Me benching 340 for 4 reps on the Power Tec gym

[BIGRONCOXMAN]

i have a powertec and was also curious about actual weight. i checked with the engineers of the machine. their response is the following. you are not doing that actual weight. to figure the weight, total weight minus 10 percent then add 15 lbs. so, at 340, minus 10 percent (340-34=306) then plus 15 is 321. That is how powertec says to figure.

[jameswvox]

I would be impressed if you did it on notch 3 and actually preformed 4 full reps.

[EKmion]

I bench max at 350 and do 370 on the press part... I do both though it doesnt make a difference though because it's all really about the form and balance on a regular bench. Che chest excercise is better with multiple reps and an incline...

[esjayay]

wats the difference between this machine and bodymax cf530?

[dmopower]

distance from fulcrum to weights is 25.5 inches, distance from fulcrum to hand hold is 38 inches, Ratio comes into play. The distance from weight to hand hold is 33% of total distance from hand hold to fulcrum. Weight is 33% less than weight of plates plus 20 pounds added for bar weight empty. simple enough.

[dmopower]

340 pounds minus 335 for leverage adjustment plus 20 for the weight of the bar and you are only benching 247.8 pounds tough guy!!

[bitoy420]

he just wanted to show off his hoe.

home gym n' hoe. :)

[yeroc006]

Powertec Bench Presses are only 72% of what the actual weight is on the bar....I measured mine with a digital scale. 280lbs on the bar is only 204 lbs on the scale.

[urgod78]

@yeroc006 this is from power tech...it's the total wieght of plates minus 10% add 15 for the U shape bar...if this guy is doing 340lbs of plates it's 340-34+15 so he is really doin 321lbs but you also need to factor that you dont have to balance the wieght. which him doin 321lbs on a regular bench would feel much harder if his stabilizer muscles are not strong enough as he wouldnt beable to balance the bar b ut it's NOT 72% the whole scale thing you tried didnt work

[yeroc006]

@urgod78

I don't care what Powertec or anyone else claims.

I measured with a digital scale and a block and tackle directly above the handgrips. The actual weight at handgrips is 72% of what is on the bar.

I measured this with 4 different weights and the ration always came out to 72%.

The digital scale does not lie.

I guess I will have to make a video to show the not believers????

[urgod78]

@yeroc006 your way is indeed inaccurate block and tackle? did you even factor in the ratio? how about do it an easier much more accurate way. set up a digital scale directly inbetween the handles. moving the bench out of the way..set up two dumb bells to rest a board on in order to place the scale on..(so it's not on the black foot plate). step on scale get your control weight add 100lbs of plates get reading by stepping and doing a shrug holding weight ..do your math and it comes out to 20%

[urgod78]

@yeroc006 you can do that with any amount of weight you always get 20% difference in what you have one the bar vs what you are lifting..so i even stand corrected the guy wasnt lifting 340 he was really lifting 272 lbs..but 72% is way off the mark..my way was more effienct and way more accurate then block and tackle especially if you don't do all the math ...so i'll go with 20% difference

[yeroc006]

@urgod78

OMG MAN!

The digital scale was in between the block and tackle and the hand grips on the bar. It does not matter what I used to lift the bar.

IT DOES NOT GET ANY SIMPLER than that to understand.

The reading on digital scale is the ACTUAL weight required to lift the bar.....which by all calculations works out to 72%.

I am not sure why you keep trying to dispute this?

A digital scale is as accurate as it gets.

[urgod78]

@yeroc006 so basically between our methods we are 8% apart..still say my way was more accurate..besides everyone knows your bench on a power tech wont be the same on regular bench..but your maxing out at 250..it's no diferent then to just put 320 on the power tech and lift without a spotter

[DimmuBorgir007]

@yeroc006 Your ~70ish% is accurate; personal experience with the machine for months to support this claim. The handle weighs about 35lb, but since its leverage its about ~25lb. I simply take the weight that I have on the bar and multiply it by 0.7 and then add the result of that with 25. (500 x 0.7) + 25 = 375lb which I do for 5 reps. It more or less coincides with what I can do in barbell bench maybe an extra rep on the machine considering their is a stabilization advantage.

[urgod78]

@yeroc006 AND you can even check yourself by weighing yourself and then holding to dumbells in your hand at your sides to simulate the handles (weight will increase to how ever much the dumbells are) on the bar ...just to prove it's accuracy with holding the wiegh down by yourside

[DimmuBorgir007]

@urgod78 The formula is inaccurate; I have the Powertec leverage bench machine and, as of recently, I flat bench press (on the machine) 525lb for 5 reps on it. On free weight bench press my max is 415lb. You push approximately 70% of weight on this machine. the distance from the pivot to the weight location axis is roughly 27 inches and the distance from the same pivot to the handle (where your hand input the force) is roughly 39 inches, the ratio is then 27/39 = 70%.

[urgod78]

@DimmuBorgir007 correct me if iam wrong...but 70% of 525 is 367.5..525 - 30% is 367.5....my calculations gave me 20% or 80% OF so a 10% difference from your calculations..or 53 lbs...not that big of a deal or that far off..no matter who is right or wrong

[DimmuBorgir007]

@urgod78 I took 70% of the plates loaded on the lever (500lb would convert to 350lb) and then added 25lb from the bar. (bar weighs 35, but it you are only pushing 70% of its weight as well. It comes out to 25lb. So the total is 375lb. Take it from me, if it were 80% of all the weight, 525lb would be 420lb on barbell and I can't do that for 5 reps lol Maybe for one soon.

[redoptics9999]

hey mate looking to get a power tec full multi gym is it worth the 1,200 pounds?

[jiavalon]

remember to calculate 2/3 of load: 320 lbs are 213,33...

[DimmuBorgir007]

@DimmuBorgir007 I'm going to have to take back what I said, three weeks later I can do 470lb for 5 with this machine and I still bench the same on barbell. Benching more on this machine has to do with getting accustomed to it. My bench press difference is greater than a 100lb with this machine vs. the barbell.

[dboyz0123]

Hey, I was wondering if the classis L-M10 leverage bench would build muscle and strength? Mainly I am concerned about the muscle. I use to lift on cages, so I know my muscle memory will come back. I am 5 ft.7 ...but I weighed 180 at 10% b/f. That's not the case now, however....Would I be better off getting the leverage bench or a cage? I will be lifting by myself, I have suffered shoulder injuries in the past. IDK.....

[EEECODE65]

i like the wife

[Uncivilization]

Can you train without someone to remove the pin?

[soybean70]

sorry lads, your max on powertec is gonna be about 20% higher.

[420DoWork]

Hey I contacted Powertec and asked what effect the leveraging had on the weight and they told me to take the total weight you put on the press lever, deduct 10% from it and add 15 lbs [for the weight of the press lever].

For Example,

If im benching 100 lbs. it would be:

100 lbs. [total] (-) 10 lbs. [10% of 100] + 15 lbs. [Press Lever] = 105 lbs. True Weight.

So if your benching 340 lbs, your acually benching 321 lbs because,

340 - 34 + 15 = 321 lbs. on a barbell.

[JimHu114231]

@420DoWork , get under an Olympic bar and try it. I think you'll find it's closer to 40% higher...

[420DoWork]

hey I just got this bench a couple days ago and love it, but i was wondering if the weight you put on the leverage arm is the exact weight your benching, say if i max out with 300 lbs would i be able to bench that weight on an olympic bench?

[marlinbrad]

No. With the Power Tec, it's strictly the major muscle groups working. Your stabalizer muscles are taken out of the equation and you don't have to worry about balancing the weight. It's literally pushing the weight as hard as you can and that's why, I believe, you can do more weight on this machine. I also look at it this way too............if you have 350lbs on the machine........it's 350 lbs. You're still doing the weight.

[DimmuBorgir007]

@marlinbrad What is the max weight lifted difference between the chest press and the barbell bench press? How much could you do on bench during this video. I'm wondering because I want to get this machine since it seems safer for when I'm home without a spotter.

[urgod78]

@marlinbrad exactly your still pushing 350lbs the strength is still there the only difference is you do not have to balance the wieght, iam not sure if being able to balance the weight on a regulr bench makes you stronger......maybe someone can answer that.. to me pushing wieght is pushing wieght

[Screamersmusic]

@urgod78 it will always be harder on a olypic bench cause of balance, as you said your still pushing the weight but your not using your muscles used for stablizeing

olympic and dumbells will always be better then machine cause you go the natural way for you machines mostly make you do it the way they want you to if you get me... for instance on a smith machien i got a 182 bench only a flay olympic bench its around the 170 mark

[TheGymguru]

i dont think so coz on this machine u donot have to balance the weight but in olympic bar u need to do that so ur stabilizer muscles come to play so u probably wont do thatg much

[420DoWork]

that is very true about the stabilizers. I wouldnt even bench the same weight on a barbell without months of training with a barbell to strengthen my stabilizers. But still incorporate free weight dumbbell exercises in there as well if you don't already

[eileenBrain]

@420DoWork It's not just balance you stop worrying about when using a leverage. If you notice, the weight is divided because the weights are located further away from the handle and the higher you push the easier it becomes thanks to the centre bit that takes care of balance for you!

[rctriplefresh5]

how are you supposed to do this machine without the spotter. i guess you just remove pin.

[marlinbrad]

yeah, it's hard to do heavy weight without a spotter. I usually have my wife pull the pin when I lift off at the top of the movement and when I'm done, she puts it back. This can be dangerous though if you get stuck! Be carefull.

[RETICS1]

it needs an area 11 by 6 foot to fit well

[RETICS1]

look up powertec on google,, checkout the home page,, If i were to buy this again it would be the slightly smaller version, but I am looking at getting the rollersmith by powertec,, look it up,, reviews are really good.

[dboyz0123]

Retics thanks, the smith one doesn't look bad and it's on sale right now to. The leverage classic one, if that's what your talking about, is smaller cause it doesn't have the high pulley. They also sell a high pulley by itself.

[RETICS1]

I love my powertec,, only thing with these leverage systems is that you actually lose up to 20% of the weight that you push cause you dont grab where the weight sits,, I bench 310 on this but bar max is 260, big difference,,,just hate the ab curl on this it sux,,

[dboyz0123]

@RETICS1 , Is the lat bad really high. In other words, do you need alot of room for this machine? I am talking about the wb- LS one. Also, does this have a low pulley for machine deadlift? Thanks

[RETICS1]

also look at the series 7 smith machine,, i think its better an less space,, couple hundred bucks more

[dboyz0123]

I forgot to ask why does that guy have his women using the pin while he's lifting. Shouldn't the bar be set before he lifts?...Just notived that in the vid.

[marlinbrad]

@dboyz0123

I just find it easier to start at the top of the movement.

[Mannypacquia0]

@marlinbrad man, that would fucking suck if your arms gave out before your wife puts in the pin.

[vr6sy]

@dboyz0123 I noticed that, i thought that was the whole idea of this equipment.

[theprohaha]

ya, much easier on machine im 16 and i can do 320 2 45's on each side and 2 35's on each side but im not sure if the arms and stuf count as a weight but i can do 320 for like 5 reps but i leave it in the 3rd from bottom hole, i dont take pin out.

[big34papi07]

hey your doin it right the pin is their for saftey thats whyi leave it in and the bench arms weigh 20 pounds and the squat arms weigh 40.

[theprohaha]

ok thanks man, what hole do u put the pin in for flat bench 2nd or 3rd from bottom, i use 3rd because 2nd hurts at the start because elbows are to low but 3rd feels to high sometimes aswell.

[big34papi07]

3rd that best for me.How tall are you?

[dboyz0123]

@theprohaha Not bad man. Has this machine helped your bench press on regular weights?

[komakoziman]

Drowning pool. bodies

[USAF73]

This powertec best for decline and incline Drop sets.

[centurionzo]

nice press Marlinbrad-my best is 5 plates on each side for 3 reps but thats on the powertec -no way i could do that much wieght in a normal gym with a olympic bar and bench-cute spotter also

[ScotleyCrue77]

You're supposed to start with the auto spotter/pin in a lower position. Your normal, comfortable push-off point. Hence, the adjustable height.

That way, you don't need a physical/human assist. That's what the pin is for.

[VINNYMOR]

Nice. If you want to start the movement high without a spotter to return the pin, you can make a wooden wedge to place between the stop pin and the rubber pad. I workout alone and it works great for me. I am pressing 315 at my peak set and I have to remove a couple plates to put the wedges back in. I'm not sure why powertec didn't think of this.