weight lifting question...

[Oberleutnant]

Dhalism: Short answer: Much of the THEORIES you described are known to be false in neurophysiology. I'll try to make a more detailed commentary later, if I feel like it

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"I'll send you home with that "just pumped the neighboor's cat" look on your face" -Clint Eastwood, Heartbreak Ridge

[Bau13]

Ok.....I see your points guys...
I was just asking about proper form cos when I bench and lower the bar to just a few inches above my chest I can do more reps than if i lowered the bar all the way down.
I can still lift the weight so...

Just trying to get a stronger upper body...
I can leg press (full range of motion) 540 pounds quite easily(8 reps 3 sets) but I max out on bench at about 200...
Is this disproportionate strength?

Yup benching is pretty much a vanity thing but I'm vain so..

[Biker]

No, there is nothing disproportionate about that. That is because doing a leg press you do not have to balance the weight, your legs are just bending and straightening. All the muscles that you would use for balance doing squats are being used in the leg press. Unless you are some freak of nature, more than likely you will not be able to squat the same maximum weight that you can leg press. If you go to a bench press machine you may be able to go as high as 350 lbs, for the same reason. The stabilizng muscles can now be used for the exercise rather than balance and stabilizing your body.

As far as limiting your range of motion, that is just another way to get through a sticking point, which is why it should only be done for a short period of time. Every time you go workout you should not be trying to do maximum lifts. Doing that will actually hinder your progress. Look at it this way, power lifters do not max-out during their training. They only max-out at competitions, it is their training that builds up to doing the maximum. Then they start all over using just slightly more weight than the previous pre-competition cycle.

[NGU]

If I were you I would go with Ober's advice. You might want to work negatives - you might want to pyramid up and down (each time you go up you pick up another 5 lb) - but keep the form!