For an untrained physique athlete, bench pressing 0.80-1 time of their body weight would be considered good. However, in the case of trained physique athletes, a good bench press would be equal to approximately twice their bodyweight.
A 225 pound bench press is considered impressive even among the average weightlifting population, and as such the average sedentary male is unlikely to even come close to being able to lift such an amount.
If you're relatively fit and already going to the gym, then 1 x your bodyweight should be a good standard. In contrast, someone with an advanced fitness level or is an elite athlete should be able to lift more than twice their own bodyweight.
Bench pressing can feel intimidating, though, and rightly so—after all, holding a heavy barbell over your vulnerable chest isn't necessarily relaxing. But when performed correctly, bench presses can strengthen your upper body and build muscle.
Generally, exercises with higher reps are used to improve muscular endurance, while higher weights with fewer reps are used to increase muscle size and strength.
For an untrained physique athlete, bench pressing 0.80-1 time of their body weight would be considered good. However, in the case of trained physique athletes, a good bench press would be equal to approximately twice their bodyweight.
Putting this information in another way, it's about 36 million men, and approximately 1 to 3 percent of this population can bench 225 pounds.
The significance is that it represents a milestone for many in bench pressing. It marks the first time that the lifter has put two plates on each side of the bar. Each plate weighs 45 lbs / 20 kilos and the bar weighs 45 lbs, so when you add it up 5x45=225.
225 x 6 x 0.0333 + 225 = 270. Again, if you can bench 225 for 6 reps, your "theoretical" 1 rep max for the bench is 270.
Heavy weights are good for developing strength and targeting specific muscles. If you need power—for a bench press personal record, CrossFit, or to squat your body weight—you need to train with heavier weights.
Linemen: 30-39. Tight Ends and Linebackers: 25-30. Running Backs: 20-25. Defensive Backs and Receivers: 15-20.
6–10 reps: benching for 6–10 reps is great for increasing both muscle size and strength, and makes for a good default for most people. 11–15 reps: benching for 11–15 reps is great for stimulating muscle growth, but it's a bit harder to translate it into a 1-rep or even 5-rep max.
As someone who has hit both of those metrics, yes it's absolutely possible, and without supplements as well. Ive done this at a fairly soft 260, but i would imagine with the right focus, 225 could get it done. At 260, I've hit 225 for 37, 315 for 16, and 405 for 5. YES.
Being able to lift “two plates” in the bench press is one of the most common strength training goals for men. It refers to using two 45 lb (or 20 kg) plates per side, including the 45 lb barbell, which adds up to 225 lb, or 100 kg.
So, how much can the average man bench press? Around 185 pounds for a single repetition. But if he keeps training the bench press seriously for ten years, it's realistic to be able to bench press 290–335 pounds.
If you can bench press over 300 pounds, there is a good chance that in any given room on any given day, you are the strongest person. If what you're going for is strongest among most men (an accomplishment in it's own right), there's a direct path you can take to getting there.
It may seem like the percentage of how many people can bench 315 would be significantly higher, but because a majority of experienced and professional lifters worldwide live in developed countries, the percentage is roughly the same and thus, less than 1% of Americans can bench 315 pounds.
Calculators aren't spot on but by a standard calculator or general rule of thumb 12 reps with 225 is = to 315. However there are slightly different muscles maxing out vs repping lighter weight.
If you weigh 200 pounds you should bench at least 140 to be considered average. You'd be considered elite if you can bench at least 220 pounds (Exercise Network, 2014).
If you weigh 220lbs, a 405lbs bench press would put you in the 94% percentile of all lifters in the world. How rare is a 405lbs bench press?
If your goal is to build new muscle size, called hypertrophy training, the ideal rep range is 8–12 reps. The same rep range holds true for the bench press.
If you're looking to get bigger: Target a rep range of 6 – 12 reps per set. Aim for 3-5 sets. Rest time between sets should be short, about 60 to 90 seconds.
The very easy, very simple, and very generic answer to this question is often yes… you should lower the bar all the way down until it touches your chest. That is, after all, the full range of motion for the how the barbell bench press is generally supposed to be done.
So, in general, low reps with heavy weight tends to increase muscle mass, while high reps with light weight increases muscle endurance. This doesn't mean that you have to rely on one method exclusively. Alternating between the two may be the best approach for long-term success.