Powerlifting Bench Question

[Lee Michae]

There has been some discussion in here about the fact that the
"official"height of a bench used in powerlifting competitions
is 18". And obviously most benches available to the public are
usually higher than that. This is probably due to the fact
that the template that most consumer benches follow have a lot
of crap to add to the bench, i.e. all the leg extension - curl
garbage attachments.

What I want to know is just how that that measurement is made.
Is it to the top of the foam pad? If so, is there any
requirements as to firmness and thickness of foam?

Or is to the top of the board? And again, any foam
requirements?

[John Hanso]

On Fri, 26 Dec 2003 16:39:09 GMT, "Lee Michaels"
<leemichaels*nada-spam*@comcast.net> wrote in
misc.fitness.weights:

>
>There has been some discussion in here about the fact that
>the "official"height of a bench used in powerlifting
>competitions is 18". And obviously most benches available to
>the public are usually higher than that. This is probably due
>to the fact that the template that most consumer benches
>follow have a lot of crap to add to the bench, i.e. all the
>leg extension - curl garbage attachments.
>
>What I want to know is just how that that measurement is
>made. Is it to the top of the foam pad? If so, is there any
>requirements as to firmness and thickness of foam?
>
>Or is to the top of the board? And again, any foam
>requirements?
>
From the IPF rule book:

Bench The bench shall be of sturdy construction for maximum
stability and conform to the following dimensions :
1. Length - not less than 1.22 m and shall be flat and level.
2. Width - not less than 29 cm and not exceeding 32 cm.
3. Height - not less than 42 cm and not exceeding 45 cm
measured from the floor to the top of the padded surface of
the bench without it being depressed or compacted. The
height of the uprights, which must be adjustable, shall be
a minimum of 75 cm to a maximum of 110 cm measured from the
floor to the bar rest position.
4. Minimum width between insides of bar rests shall be 1.10 m.
5. The head of the bench shall extend 22 cm beyond the center
of the uprights with a tolerance of 5 cm either way.

[Steve Frei]

"Lee Michaels" <leemichaels*nada-spam*@comcast.net> wrote in
message news:NuZGb.45627$VB2.83763@attbi_s51...
>
> There has been some discussion in here about the fact that
> the "official"height of a bench used in powerlifting
> competitions is 18". And obviously most benches available to
> the public are usually higher than
that.
> This is probably due to the fact that the template that most
> consumer benches follow have a lot of crap to add to the
> bench, i.e. all the leg extension - curl garbage
> attachments.
>
> What I want to know is just how that that measurement is
> made. Is it to
the
> top of the foam pad? If so, is there any requirements as to
> firmness and thickness of foam?
>
> Or is to the top of the board? And again, any foam
> requirements?

I emailed New York Barbell about the fact that my bench is an
inch higher than it's supposed to be - they replied:

> The AAU regulations also specify a pad not to exceed 1 1/16"
> thick. Most
lifters do not practice
> with the thin pad as this causes "strawberries" on the
> back. We can
provide a thin pad
> for $27.00 plus shipping. The other solution is to place
> your feet on 1"
boards.

I may take them up on their offer of a thinner pad.

-S- http://www.kbnj.com

[Steve Frei]

"John Hanson" <jhanson@northernlinks.com> wrote in message
news:5frouvk2247cv6ndg2seetbpnvtka337eg@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 26 Dec 2003 16:39:09 GMT, "Lee Michaels"
> <leemichaels*nada-spam*@comcast.net> wrote in
> misc.fitness.weights:
>
> >
> >There has been some discussion in here about the fact that
> >the "official"height of a bench used in powerlifting
> >competitions is 18".
And
> >obviously most benches available to the public are usually
> >higher than
that.
> >This is probably due to the fact that the template that
> >most consumer benches follow have a lot of crap to add to
> >the bench, i.e. all the leg extension - curl garbage
> >attachments.
> >
> >What I want to know is just how that that measurement is
> >made. Is it to
the
> >top of the foam pad? If so, is there any requirements as to
> >firmness and thickness of foam?
> >
> >Or is to the top of the board? And again, any foam
> >requirements?
> >
> From the IPF rule book:
>
> Bench The bench shall be of sturdy construction for maximum
> stability and conform to the following dimensions :
> 1. Length - not less than 1.22 m and shall be flat and
> level.
> 2. Width - not less than 29 cm and not exceeding 32 cm.
> 3. Height - not less than 42 cm and not exceeding 45 cm
> measured from the floor to the top of the padded surface
> of the bench without it being depressed or compacted. The
> height of the uprights, which must be adjustable, shall
> be a minimum of 75 cm to a maximum of 110 cm measured
> from the floor to the bar rest position.
> 4. Minimum width between insides of bar rests shall be
> 1.10 m.
> 5. The head of the bench shall extend 22 cm beyond the
> center of the uprights with a tolerance of 5 cm
> either way.

Right - 42 to 45cm translates to 16-1/2" to 17-3/4", give or
take a tiny bit, which is why 18" sounds OK but 19" doesn't
sound so hot.

If anyone knows of an affordable bench that's honest in spec,
please post
it.

-S- http://www.kbnj.com

[Bob Mann]

On Fri, 26 Dec 2003 12:35:09 -0500, "Steve Freides"
<steve@fridayscomputer.com> wrote:

>Right - 42 to 45cm translates to 16-1/2" to 17-3/4", give or
>take a tiny bit, which is why 18" sounds OK but 19" doesn't
>sound so hot.
>
>If anyone knows of an affordable bench that's honest in spec,
>please post
>it.

There is an adjustable Powertec one. I don't know the model
offhand but I'll find out tomorrow.

--
Bob Mann Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a
man to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

[Danl]

"Steve Freides" <steve@fridayscomputer.com> wrote in message
news:bsi10e$cus0o$1@ID-151809.news.uni-berlin.de...
> I emailed New York Barbell about the fact that my bench is
> an inch higher than it's supposed to be - they replied:
>
> > The AAU regulations also specify a pad not to exceed 1
> > 1/16" thick.
Most
> lifters do not practice
> > with the thin pad as this causes "strawberries" on the
> > back. We can
> provide a thin pad
> > for $27.00 plus shipping. The other solution is to place
> > your feet on
1"
> boards.
>
> I may take them up on their offer of a thinner pad.

My bench is too high as well. I put my feet on some rubber
bumper plates to compensate for the difference.