Im leaning towards platz he used more range of motion stronger in the high reps range
Could we extend this and pose the question, who has more functional strength in general, powerlifters or bodybuilders?
I would have to say Tom, for the reasons mentioned above. Does functional strength have some relationship with stamina? For example, I know a strongman competitor who deadlifted and squatted 700 pounds, but not easily move around - his mobility in general was poor. In fact, for one provincial strongman contest, for [I believe] a harness truck pull [rope in hand for balance], he simply stopped on the spot seconds before the event clock ran out. Meanwhile, all he had to do was just fall forward, and his head would have crossed the finish line, and he would have completed the event.
He used that as evidence that he was not cut out for strongman, and I felt badly for him. I think he underestimated how valuable his raw power would be in strongman contests. I don't care how bad your cardio is - a 700 deadlift and 700 squat is going to be a huge plus in almost any strongman contest.
Back to the point - is it more "functional strength" to bench press 315x12 or 405x1? Or is functional strength a matter of being able to move furniture and do day to day things? I think we assume based on appearance, that bodybuilders have more functional strength - but as a fan of strongman and bit of a competitor in the sport myself, I would like to think that maximal power is functional.
