I’m coming back from an injury so I’m not currently going as heavy but I just got some light bands (1.125in.) from elitefts and used them today for close grip bench after working chest. When I tested them to see how much they unloaded it was about 40lb at the top and 85lb at the bottom. My close grip bench last week was 6x175 with no bands. In theory to get that same 175lb the bar would have to have 215 on it at the top and 260 on it at the bottom. So if I had to guess I’d think my set would have used 240 or so to get the same reps. I went up to 205 and got 7 which was surprisingly less than expected. Why would that be? I wasn’t any weaker today on other lifts so I thought that was pretty strange.
I know nothing about bands so I can’t answer your question but I was curious how you measured the band tension? (I don’t mean to thread jack your post) Thanks
[quote]pumped340 wrote:
I’m coming back from an injury so I’m not currently going as heavy but I just got some light bands (1.125in.) from elitefts and used them today for close grip bench after working chest. When I tested them to see how much they unloaded it was about 40lb at the top and 85lb at the bottom. My close grip bench last week was 6x175 with no bands. In theory to get that same 175lb the bar would have to have 215 on it at the top and 260 on it at the bottom. So if I had to guess I’d think my set would have used 240 or so to get the same reps. I went up to 205 and got 7 which was surprisingly less than expected. Why would that be? I wasn’t any weaker today on other lifts so I thought that was pretty strange.
Thanks[/quote]
My first thoughts… It could be one of two things: you miscalculated/mismeasured the band tensions (I am assuming you hung the barbell in the bands and then added weight until it was at your chest to see what it took off) particularly at lockout or you failed to push fast off the chest and you are weak toward the end of the bench stroke.
Regardless, when using reverse bands, unless they completely unload at or before the lockout I don’t bother trying to figure exactly what the weight is at the top or bottom. They are simply an overload tool when used in the reverse configuration (or a rehab tool). I do, however, really like to set-up reverse band deads where the bands stop assisting completely at or before lockout, but have never tried this for bench press.
My first thoughts… It could be one of two things: you miscalculated/mismeasured the band tensions (I am assuming you hung the barbell in the bands and then added weight until it was at your chest to see what it took off) particularly at lockout or you failed to push fast off the chest and you are weak toward the end of the bench stroke.
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Yea that is how I measured it, basically what weight was on there when it would hang right at the top of my range of motion, and what weight was on there to have it hang at the bottom of my range of motion. I felt like it was pretty damn accurate so I’m surprised it was so off when actually benching.
[quote]jakerz96 wrote:
Regardless, when using reverse bands, unless they completely unload at or before the lockout I don’t bother trying to figure exactly what the weight is at the top or bottom. They are simply an overload tool when used in the reverse configuration (or a rehab tool). I do, however, really like to set-up reverse band deads where the bands stop assisting completely at or before lockout, but have never tried this for bench press.[/quote]
Yea it’s not something I’m overly concerned about as long as I continue to keep the same tension consistently and progress, but am still at a loss as to how to really explain the discrepancy.
This is my first time really using bands so I haven’t tried it where there is no band tension at lockout, but I would imagine for bench you’d have to set them up fairly low.
I’m not sure if this parallels your issue, but it might: A while back my ME Bench with light and average bands from the top was the same. what I figured was that when the bands unloaded at the top, it was not a question of how much force I could produce out of the bottom, but rather my lockout strength. In other words, it didn’t matter how light it was at the chest, I just ended up grinding out the same weight at an inch per second when I got near lockout. Maybe you’re not using your triceps much, or you’re timid from your injury and pressing slowly?
[quote]thirdnalga wrote:
I’m not sure if this parallels your issue, but it might: A while back my ME Bench with light and average bands from the top was the same. what I figured was that when the bands unloaded at the top, it was not a question of how much force I could produce out of the bottom, but rather my lockout strength. In other words, it didn’t matter how light it was at the chest, I just ended up grinding out the same weight at an inch per second when I got near lockout. Maybe you’re not using your triceps much, or you’re timid from your injury and pressing slowly?[/quote]
Interesting, still though with it unloading 40lb at the top I should have at least been able to do these reps with 215 given I was doing 6x175 before, unless I am missing something here. I am pressing as fast as I can.