15 Years ago my raw bench in competition was 520 lbs in the 220 lb class (214-215)
I was a decent size lad @ 5ft 7-8in tall.
Well ,one day i asked a top Pro @ the time @ the Arnold Classic expo how strong would i have to be to be nearly the size of him? He was my height but was 290 + off season and 260s in contest.He said you are more than strong enough,he said his best bench @ 300 pounds was 440 lbs! I was shrugging my shoulders?
I knew i wouldn't look like him no matter what i used in the gym,weights,gear etc but come onnnnnnn surely a guy who does 520 raw and 615 with a single ply shirt could be almost as big????
Now,i got the picture,yes you have to lift bigger to get bigger,but to a certain point.
Even with a bench that i had my chest was a weak point??????????
Bodybuilding is about training the muscle not how many 45's that you put on the bar.
Diet,pumps and super setting ,going to muscle failure with a certain weight using 8-12 reps was the key.
How many powerlifters that weigh 165 benching 400 plus pounds are huge?
2 different things that can't be compared. I have seen a few guys squat 1000 lbs and have small quads ,especially compared to some of the bodybuilders!
I seen a you tube video with word record bench presser Scott Mendenson and Rich Piana doing a chest workout.
Rich done 135 for 40 Scott hardlygot it,then Rich done 225 for 30 ,again Mendy made it but almost didn't.
315 was on the bar,Rich got it for 11 reps!! Mendy blasted it for 20!
Now here is where you can tell,Rich benched 405 for 5-6 Mendy done it for 20!
Mendy is a huge man but Rich blew him away as far as the muscular size!
I think the old stronger means bigger is meant for a bodybuilder to be able to make themselves stronger to a certain point,or to build up their base.
Say a intermediate bodybuilder who weighs 190's should be able to crank out at least 315 for a few reps.Then after a while he should be more concerned with other things such as getting that 315 for 8 etc ,doing inclines before flat bar bench.Maybe concentrating building the chest using dumbbells and hammer strength .....
Nothing wrong with adding weight but their gets to be a point where you have to add other factors in with it,
Now my chest is a better body part,even though 500 pounds would crush my ass even though i weigh\ 40+ pounds more and at times have less bodyfat.