher. I teach shop classes at the local HS, and CompSci and programming at the local college.

When I am in the shop I wear clothes that can get completely dirty and I won't care. Usually a t-shirt and jeans with the t-shirt having to do with something about weight training or motorcycles on it.

Yesterday is wood shop a bunch of the kids asked me how much I bench. They know I PL, and I am always preaching good nutrition and exercise. When the question came, I was in teacher mode so I turned it back on them saying "If you can tell me a functional real life need for a high bench press, I will tell you what I can do."

Silence. Even from the rugby and football players who maybe have a reason for a big bench, but that is debatable and for another post.

I then asked them if they thought the squat and DL were functional in real life. Once it was explained to them what a DL was and what a real squat looks like, they agreed that had more probative value in determining real strength.

Obviously the next question was what I squat or DL. Instead of answering, I went into the shop where we have an old Powermatic 66 table saw that we needed to have moved and were waiting on maintenance to move. I squatted down, hooked it under the wings, picked it up and moved it about 15 feet closer to the door and set it back down.

"That's what I squat and DL"

The point to all of this, is that in all the years I have been at this, I have never understood why people always want to know what you bench. What fucking good is that number? My training partner usually says 200 lbs or 1000 lbs. One gets a shocked look because of his size, the other because of the size of the number. Either way it doesn't matter.

This is why I quote Rippetoe in my sig line....

Can someone please explain this to me? Does it just propagate from the "curls for girls" crowd? Is it because it is the exercise for the cool kids? Hopefully someone here has it figured out.

B-

 

[SpyWizard]

I would suggest that it is because every teenage boy has been under a bench bar..

Your story tells the truth... everyone there knew what a bench was and what it looked like.. but you had to demonstrate a DL..

thus they ask what you bench..

 

[ExtraMile]

Because even n00bs bench, only real lifters squat and DL so people ask bench because they know pretty much everyone will have an answer, If you ask someoen how much they DL chances are they'll say wtf is a deadlift

 

[trauck1506]

It is only because that is what most people understand. If I wanted to know how strong someone is I would ask them how much they bench and squat. Most people wouldn't have a clue what they squatted, but I bet almost anyone could tell you what they bench. So there is no way I would ask someone what they could OHP, dip or DL

 

[skullcrushin22]

To me either the deadlift or OHP is the "test". Squat should come before bench also.

 

[needfasp3ed]

Bench is " the test " because it is the lift EVERYBODY does and it gives a great indication of how strong someone is. With all of my lifting partners, if I bench more than them, I also squat/clean/DL more than them. Just seems to go together.

 

[LucSulla]

Bench is " the test " because it is the lift EVERYBODY does and it gives a great indication of how strong someone is. With all of my lifting partners, if I bench more than them, I also squat/clean/DL more than them. Just seems to go together.

No shit, I work out with a room full of people that bench around 300 - 315 and can't squat 225 below parallel once.

I bench, on a good day, 275 for a 1 rep max. I squat 405 and DL 425. I shoulder press somewhere between 205 and 225, been awhile since i went for a 1 rep max. I can also over power any of the 315 bench press/chicken legs crowd.

Bench is a good indication of how much you bench. A person's ratio of bench to squat or deadlift is a pretty good indication of how fucked their program is.

 

[keasbey]

Pffttt the real question is... how much did the piece of equipment you moved weigh?

 

[bblazer]

Pffttt the real question is... how much did the piece of equipment you moved weigh?

No friggin idea. But it was heavy as hell.

B-

 

[timtim]

because its the squat of the upper body, incorporating the back, shoulders, tris, and chest. just like the squat or dl incorporate the major muscles of the mid to lower body.

 

[brad34]

I read an interesting article the other day that explained the bench press works approx. 10% of your muscular skelton while the deadlift and squats work approx. 70% of your muscular skelton.

For me I find it easier to make gains deadlifting as I went from 135 to 275 in about 6 months, however my bench went from 115 to 170 in the same time. My arms are kind of long so it sure seems like I am pushing the barbell 6 inches further than everyone else in the gym..lol

 

[sflanagan]

True bench is pretty non funtional lift if you think about it. On the other hand it is pretty damn hard to bench 4 to 5 hundered pounds. Although many people do put too much emphasis on bench and ignore squats and deads, its still hard to get underneath the bar and push a lot of weight!!!! Why else do you shake and fatigue when are maxing out!!! Also its a recognized lift by powerlifting associations everywhere....So in the end its your own integrity that keeps you squatitng till you puke and deadlifting till you pass out after a good pull....not just pressing for the ladies (those people know who they are) and the hardcore lifters know who they are. Thats the way it will always be in today's commercial workout world!!! But i still dont know anybody that ignores the bench totally... Just my .02

 

[artificialaspirations]

cause benching is easy and everyone does it.

 

[grubd]

It is the bench mark that the general public has given for strength.