How Common is a 300+ Bench?

[davidI]

This article got me thinking...

http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_...und_bench_rare

The author figures 1 in 100 men will do it at some point in their lives (though he somehow decided to just round down from 151 to 100).

He was responding to a survey that says 1 in 3000 men will do it at some point in their lives.

It's a goal of mine to bench 300+ (though my current 1RM equivalent was estimated at 306 so perhaps I already can)...
It has taken me a while to get to that point and my purely subjective reasoning leads me to think only ~1 in 300 guys can do it.

What does beyond figure?

[Neil4Speed]

The number of men who actually work out in a gym moving weights around is low enough, 300lbs in an impressive number and I think it would be less than one in 3000.

[GQBalla]

I personally know two people that can bench over 300 repping.
I've seen maybe six people rep 300

[scboss]

Most avg men cant do more then 20 proper pushups. 300 is a crazy feet for bench IMO. Once I hit 315 I will be so happy. I would say 1 in 1000

[403ep3]

My current goal is 225lb but hope to reach 300 one day. I see lots pushing close to 300 but with really bad form and cheating though (aka not touching chest)

[vengie]

When I was focusing hard on building mass I repped 305 twice... I was about 170lbs at the time, my goal was to get 315, but that never happened.
I have since focused my training towards hockey and my on ice abilities rather than size, I don't know if I could come close to that now without training for it again.

[brucebanner]

I am no where close to 300lbs even for 1RM but I do have goals set towards that kind of weight. There is a co-worker that has started training in the morning as well and from what I see him repping, I believe he would be very close if not above 300lbs for max. It's an impressive number for sure. That and guys wanting 1000lbs for the big 3 is huge!

Edit: I have a very close friend that in the end of grade 12 year, repped 300lbs 2 or 3 times. He has sinced stopped training but was stupid strong for our age. Still is strong but it was crazy then.

[ExtraSlow]

One in a hundred of guys who actually go to the gym maybe. But 1 in 3000+ for adult males overall.

[max_boost]

Common if you are close to 300lbs and have any kind of noob strength lol

[ZorroAMG]

That's exactly it, Sam. OP What are those people's body weights. Most people cant even lift their body weight.

300 is impressive as shit if you are under 200lbs body weight.

[iron_man888]

I work out at Beacon Hill Goodlife quite regularly and its definitely rare to see any 3 plate benches.

With that being said, my buddy and I both can BP 3 plates. My friend weighs 175lbs and can do 1RM of 315lbs and i'm 205 and I have a 385lb 1RM. We both bench twice a week and I think its more a product of consistent routine and good form than any special physical feat. I will admit though, I'm only 5'9 so the advantage of not having long arms makes the bench much easier

[davidI]

Originally posted by ZorroAMG
That's exactly it, Sam. OP What are those people's body weights. Most people cant even lift their body weight.

300 is impressive as shit if you are under 200lbs body weight.

Doesn't really matter. The article was talking about the general population...

Just imagine walking down the street and passing 3000 men. How many of them do you think would be able to bench 300+ at some point in their lives (future life for young men)? 1, 3, 10, 30?

Originally posted by iron_man888
I work out at Beacon Hill Goodlife quite regularly and its definitely rare to see any 3 plate benches.

With that being said, my buddy and I both can BP 3 plates. My friend weighs 175lbs and can do 1RM of 315lbs and i'm 205 and I have a 385lb 1RM. We both bench twice a week and I think its more a product of consistent routine and good form than any special physical feat. I will admit though, I'm only 5'9 so the advantage of not having long arms makes the bench much easier

Nice work man.
5'9" @ 205 is big! And to me, a physical feat is no less impressive because you trained for it so well done. Now a 400 lb bench is what really separates the men from the boys and you're narrowing in on that!

[natty54]

my little brother is 18 and can bench 310

[colinxx235]

Four years ago when I was working out 5-6 times a week and benching heavy I weighed ~182-185. Was able to rep 275 3 times, but fuck was that ever tough.

Getting up to 300 is a pretty big task for most people, even those who workout regularly.

[liquidboi69]

Out of my facebook friends (roughly 300,) 3 highschool friends can, and 24 friends I know have done it in competition (some 400, 500+)...but these don't count as I've met them through powerlifting.

That being said, not all my facebook friends are males. 1/100 seems about right.

[JAYMEZ]

Ive seen a few people do it . But its probably because of the place I train.. Id probably say 1 - 1000

[davidI]

Originally posted by liquidboi69
Out of my facebook friends (roughly 300,) 3 highschool friends can, and 24 friends I know have done it in competition (some 400, 500+)...but these don't count as I've met them through powerlifting.

That being said, not all my facebook friends are males. 1/100 seems about right.

If your friends are mostly athletes then you're basing your judgement on a skewed sample....

That's what makes this such an interesting question...it's difficult to imagine the entire male population over a lifetime.

Funny how the leading categories are 1/100 and 1/3000+...HUGE difference between the two.

[austic]

After my last trip to the states I would think the amount of men that actually work out would be less than 1 in 100 so let alone bench that much.

[iron_man888]

Originally posted by davidI


If your friends are mostly athletes then you're basing your judgement on a skewed sample....

That's what makes this such an interesting question...it's difficult to imagine the entire male population over a lifetime.

Funny how the leading categories are 1/100 and 1/3000+...HUGE difference between the two.

good comment... I think the intent of the statistic was speaking to a raw bench. Typically, most powerlifters I know complete with a bench shirt which can sometimes add some serious weight to their bench...

[Marsh]

I've been in and out of different gyms over the last 10 years...only time i've seen it was at U of C, when they had an International bobsled competition and the German team was training...One guy was doing jump squats with 315 on the bar...and benching close to 400 pounds