How much do you think the average guy can bench press?

[BladeWalker]

It's obvious that the average guy doesn't know how much he can bench press much less walk into a gym and try it.

I use to be gung-ho about weight lifting (2 hrs, 3 times a week). I maxed out at 240 lbs bench. I am 5'4" 135 lbs. But when I first started benching I could barely lift 95 lbs.

 

[Yossarian]

100 lbs or so. the average guy is pretty weak and puny.

 

[BoberFett]

Here's a question: How did bench pressing become the standard for comparing physical strength?

The bench press seems like kind of a worthless number when it comes to comparing strength. Seems to me that how much you can curl or overhead press would be a better number if you wanted to compare strength. In day to day life, how many times do you have to lift something versus push something up while laying on your back.

*patiently waiting for Red's joke about ATOT members being on their back*

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Here's a question: How did bench pressing become the standard for comparing physical strength?

The bench press seems like kind of a worthless number when it comes to comparing strength. Seems to me that how much you can curl or overhead press would be a better number if you wanted to compare strength. In day to day life, how many times do you have to lift something versus push something up while laying on your back.

*patiently waiting for Red's joke about ATOT members being on their back*

The deadlift is the measure of ones overall strength.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Here's a question: How did bench pressing become the standard for comparing physical strength?

The bench press seems like kind of a worthless number when it comes to comparing strength. Seems to me that how much you can curl or overhead press would be a better number if you wanted to compare strength. In day to day life, how many times do you have to lift something versus push something up while laying on your back.

*patiently waiting for Red's joke about ATOT members being on their back*

Ever install a transmission in a car that's sitting on jackstands?

 

[ed21x]

I started barely able to do 75, and after 6 months, worked my way up to 120, which is still pretty weak. But then again, I was smaller and weaker than most guys to begin with, so I'm guessing most guys can do ~100

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: notfred
Ever install a transmission in a car that's sitting on jackstands?

You can bench press a car?

I know, you mean the transmission. It's just the first thing that popped into my mind when you said that.

But as I said, how many people are transmission mechanics versus how many have to lift something heavy and carry it around. Hell, even an office worker might have to lug a box of paper around in between surfing ATOT and drinking coffee.

 

[lowtech1]

The average guy should be able to bench close to his own weight if you don't take into account of over weight people. When I was in high school I was regularly doing 125lbs at 3 sets of 5, and only weight 135 lbs. I am now 155 lbs & haven?t been doing much excise other than running, but am sure that I can bench at least 155lbs.

 

[StageLeft]

I'm going to assume the "average guy" as a 40 year old male. I would estimate that the average 40 year old male, without any training or practice (the latter alone can raise one's bench press) with a free weight barbell down to their chest and full arm extension could do in the vicinity of 150 pounds give or take. That takes into account pudgy weak computer geeks and fat men who work on a farm.

You have to realize that although men get weaker cardio wise as they get older I think the average unfit 40 year old will be stronger than the average unfit 20 year old. If we're talking the average 20 year old I'd pull that down significantly to not a hell of a lot more than 100 pounds.

Isn't it true that if you can do a single push-up of yourself (slightly inverted, of course), you can at least do your own weight in a bench press ?

Absolutely not. Take somebody who can do 40 pushups and put their weight, including bar, above them. Watch them die trying to do that 40 times Fresh I can do my bodyweight (178 right now) 15-18 times and I'm a good bit stronger than the average guy with a max bench in the vicinity of 265 now I estimate.

A male should be able to bench press their own weight.

I don't know how many times but I'm thinking like 5.

Should be? Maybe, but I guarantee the average guy can't bench his own weight, let alone 5 times!

How did bench pressing become the standard for comparing physical strength?

I think that of upperbody excercises it involves among the most muscles. Although the lats are the largest upper body muscle (I think the tongue being strongest per ounce or something silly like that), a max strength excercise with them is difficult. So, bench is a good indicator of overall body strength, whereas squats are a good of lower body, and deadlifts are a decent one of overall (stressing legs and back). Really all three are going to give you the best indication of somebody's strength. I have a decent bench press, but my squats are a joke because I have chicken legs. My deadlifts are decent.

 

[BadNewsBears]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: CT2TXtech

Originally posted by: rh71
avg? Up to 75lbs.

i say 185-thats pretty basic for a normal guy

I dunno about that. My friend just got a weight bench and neither he nor his roommate can do more than about 75lbs.

Ummm, are they like 6 years old?

 

[BadNewsBears]

Im a sophmore in HS, and when I finsihed off my weights class as a freshman, I benched 170. If I kept working out then 200 def.

I was one of the scrawnier kids in the class, most freshman started at 140~150 and finished off the year at ~190.

 

[Ranger X]

The average guy can bench press 45 plates on each side. That's 135lbs. Most people don't bench or lift weights so the average might be even a little less.

 

[Davegod75]

150

 

[PhaZe]

Originally posted by: Fiveohhh

Originally posted by: PhaZe
A male should be able to bench press their own weight.

I don't know how many times but I'm thinking like 5.

5 times your weight?...

Nah :Q . Your own weight but I don't know how many reps, I was thinking like between 3-5 reps

 

[Turkish]

140 average...

i bench 10 lbs more than my weight.

 

[lowtech1]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I'm going to assume the "average guy" as a 40 year old male. I would estimate that the average 40 year old male, without any training or practice (the latter alone can raise one's bench press) with a free weight barbell down to their chest and full arm extension could do in the vicinity of 150 pounds give or take. That takes into account pudgy weak computer geeks and fat men who work on a farm.

You have to realize that although men get weaker cardio wise as they get older I think the average unfit 40 year old will be stronger than the average unfit 20 year old. If we're talking the average 20 year old I'd pull that down significantly to not a hell of a lot more than 100 pounds.

Isn't it true that if you can do a single push-up of yourself (slightly inverted, of course), you can at least do your own weight in a bench press ?

Absolutely not. Take somebody who can do 40 pushups and put their weight, including bar, above them. Watch them die trying to do that 40 times Fresh I can do my bodyweight (178 right now) 15-18 times and I'm a good bit stronger than the average guy with a max bench in the vicinity of 265 now I estimate.

A male should be able to bench press their own weight.

I don't know how many times but I'm thinking like 5.

Should be? Maybe, but I guarantee the average guy can't bench his own weight, let alone 5 times!

How did bench pressing become the standard for comparing physical strength?

I think that of upperbody excercises it involves among the most muscles. Although the lats are the largest upper body muscle (I think the tongue being strongest per ounce or something silly like that), a max strength excercise with them is difficult. So, bench is a good indicator of overall body strength, whereas squats are a good of lower body, and deadlifts are a decent one of overall (stressing legs and back). Really all three are going to give you the best indication of somebody's strength. I have a decent bench press, but my squats are a joke because I have chicken legs. My deadlifts are decent.

I like to see what Mrs. Skoorb have say about the 265 lbs lift

 

[MazerRackham]

I think if the "average guy" is roughly 5'7" and 165 lbs, then this average guy should be able to bench about 100 without ever working out. This same average guy should be able max out around 250 with hard training and 6-8 months of time.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Xiety
140 average...

i bench 10 lbs more than my weight.

And 40 points higher than your IQ! Good Job Forest! j/k

 

[Saltin]

I think it's safe to say that the average guy off the street cannot bench his own weight.

That's a generalization you can take to the bank.

You guys are overestimating how strong the average guy is (not very), and people who don't lift weights regularly tend to do the same.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: MazerRackham
I think if the "average guy" is roughly 5'7" and 165 lbs, then this average guy should be able to bench about 100 without ever working out. This same average guy should be able max out around 250 with hard training and 6-8 months of time.

The average guy is a runt? I thought the Average Male was around 5'9"

 

[DaiShan]

Originally posted by: CT2TXtech

Originally posted by: rh71
avg? Up to 75lbs.

i say 185-thats pretty basic for a normal guy

I can only do 165 and I work out (weak as crap on bench) I mean I only weigh 127 tho.

 

[DaiShan]

Originally posted by: Shanti

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
I have no idea. I don't even know how much I can press.

Isn't it true that if you can do a single push-up of yourself (slightly inverted, of course), you can at least do your own weight in a bench press ?

No.
EDIT: I'll let the Physics experts explain, but I can easily do 10 push ups and there's no way I can bench my own weight right now.

I'd say no. I can do between 85 and 90 continuous pushups and I can only do like 38lbs more than my own weight on bench. It sucks lol, still trying to put on weight from swimming.

 

[Kelvrick]

I'd say 140.

5'10", 145, 20 yo and I've benched 150 twice. No real weight liftin in high school, 3 years track and cross country, injured senior year, nothing in 2 years of college.

 

[Evadman]

I haven't benched anything since senior year in high school. The average in my class was line 120 when we started for 1 rep. thankfully I was 2nd best in my class.

 

[whaleskinrug]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: MazerRackham
I think if the "average guy" is roughly 5'7" and 165 lbs, then this average guy should be able to bench about 100 without ever working out. This same average guy should be able max out around 250 with hard training and 6-8 months of time.

The average guy is a runt? I thought the Average Male was around 5'9"

man: 5'9" / woman: 5'4.5"