For my money, this is the most impressive bench ever:
Posting this is like posting that played-out video of Prince playing a solo in “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” in best-guitarist threads.
The go-to for folks who don’t know much of anything about the subject.
There are dozens of examples of presses throughout the years EVERY BIT as impressive, and many more so, as that one, as impressive as it no doubt is.
No offence.
And I’ll say it once more: A natural arch through the length of spine, with pinched shoulder blades, is the optimal biomechanical “shape” for both peak performance and shoulder safety. The shoulders BEHIND the chest, thereby channeling the downward force into a point through the centre of the upper torso and not to dual points directly onto the relatively vulnerable shoulder mechanics.
Done properly, shoulder issues through bench pressing will RARELY occur.
Now, as with anything, humans take something good and exaggerate it to the point of ludicrousness. Arches are no different.
A flat back on the bench, with the shoulders lined up with the chest, and the elbows out, is a first-class ticket to shoulder issues/injury.
As far as these presses as like the one with Mendy, it’s obviously ridiculous. However, unlike most gear-only lifters, the man did hold the raw record for almost a decade with 715. Before Spotto, Sarychev and Maddox came along.
