I tend to train alone and I’m thinking about doing alot less Bench pressing and alot more overhead presses and standing lifts.
Which is probably the greatest test of strength? Bench press of 315lbs or Overhead press of 225lbs.
Personally I like military press. My goal right now is to get to 225 on military.
Everyone benches alot, but how many guys can pick someone up and hold them over their head?
True, I’m not giving up on Benching, but eventually, I want to focus more on overhead pressing.
Only thing I’ll really want to use the bench for is for Step ups and Close Grip work
I do them both, but personally I love overhead pressing. There is something extremely primal and satisfying about lifting things over your head.
I’ll side with Danny John (I think) on this one: I like the goal of a 225 overhead better. At 55, I have a goal, inspired by Dan, of a double weight DL and a BW OH press. I’m not at 410 or 205 as yet but fairly close. A tough goal for me but I will keep trying. Bench is easy I think; less systemic effort than the OH press.
Totally different types of movements.
Bench is hard to cheat, unless your ass comes off.
Overhead done standing, you can get your hips into it and thrust it up.
Seated military is bad on the spine since there is NO absorbancy.
I must say that more major muscles are in the bench so it should be a better indication of overall strength.
However many of us who have benched for years have a lot of difficulty with overhead presses.
I also know a few 700+ benchers who believe it is bad to do anything overhead, and these guys are scary so I dont question them.
Now whats your deadlift pokeman?
[quote]WolBarret wrote:
I tend to train alone and I’m thinking about doing alot less Bench pressing and alot more overhead presses and standing lifts.
Which is probably the greatest test of strength? Bench press of 315lbs or Overhead press of 225lbs.[/quote]
What type of strengh? There’s a few different types.
I would go as far as to say that the push press would be a greater indicator of overall strength, power, and athleticism than the 2 you listed.
[quote]moonjumper wrote:
Totally different types of movements.
Bench is hard to cheat, unless your ass comes off.
Overhead done standing, you can get your hips into it and thrust it up.
Seated military is bad on the spine since there is NO absorbancy.
I must say that more major muscles are in the bench so it should be a better indication of overall strength.
However many of us who have benched for years have a lot of difficulty with overhead presses.
I also know a few 700+ benchers who believe it is bad to do anything overhead, and these guys are scary so I dont question them.
Now whats your deadlift pokeman?[/quote]
Incorrect-the overhead press and all the variations have more muscles involved than the bench press by far.
Those guys who are benching 700 say that those movements are bad because they can’t freaking do them! They have neglected many other important areas of training and their bodies can’t move properly.
[quote]WolBarret wrote:
I tend to train alone and I’m thinking about doing alot less Bench pressing and alot more overhead presses and standing lifts.
Which is probably the greatest test of strength? Bench press of 315lbs or Overhead press of 225lbs.[/quote]
Both are at a very similar level.