Sports and the Bench Press

[Jayhawk21]

Is Bench Press the best test of overall strength? I ask this because I find it odd that in football and basketball at the combine and when they perform for scouts they always talk about how much they bench. I don't understand why the squat and deadlift aren't talked about as much, wouldn't this be more of an example of overall core strength which would be required in sports such as football and basketball? Especially in basketball, I don't see how having a good bench would help you as much as having a good deadlift, squat and a stable base. When you are boxing out and trying to hold your own going down the lane I would think a pushing motion with your pecs would be the least of your concerns.

 

[NorgePrecision]

People compare bench press because everyone who has ever lifted does the bench press. Only dedicated people do squats and deads. The squat and dead help much more in sports than the bench press. An area where the bench press helps a great deal is a lineman in football when they have to push off against the opposing player. They need good upper body strength but a lot of it actually comes from the legs and back. The chest is just secondary.

 

[KillahBee]

As norge said, the bench has just become some socially accepted way of measuring strength, which is complete BS in my book. It's a good point though about the combines - you would think that these strength and conditioning coaches that should be well schooled would know better than to put much emphasis on the bench.

 

[Protobuilder]

I'd guess that it's the safest way to test muscular endurance -- being strong and able to express that strength for more than a 10 s. set. Don't they usually see how many reps they can get w/ 225 on bench? Well, there'd be high injury potential if they repped out with, say, 315 or 405 on squat or DL just b/c some of those guys probably aren't very skilled at those movements and b/c those movements will knock you on your ass if you get sloppy. Just an idea . . .

 

[cubuff27]

Actually it is a real quick dirty way to test strength that is UN-subjective. With bench you touch your touch and go up...really easy to measure if you don't make it. College and Pro football do the 225 rep test. With squat or deads there is to much fluctuation in what is a real rep. Did he go down all the way? Did he lock out? Too much to chance. Bench is quick and easy. And remember at the combine there are literally thousands of guys going through these drills so they don't have time to be judging lifts for everyone. Get them in..have them bench...then get them to the next drill. Plus within football the bench is a descent correlation with overall strength. Like a good QB could do 10 reps with 225 while a good running back could do 15 and a good LB could do 20. Every position is different....but any descent football player that could do 20 reps on the bench is going to be most likely strong in the squat and overall anyway. I am sure there are beach lifters at any gym than could rep out 20 on bench but couldn't full squat 315 and they would be terrible football players with no lower body strength.

ps....Used to be a former College Football coach and player.

 

[TheOak84]

cleaning 300 pounds takes more effort rather then benching it...

 

[Anthrax Invasion]

Damn lumberjacks.

 

[Madcow2]

A good quick/dirty to provide a data point but not by any means a good measure of true functional strength or ability to perform on the field. Kind of similar to standardized tests like the SAT in academics.

 

[RipStone]

Just a side note: When I was watching the Buckeyes v. Irish game the other night, one of the commenators was talking about an OSU player who was supposedly aiming to break the bench record when he turns pro. The record was 45 reps w/225lbs. The player said he has already done 47 in the gym and wanted to do 50 at the combine. I believe he was 250-260lbs. Damn impressive!

 

[cubuff27]

My strength coach in college would do a Motivational Lift before the team did their 225 test and do his own 225 rep test while everyone watched.

He did 40 once and got up from the bench and said "I got a cold today"

I remember struggling with 13 that day!!

 

[ChinkNasty]

Just a side note: When I was watching the Buckeyes v. Irish game the other night, one of the commenators was talking about an OSU player who was supposedly aiming to break the bench record when he turns pro. The record was 45 reps w/225lbs. The player said he has already done 47 in the gym and wanted to do 50 at the combine. I believe he was 250-260lbs. Damn impressive!

yea, his name is Mike Kudla, defensive lineman, goes more around 260-270 then 250 i think

 

[gstacker]

Actually it is a real quick dirty way to test strength that is UN-subjective. With bench you touch your touch and go up...really easy to measure if you don't make it. College and Pro football do the 225 rep test. With squat or deads there is to much fluctuation in what is a real rep. Did he go down all the way? Did he lock out? Too much to chance. Bench is quick and easy. And remember at the combine there are literally thousands of guys going through these drills so they don't have time to be judging lifts for everyone. Get them in..have them bench...then get them to the next drill. Plus within football the bench is a descent correlation with overall strength. Like a good QB could do 10 reps with 225 while a good running back could do 15 and a good LB could do 20. Every position is different....but any descent football player that could do 20 reps on the bench is going to be most likely strong in the squat and overall anyway. I am sure there are beach lifters at any gym than could rep out 20 on bench but couldn't full squat 315 and they would be terrible football players with no lower body strength.

ps....Used to be a former College Football coach and player.

im agreeing 100% here on the bench if you cant lift it theres no cheating, i bet if you go around asking people what they can squat you would be getting alot of false info cuz of bad form etc.