Correlation Between Different Presses

Training Powerlifting
21

[quote]threewhitelights wrote:
GETSTRENGTH wrote:
You are assuming I am rejecting the notoin of leg drive based on being unable to figure out how it could work. As I stated in a previous post, rejecting something and not understanding it are not necessarily correlated.

At no point did I say I will ignore leg drive because I cannot figure out how it could contribute.

That makes a little more sense then what you originally posted. However, you’re looking at it wrong. Leg drive does more than provide a stable base, it keeps everything tight. As someone that studied biomechanics (what i’m going to grad school for) you already understand irradiation.

A tight muscle allows for the next muscle to be tighter. It’s just like bracing the abs or squeezing the bar.

Try squeezing your fist as hard as you can. You’ll feel all the muscles, forearm through the bicep up to the shoulder and trap, will all tense up. This is what leg drive does, but on a bigger scale.

As for how much a 400lb bencher gets, maybe there are some that only get 5 lbs out of leg drive, but 5lbs is still big. However, I disagree. I trained with a 400lb raw presser in the 165’s last summer that wanted to go for the raw national record, and I’ve seen him miss 385 because his feet were a few inches off, correct that, and then smash 405 later in the workout.

Also, from MY experience when I was benching (also as a 165 at the time) if I didn’t set up right I could miss something as light as 240, but hit 275 if everything was tight. This isn’t just because “the masses told me” but rather because it’s what happens, and I’ve seen it over and over.

Mechanically, it is a sound principle. Practically, it’s sound and proven.[/quote]

I agree to an extent. I think where we disagree is that I am saying leg drive only adds by helping create a stable base rather than a transfer of force. Where you said leg drive provides more than a stable base: you then go on to describe how it works and you are describing a stable base.

Keeping everything tight sounds pretty similar to creating a stable base to me. Bracing the abs also sounds like creating a stable base.

I agree foot placement is critical however I think this is because you cannot create a stable base of support with incorrect placement. I don’t think it is because the foot placement allows less force trasnfer from the legs to the bar.

This will sum it up. Are you actually saying that some of the force generated by the legs ends up at the bar, Or are you saying the force generated by the legs allows us to create a solid base and therefore less of the force created by the pecs, triceps and delts is wasted?

I am saying that none of the force from the legs ends up at the bar.

22

[quote]GETSTRENGTH wrote:

I am saying that none of the force from the legs ends up at the bar.
[/quote]

And I am disagreeing. I have seen the difference that even tensing the legs as much as possible can make on floor press. This is similar to leg drive in that it makes everything tighter, but since my legs are straight out in front of me I don’t think that they would be adding to a stable base like you are saying. However, the difference in my press is night and day.

However, regardless of WHY you think it matters, I think it matters a whole lot more than 5lbs worth of a 400lb bench. I think that for the average trainee, it is underrated if anything.

I will say that it is no where as important as getting under the bar and “putting in the hrs”, like you put it, but I still feel it’s important for most people. There are exceptions though, but I don’t think that being one of those people makes it overrated for others.

23

You are only as strong as your weakest link; and if your not utilizing your legs correctly (I.E. Keeping them on the floor and utilizing it’s stability) your not getting all you can.

If your legs aren’t sturdy, then your butt will move and if your butt moves your torso is prone to movement etc etc etc…

24

There is no physical connection from leg drive to the bar, however, one can generate more force when feet are planted because there is a feedback mechanism that allows more muscles to fire.

This phenomenon can be experienced in similar fashion when floating in a pool, for example, by trying to generating the force necessary to punch. Obviously it is much easier and more force can be generated while feet are planted on the ground than when they are not.

All muscles work in synergy to contract like a spring. It is nearly impossible to contract the big chain muscles to their full potential without an anchor point.