im in. 265 touch and go the other day. but that was elbows out bodybuilder style, so im curious to see how my numbers change +/- when i switch to powerlifting style tomorrow.
EDIT: 245 literally flew up with no effort powerlifting style, whereas last time it was almost as hard as grinding out 265. hoping to test my max when i have my spotter with me next time.
I am new to this board but I would definitely like to get in on this…I am on my 4th cycle of 5/3/1, and last week I did 275, touch and go. I tried 290 but crapped out half way. I am 5’9 and weigh 190lbs.
Pressed 305, closegrip, off a 4" piece of foam, took me about 8 seconds from chest to lockout. Fucking grinder. Does that put me in the range for a 300 competition grip bench press?
@louiek-Sounds like you’re real close. Could you try doing a pause, regular grip, off of a 2" piece of foam. Do you have trouble pushing from the chest? I think that you could progress to a lower foam and try the close grip again. Practice the pause every time with the foam for comp form purposes. Some good strengthening for lats and upper back work will make sure you’re ready to smash 300 in competition.
[quote]gorillavanilla wrote:
@louiek-Sounds like you’re real close. Could you try doing a pause, regular grip, off of a 2" piece of foam. Do you have trouble pushing from the chest? I think that you could progress to a lower foam and try the close grip again. Practice the pause every time with the foam for comp form purposes. Some good strengthening for lats and upper back work will make sure you’re ready to smash 300 in competition.[/quote]
Off the chest is no problem, but I don’t pause. I used the foam that session just to give myself a change in movement. From what I’ve found foam lets the bar sink in and makes it more difficult to press out of, which I thought would help develop power to blast through my sticking point and make up for having weak triceps while overloading them as well. I use CG because my shoulders are stronger than my triceps, and my wide grip is stronger than CG.
Might try a reverse grip bench or paused foam bench.
NOTE: When I used the foam, I let the bar sink in all the way to my chest before pressing back up.
275 paused two days ago.
Paused 285 close grip.
[quote]louiek wrote:
Paused 285 close grip.[/quote]
How close is your close grip?
I bench with a shoulder width grip, but as I train alone (in my basement even!) I am never too sure whether this is defined as close or medium by the general consensus. Not that it matters, but you know…
[quote]panzerfaust wrote:
[quote]louiek wrote:
Paused 285 close grip.[/quote]
How close is your close grip?
I bench with a shoulder width grip, but as I train alone (in my basement even!) I am never too sure whether this is defined as close or medium by the general consensus. Not that it matters, but you know…[/quote]
What’s pretty standard as a close grip is index finger on the smooth part of most bars. This is about half my hand inside my shoulder.
Got 250 on Saturday for a max, regular grip, touch and go.
280 paused last week. Goal is 315 paused BTW.
I’m late but I’m in. Got a super long way to go, but it never hurts to have motivation from others striving for the same goal. Assuming I don’t gain too much weight that would put me right at/ just over twice bodyweight, which I’ve been wanting for awhile.
Currently benching 220 touch and go at 5’ 8", 141 pounds (was absolutely sick I didn’t hit 225 today). Count me in, but give me about 8 weeks to see where I’m at progress-wise before I make a declaration of a goal time period to reach 300 in.
Fuck it! I’m in! current best was 265 with pause in a meet. Two weeks ago I made 245x5 so I guess I’m on track! 
I’m hoping I can upload a video when I get it done.
You can get there man!!!
[quote]panzerfaust wrote:
[quote]louiek wrote:
Paused 285 close grip.[/quote]
How close is your close grip?
I bench with a shoulder width grip, but as I train alone (in my basement even!) I am never too sure whether this is defined as close or medium by the general consensus. Not that it matters, but you know…[/quote]
Index finger on smooth. Wide grip is pinky on rings, and med grip is thumbnail on smooth. That’s how I classify my own hand positions.
Although if your hands are closer than your shoulders when your index fingers are on the smooth, then it’s going to be different. I’d go with length of the clavicle to classify hand positions. As in 1.75x clavicle width for wide, clavicle width for close, and then halfway in between. Something like that.
315x1 touch and go followed by 225x11. Both new prs
After some setbacks this summer (strep throat, elbow problems) Im finally back to where I was, goal is 300 by christmas now I suppose.
I am in this one, max was 240 in June, been training all summer for Halloween meet, goal of 260 there and hoping to get the 300 sometime next year, maybe in time for a spring meet.
[quote]romero1983us wrote:
I’m in. Current max 260x1(bw of 175). Started 5/3/1(3 days/week) 3 weeks ago. Will retest after 3 cycles which will be in another 13 weeks.[/quote]
Finally got it on 11-23-12, after 5 cycles of 5/3/1. BW now at 190. Went up fairly easily. Then got stapled by 315.
i hit 295x3 off of a 2 board today. I’m on my way to that 3 plate bench