Most of the studies we ve looked at show similar rates of muscle growth with both low and high reps.
Bench press high weight low reps.
How light is too light.
Afterward you can move into hypertrophy to finally develop bigger stronger muscles.
High reps and low weight is reserved for resistance training for example what a boxer might want to do to last 12 rounds.
Unlike the deadlift the bench press starts with eccentric lowering.
3 x 3 dumbbell curls.
3 x 3 straight bar push downs.
I ve used this approach and managed to increase from 225 for 20 reps to 250 for 24 reps in 2 months.
On the intense end of the spectrum powerlifters and many competitive bodybuilders pair very low reps 1 to 5 with extremely heavy weights 90 95 of their one rep max.
Compound barbell lifts squats bench press and deadlift are your best allies here.
3 x 3 lying dumbbell extension.
A sample bench program using ultra high reps this would be a great one for someone who struggles a bit with stability and lockout when benching for low to moderate reps.
To be clear you can also can train this movement low in that 2 6 rep range but it s also perfect to strap in and go for a ride.
Low reps with heavier weight the traditional method for building muscle mass for both men and women alike is to lift heavier weights and increase the amount of weight over time.
3 x 3 ez bar curl.
What i am saying is that if you re grinding away at low rep sets and it s not working increasing reps per set and your overall volume of bench press work is well worth a try.
But even with that advantage it can be equally as challenging to do right.
Strength is represented by the 1 repetition maximum 1rm which is the maximum weight that can be lifted for one rep and endurance is the ability to exert a lower force repeatedly over time.
3 x 3 close grip bench press.
Eight weeks of training with high reps and light weights 30 40 reps per set builds just as much muscle as low reps 8 12 reps per set and heavy weights 10.
The average weight most adult men and women can bench press depends on age fitness level and other factors.
Younger men are typically able to bench press more than older men and men in general.