Wtf?

**remotely queued** · 05-10-2009, 12:35 AM

how is it that i can bench close to 300lbs on the seated bench machine at the gym, and then i lay down and do the real bench i'm not coming close?

**AT Blaster** · 05-10-2009, 08:01 AM

Bench press machines don't require the use of any stabilization muscles. Without using stabilization muscles I am sure you could still do the 300 pounds but when those muscles begin to realize they can't hold that much wieght they tell your mind you can't do it..... My only other opinion woul dbe that you aren't taking into consideeration the wieght of the bar? Most bars are right at 45 pounds and I believe the sit down bench machines only have about 16 pounds of compensation.

**c-Z** · 05-10-2009, 08:04 AM

Seated bench as in sitting upright pressing forward? with cables and plates? Not like a smith right? Because if your talking about sitting upright pushing just because it says 300 lbs you need to realize the all the cables and pulleys you aren't really pushing 300 lbs.

**mho** · 05-10-2009, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by remotely queued

how is it that i can bench close to 300lbs on the seated bench machine at the gym, and then i lay down and do the real bench i'm not coming close?

Pulleys on the machine give you mechanical advantage over the weight, making it easier to do more weight. The machine is also fixed so you're not having to use any stabilizers to keep the weight balanced.

http://www.tech.farmingdale.edu/~bet...ne/pulley.html

**AdamGH** · 05-10-2009, 11:02 AM

The amount of work required to bench 300 lbs on a machine is less work than the same amount of weight in free weights. You should be able to tell that just from doing the movement itself.

***FireGuy*** · 05-10-2009, 11:54 AM

How about the most obvious of all guys, "GRAVITY".

**Probably** · 05-10-2009, 03:59 PM

Okay .. sorry to bust the thread, but why can i do like 44 lbs more on dumbells flat bench press than on bar bench press?

**AdamGH** · 05-10-2009, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by Probably

Okay .. sorry to bust the thread, but why can i do like 44 lbs more on dumbells flat bench press than on bar bench press?

positions of the arms is different and you just maybe stronger in that type of movement. Hit the barbell harder or do it as your first exercise instead. in a few months, it will catch up and/or pass it easily.

**DSM4Life** · 05-10-2009, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by FireGuy1

How about the most obvious of all guys, "GRAVITY".

**mho** · 05-10-2009, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by FireGuy1

How about the most obvious of all guys, "GRAVITY".

You're working against gravity with both machines and free weights. Unless you're on a bowflex or soloflex, lol.

***FireGuy*** · 05-10-2009, 07:26 PM

You have a point, guess it depends on how his seated press is set up.

**eatrainrest** · 05-10-2009, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by FireGuy1

How about the most obvious of all guys, "GRAVITY".

lolol

**eatrainrest** · 05-10-2009, 07:42 PM

use machines for self confidence lol

**collar** · 05-10-2009, 10:50 PM

machine stabilizers everything for you, also something even though you are lifting 300lb on a machine it may not excatly be the excat according to what system they are using and how many cables and pulleys there are.
the more pulleys the easier.

**remotely queued** · 05-11-2009, 01:00 AM

thanks for the replies.

i agree.

i think it's a combination between a different type of movement, pulleys involved, stabilizer muscles..

1 rep max bench with:

dumbells: 120lbs (****ing barely)

machine: 310lbs

bench: 275lbs (it took me 5 plus seconds to get it up and i looked retarded flopping around on the bench, does that count?)

morning, 4 days after last chest day is when i feel the buffest

really varies.

**eatrainrest** · 05-11-2009, 09:19 AM

please tell me why you would max out using dumbells

**remotely queued** · 05-11-2009, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by eatrainrest

please tell me why you would max out using dumbells

i would bet that the type of exercise you do shapes that particular muscle to look a certain way.

like i was all about bench for a year or so way back when, now i'm all about dumbells and my chest looks a little different. i could be wrong, for sure, i just see a difference in myself.

oh and 1 reason i shouldn't, my shoulder pops and hurts like hell since that day. left shoulder rear delt is sore to the touch and aches when bench.

still a newb. working on making the whole shoulder thing, and the newb thing, better.

**AdamGH** · 05-11-2009, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by remotely queued

i would bet that the type of exercise you do shapes that particular muscle to look a certain way.

like i was all about bench for a year or so way back when, now i'm all about dumbells and my chest looks a little different. i could be wrong, for sure, i just see a difference in myself.

oh and 1 reason i shouldn't, my shoulder pops and hurts like hell since that day. left shoulder rear delt is sore to the touch and aches when bench.

still a newb. working on making the whole shoulder thing, and the newb thing, better.

you would be a good politician bro

**remotely queued** · 05-12-2009, 01:47 AM

thanks...i guess

**clancywiggum** · 05-12-2009, 03:42 AM

Originally Posted by remotely queued

i would bet that the type of exercise you do shapes that particular muscle to look a certain way.

like i was all about bench for a year or so way back when, now i'm all about dumbells and my chest looks a little different. i could be wrong, for sure, i just see a difference in myself.

oh and 1 reason i shouldn't, my shoulder pops and hurts like hell since that day. left shoulder rear delt is sore to the touch and aches when bench.

still a newb. working on making the whole shoulder thing, and the newb thing, better.

I never do barbell bench anymore b/c of my left shoulder. The position of my hands, and therefore my arm when I use the barbell is very uncomfortable for my shoulder. Continue doing it with heavy weight, and your shoulder won;t get stronger, but instead get worse. If your shoulder pops, then maybe you should lay off heavy barbell bench, for good.

As far as machines go, aside from leg press, leg raise, and leg curl, no need to ever use them unless you're nursing an injury.