# What is the most a human could bench press w/out roids? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 30, 2007, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018 "2007-05-30T03:01:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/1 "2007-05-30T03:01:01Z")
In general, what is the absolute maximum a person could benchpress without using steroids or HGH and the like? I think the record is a little over 700 but I’m sure that guy was using something. I’m guessing somewhere in the 500 pound range but that is purely a guess. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/2 "2007-05-30T04:14:05Z")
Any answer would be pure conjecture. Still, there are perhaps-hepful anecdotes out there. Bo Jackson reputedly benched 415 lbs upon arrival at Auburn, without ever having previously lifted weights (not sure this can be cited online … source is a 1990-91 _Parade_ magazine article). ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/3 "2007-05-30T04:40:31Z")
[QUOTE=bordelond] Any answer would be pure conjecture. [/QUOTE] Numbers from before 1935 should be relatively free of steroid contamination: > [@](#): > > 2005 marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of the term hormone by Ernest Starling. Although its biological effects were known since antiquity, the name testosterone (T) was coined only in 1935, when Ernest Laqueur isolated it from bull testes. The road to this isolation was long: John Hunter had transplanted testes into capons in 1786 and Adolph Berthold postulated internal secretion from his testicular transplantation experiments in 1849. Following his observations, testicular preparations were used for therapy, popularised by self-experiments of Brown-Séquard (1889), which can at best have had placebo effects. Nevertheless, testis preparations were consumed until quite recently for the enhancement of virility. In the 1920s Sergio Voronoff transplanted testes from animals to men, but their effectiveness was disproven by the Royal Society of Medicine in 1927. Modern androgen therapy started when T was chemically synthesized independently in 1935 by Aldolf Butenandt and Leopold Ruzicka. [History of testosterone](http://www.endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/0010/ea0010s2.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/4 "2007-05-30T05:11:43Z")
Are you allowing any special equipment, or do the lifts have to be done _au natural_? Bench shirts can give lifters a significant boost. [Scot Mendelson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scot_Mendelson), for example, has a personal best bench press of 1,008 lbs with a bench press shirt, but his record without one is just 715 lbs. No idea what his steroid status was. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/5 "2007-05-30T05:13:30Z")
no bench shirt ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/6 "2007-05-30T05:25:23Z")
The bigger question is not steroids, but shirts. The bench press records are set wearing special shirts, very stiff and precisely fitted. Supposedly, some of the shirts are so stiff that the lifter cannot lower the bar until the weights are added. This, to me, says that the shirt is actually doing more of the lifting than the person wearing it, and I don’t see that there’s any limit on how strong a shirt can be built. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/7 "2007-05-30T05:27:50Z")
I Said No Bench Shirt! ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/8 "2007-05-30T06:42:30Z")
[QUOTE=pool] In general, what is the absolute maximum a person could benchpress without using steroids or HGH and the like? I think the record is a little over 700 but I’m sure that guy was using something. I’m guessing somewhere in the 500 pound range but that is purely a guess. [/QUOTE] One of my friends was able to bench just about 500lbs at his peak (he was a defensive lineman in college) and he’s clean. I used to spot him at 450lbs doing multiple repetitions. While he’s a big guy (6’ 2", 290lbs) he’s by no means the biggest or strongest person out there, so I’d say that 500lbs is definitely a _lower_ limit. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/9 "2007-05-30T06:43:41Z")
Interesting read: [The 1,000-pound bench press.](http://slate.com/id/2104915/) I’ll say 650 based on the above article. My personal goal is to bench 400. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/10 "2007-05-30T06:49:48Z")
I read that Paul Anderson could bench over 600 pounds and I don’t really think he used steroids so it seems it is possible. On edit I don’t think he actually ever benched that much based on further reading but over 500 seems very possible. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/11 "2007-05-30T07:00:08Z")
[Louis Cyr](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Cyr) is certainly from the day before steroids, but they don’t mention how much weight he could bench. Is there a way to extrapolate this from his other feats? ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/12 "2007-05-30T08:13:42Z")
[QUOTE=pool] I Said No Bench Shirt! [/QUOTE] Roid rage much? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/13 "2007-05-30T09:51:01Z")
[QUOTE=Sublight] Are you allowing any special equipment, or do the lifts have to be done _au natural_? Bench shirts can give lifters a significant boost. [Scot Mendelson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scot_Mendelson), for example, has a personal best bench press of 1,008 lbs with a bench press shirt, but his record without one is just 715 lbs. No idea what his steroid status was. [/QUOTE] Puts a whole new complexion on the word “shirtlifter”, no? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/14 "2007-05-30T10:00:54Z")
[QUOTE=Dr\_Paprika] Interesting read: [The 1,000-pound bench press.](http://slate.com/id/2104915/) I’ll say 650 based on the above article. My personal goal is to bench 400. [/QUOTE] From the article: > [@](#): > > Indiana University biomechanics professor Jesus Dapena says the shirt helps lifters hoist more weight by using their arm bones—not their muscles—as levers. “I would consider it cheating, it’s helping you mechanically. You might as well have a pulley,” he says. I know that guy! I went to school with his daughter. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/15 "2007-05-30T10:08:35Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] I know that guy! I went to school with his daughter. [/QUOTE] Did she have a pulley? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/16 "2007-05-30T14:32:14Z")
Tangent: how the heck does a “bench shirt” work? I’m assuming there’s more going on than heavy starch. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/17 "2007-05-30T15:03:32Z")
I learned about something new today - bench shirts! Add me to the polite request for an explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/18 "2007-05-30T15:26:45Z")
[QUOTE=Valgard] While he’s a big guy (6’ 2", 290lbs) he’s by no means the biggest or strongest person out there, so I’d say that 500lbs is definitely a _lower_ limit. [/QUOTE] An Olympic bar weighs what, 45 pounds? Wouldn’t that be the lower limit? Or closer to it, anyway. I suppose someone could bench press a closet rod. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/19 "2007-05-30T15:30:15Z")
I can’t find a good explanation of how bench shirts work online, but the basic idea is that they’re very tight in the chest, and that they aid in the lift by pulling your arms together towards the bottom. From what I hear, it’s not like putting on a bench shirt instantly lets you lift another 100 pounds or so. The technique is just slightly different, but enough that you really need to train with the shirt to take full advantage of it. It’s also interesting that the bench shirt generates so much controversy, when you really don’t hear much about squat suits or the outfits that olympic lifters wear, even though they serve the same purpose. Why? I don’t know. Lastly, you need to keep in mind that the winner of a powerlifting competition isn’t the strongest lifter, but the one who lifts the most weight under the rules of that competition. If the competition allows bench shirts, then there’s absolutely nothing wrong with using one. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018/20 "2007-05-30T15:43:46Z")
[QUOTE=ultrafilter] From what I hear, it’s not like putting on a bench shirt instantly lets you lift another 100 pounds or so. The technique is just slightly different, but enough that you really need to train with the shirt to take full advantage of it. [/QUOTE] All that said … the difference between the record shirtless lift and “shirted” lift seems to be in the neighborhood of 250 lbs. That’s a heck of an advantage, even if you do have to modify your training. IMHO, it’s much like having a bunch of guys at the starting line for a marathon … except that they’re all in Formula 1 cars instead of running shoes. Naturally, if cars are allowed in the competition, you no longer have a marathon – you have an F1 race. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-a-human-could-bench-press-w-out-roids/406018.md?page=2)