Question I've always wondered???

[supasaiyan99]

Re: Question I've always wondered???

Although the longer arm guy is doing more work , do you think the shorter arm guy has to apply more torque to move the thing due to the shorter limbs.

if you liken the two guys to the same engine they both are in different gears or the gear ratios are a bit different.

Yes you are right the guy with the shorter arm requires more torque. I totally forgot about torque. Torque is the cross product of Force and distance so it's a bit more difficult to calculate if we chose to break down the individual vector components. But as I stated in the bottom of my first reply, regardless of the math (calculated quantity), the "feeling" of force, work, torque or anything else is relative to that individual's strength. Your strength determines how much force, work and torque you can do. So regardless of lengths and so forth, just focus on building up your strength!

[DJDIGGLER]

Re: Question I've always wondered???

Awesome response Supa! Definitely makes sense. I always figured since my arms go out farther on the decline, and up higher on the incline, that I would be doing more work, and experiencing a higher amount of resistance.

I just get annoyed because he lifts 260lbs as a max, and always talks shit. He thinks he's johnny hotshot or something! So I always tell him that he can lift more because he's shorter, but he always says it's bs. I figured he's a moron for not looking at the scientific aspect of the movement. But then again ignorance is such sweet bliss!

[BIGFOST]

Re: Question I've always wondered???

GAME MATCH ROUND SUPA

[ottorotvic]

Re: Question I've always wondered???

Use all the formulas you like (I can see you science guys are having fun ), but ask yourself if there is really a point? Guy A benches more than Guy B, who benches more than Guy C. While there are a plethora of possible reasons for this, in the end it's you working hard on getting your bench up. If you ascribe to these complicated formulas and hypothesis you only give yourself an excuse not to bench as much as your friend does.

I'm not judging, it's just something to keep in mind.

Determination+Consistency+Technique=Results

How's that for a formula?

[DJDIGGLER]

Re: Question I've always wondered???

Yeah but an unfair advantage is still an unfair advantage. That's like me saying if I'm racing someone in a 1/4 mile race but they get to start out 1000 feet in front of me that it's an even race. It's only even if its from the same starting point and going the same distance.

[BIGFOST]

Re: Question I've always wondered???

cant argue with science and facts

[ottorotvic]

Re: Question I've always wondered???

It's not an unfair advantage. People are built differently. If you are willing to work hard you can eclipse his bench in no time flat. If you resign yourself to the fact that he has an "unfair advantage" then you already have a losing mentality and resign yourself coming in second to him.

[DJDIGGLER]

Re: Question I've always wondered???

It's not an unfair advantage. People are built differently. If you are willing to work hard you can eclipse his bench in no time flat. If you resign yourself to the fact that he has an "unfair advantage" then you already have a losing mentality and resign yourself coming in second to him.

Good point!

[ottorotvic]

Re: Question I've always wondered???

Thanks, I try.

[kite]

Re: Question I've always wondered???

Supa makes a very good point but the problem is that this doesn't always apply. I read a report over at another forum about which exercises are best for each muscle group but if a powerlifter were to focus on those exercises his lifts would go to shit. Take Ryan Kennelley for example he's well over 6 feet tall with pretty damn long arms but is out benching (by far) 99.9% of guys with a thick torso and short arms which you'd think would be an advantage.

[a-bomb83]

Re: Question I've always wondered???

think of it like this...its all about range of motion and leverage.

lets compare deadlifting. you can deadlift conventional (roughly shoulder width stance) or you can deadlift sumo (legs spread very wide, almost/if not touching plates.) stand with a conv stance and let your arms hang down as if to execute the lift. notice that in order to reach the bar, you have to lean down more. now, with a sumo stance, your only inches from grabbing the bar. obviously, one will be able to lift more sumo due to the decreased range of motion. same principal applies to benching. maybe that was a weird explanation,lol, but basically its all about leverage.

[DJDIGGLER]

Re: Question I've always wondered???

Actually I understood it perfectly. That's what I was trying to spit out but there were to many marbles in my mouth I think. HAHA!

[T-Man007]

Re: Question I've always wondered???

How much of a difference does it make when you have longer arms when it comes to bench press?

For instance my arms are 32 " long from the inside of my armpit to my fingertip. I've got a really long reach.

If I'm lifting 200lbs and my buddy who is short and has 26" arms is lifting the same weight, what would he need to lift to have the same resistance.

Many people argue it's the same, but logic says if I have a long reach, I have a longer way to go till I get to the top. Plus on the negative part of the execution my arm go farther out when bringing it back to the chest. So I've always wondered how much of a difference there really is or if there is any type of formula to figure it out??

I personally think longer limbs make for less strength. Think about it this way...a guy who is 6'4" doing a parallel squat with 600 pounds and a guy who is 5'10" (like me) doing the same. I would have all the advantage because I have to travel a shorter distance and therefore will have to hold the weight for less time. I squated over 600 in HS a couple times and the only guy I remmeber tha was stronger than me was this dude who was 5'8" and he hit almost 700 once. Everyone taller than be was atlest 100 pounds lighter. It was the same with deadlifts too. Now, with bench (powerlifting style) it's all about technique. I've seen guys with long arms and short arms bench twice what I can. I have rather short arms but I've never pressed more than 315. Of course, that is a very slow controlled 315 and I wasn't using any kind of PW technique, just elbows out and lower to chest, pause and press. I even have some pretty damn strong delts and triceps but my bench is nothing to brag about. JMO

[ottorotvic]

Re: Question I've always wondered???

think of it like this...its all about range of motion and leverage.

lets compare deadlifting. you can deadlift conventional (roughly shoulder width stance) or you can deadlift sumo (legs spread very wide, almost/if not touching plates.) stand with a conv stance and let your arms hang down as if to execute the lift. notice that in order to reach the bar, you have to lean down more. now, with a sumo stance, your only inches from grabbing the bar. obviously, one will be able to lift more sumo due to the decreased range of motion. same principal applies to benching. maybe that was a weird explanation,lol, but basically its all about leverage.

Some people deadlift more sumo and others deadlift more conventional, despite the difference in leverage. From a mechanical standpoint, Sumo is considered superior, yet the vast majority of 900+ pulls have been done conventional. I have no idea how what you just said above has any relevance here.

What you should have said is that lng armed people generally have an advantage in ALL VARIATIONS of the deadlift, much the same way short people tend to have an advantage benching.

[ottorotvic]

Re: Question I've always wondered???

I mean to say, are you suggesting that EVERYONE is capable of lifting more by pulling sumo? That sure is what is sounds like, and that is flat out wrong.