Tall strength vs. Short strength

themamasan · 12-09-2005, 07:47 PM

Question:

In bench press would you rather be tall (6'4" or taller) and press around 300lbs, or would you rather be stronger ( bench press around 400 lbs ) and not be tall (5'5 - 5'10)?

I was wondering because a lot of my friends say they would want to be as tall as me, look leaner, and be fairly strong vs. being their height and have more strength. They also say it is more impressive when a tall guy presses a certain amount of weight, because of their arm length and the distance they have to travel for a complete movement.

**Dale Mabry** · 12-09-2005, 09:31 PM

It all depends. For me, I like the height I am, wouldn't mind being a couple inches taller, wouldn't want to be any shorter. If you want to be an athlete, taller is better. For PLing, shorter is better, typically.

To be honest, moving a weight doesn't impress me most of the time. There were some Offensive linemen in the gym last year that could bench 315 for 12-15 easy reps and that impressed me.

Myztek · 12-09-2005, 09:45 PM

I'd rather be my height, I guess. I'm around 5'6 - 5'7, Age 17.

lnvanry · 12-09-2005, 10:09 PM

I would prefer the height anyday...I'm 5'10-11 so I'm average...I don't care about the strength and appearance is more important to me.

largepkg · 12-09-2005, 11:13 PM

6'4'' and loving it!

myCATpowerlifts · 12-10-2005, 12:27 AM

I hate my height, 6'1"ish

I would rather be either 5'9" or 6'4"....

kicka19 · 12-10-2005, 12:37 AM

taller is better unless powerlifting

**Mudge** · 12-10-2005, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myCATpowerlifts

I hate my height, 6'1"ish

I would rather be either 5'9" or 6'4"....

Like you I'm in the middle, seems like a fine place to be to me. Any taller would honestly feel like a burden.

NEW_IN_THE_GAME · 12-10-2005, 12:59 AM

i am 6'5 and i wouldnt mind being a few inches shorter, cause like both of my friends have 26 inch quads and are 5'4, and 5'7, i have 29 inch quads yet they look smaller. but hey cant bitch bout it, i can change light bulbs easier lol

Seanp156 · 12-10-2005, 01:02 AM

I like my height fine... I wouldn't want to be any shorter than 5'8" or any taller than 6'

Steele20 · 12-10-2005, 05:55 AM

Love my height. 5'10. However, some girls only prefer to date giants

myCATpowerlifts · 12-10-2005, 12:15 PM

This is his brother by the way, and no it doesn't feel like a burden. I'm 6'3 right now ( 15 ) and you just feel like yourself. If you workout you know your body pretty well, and you don't feel awkward really, you just feel like yourself.

BigDyl · 12-10-2005, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NEW_IN_THE_GAME

i am 6'5 and i wouldnt mind being a few inches shorter, cause like both of my friends have 26 inch quads and are 5'4, and 5'7, i have 29 inch quads yet they look smaller. but hey cant bitch bout it, i can change light bulbs easier lol

Your stats look bs to me.

**CowPimp** · 12-10-2005, 12:40 PM

I'm about 6', although some people say a little taller. I like my height. I actually feel it is perfect. I'll get my way to a 400 pound bench press one day regardless of my height. I'm not going to let that stop me.

BigDyl · 12-10-2005, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowPimp

I'm about 6', although some people say a little taller. I like my height. I actually feel it is perfect. I'll get my way to a 400 pound bench press one day regardless of my height. I'm not going to let that stop me.

That's a hell of a goal. I'm with you on this one, unfortunately I'm like 6'6 so I doubt I'll ever get there.

**CowPimp** · 12-10-2005, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDyl

That's a hell of a goal. I'm with you on this one, unfortunately I'm like 6'6 so I doubt I'll ever get there.

Don't talk like that. That's nonsense. I'm going to get as strong as I possibly can, and you should too.

**Dale Mabry** · 12-10-2005, 01:38 PM

How come emo guys are always so tall?

kicka19 · 12-10-2005, 01:51 PM

i hate emo

themamasan · 12-10-2005, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDyl

That's a hell of a goal. I'm with you on this one, unfortunately I'm like 6'6 so I doubt I'll ever get there.

I feel the same way. I have never seen a guy, 6'5" or taller bench press
400lbs that is not on steroids. I am 6'6" and would love to push that much one day...but I want to be under 230lbs of body weight. It just seems that there are a lot of recreational lifters that are under 6' that can press 400lbs on bench fairly easily.

**CowPimp** · 12-10-2005, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

How come emo guys are always so tall?

They just look tall because they are lanky. They are so manic that they don't eat any damned food.

Sir Savage · 12-10-2005, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kicka19

taller is better unless powerlifting

This just depends.

Basketball, it's obviously better to be taller. Or if you're short, gotta' have a really good vertical.

Football, it's better to be shorter if you're a tailback. Quick, solid, low to the ground. Better to be taller if you're a lineman because you've to to plug holes in the line. Also, probably better for receivers because you're a taller target.

Baseball is pretty much neither here nor there.

Powerlifting, it's probably better to be shorter, yes. Same with bodybuilding since your mass shows up better.

Track is also neither here nor there, except for hurdles.

Wrestling, it's better to be shorter. Lower to the ground and your opponent has got less lank to grab a hold of.

Squaggleboggin · 12-10-2005, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir Savage

This just depends.

Basketball, it's obviously better to be taller. Or if you're short, gotta' have a really good vertical.

Football, it's better to be shorter if you're a tailback. Quick, solid, low to the ground. Better to be taller if you're a lineman because you've to to plug holes in the line. Also, probably better for receivers because you're a taller target.

Baseball is pretty much neither here nor there.

Powerlifting, it's probably better to be shorter, yes. Same with bodybuilding since your mass shows up better.

Track is also neither here nor there, except for hurdles.

Wrestling, it's better to be shorter. Lower to the ground and your opponent has got less lank to grab a hold of.

One could argue, however, that a taller bodybuilder can eventually pack on much more mass than a shorter one. This could additional mass could allow the bodybuilder's weak points to become 'hidden' and may allow the bodybuilder to have better symmetry relative to mass.

myCATpowerlifts · 12-10-2005, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudge

Like you I'm in the middle, seems like a fine place to be to me. Any taller would honestly feel like a burden.

A burden how so?
Clothes wise? Anything else?

BigDyl · 12-10-2005, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kicka19

i hate emo

It's ok I'll cry for you... after I kill you.

BigDyl · 12-10-2005, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowPimp

Don't talk like that. That's nonsense. I'm going to get as strong as I possibly can, and you should too.

Yeah, I can motivate myself with inspirational music and set dreamy goals. I have to be realistic though. The only way to reach these goals is with the aid of "research chemicals..."

**CowPimp** · 12-10-2005, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDyl

Yes, I can motivate myself with inspiration music and set dreamy goals. I have to be realistic though. The only way to reach these goals is with the aid of "research chemicals..."

Could be. You might as well try though. You have many years of lifting ahead of you.

ST240 · 12-12-2005, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steele20

Love my height. 5'10. However, some girls only prefer to date giants

Try being just under 5'8"

.

12-09-2005, 07:47 PM	#1
themamasan Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 456	Tall strength vs. Short strength Question: In bench press would you rather be tall (6'4" or taller) and press around 300lbs, or would you rather be stronger ( bench press around 400 lbs ) and not be tall (5'5 - 5'10)? I was wondering because a lot of my friends say they would want to be as tall as me, look leaner, and be fairly strong vs. being their height and have more strength. They also say it is more impressive when a tall guy presses a certain amount of weight, because of their arm length and the distance they have to travel for a complete movement.

12-09-2005, 09:31 PM	#2
Dale Mabry Moderator Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 13,881 Photos: 10	It all depends. For me, I like the height I am, wouldn't mind being a couple inches taller, wouldn't want to be any shorter. If you want to be an athlete, taller is better. For PLing, shorter is better, typically. To be honest, moving a weight doesn't impress me most of the time. There were some Offensive linemen in the gym last year that could bench 315 for 12-15 easy reps and that impressed me.
	If sense were common, everyone would have it. 4/2007-Current 75th Ranked most popular image 1 spot behind Prince's bulge...

12-10-2005, 12:59 AM	#9
NEW_IN_THE_GAME Pic is at 263-14% jan 06 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sioux Falls South Dakota Posts: 1,138	i am 6'5 and i wouldnt mind being a few inches shorter, cause like both of my friends have 26 inch quads and are 5'4, and 5'7, i have 29 inch quads yet they look smaller. but hey cant bitch bout it, i can change light bulbs easier lol
	These are my dreams, which I must make reality!

12-10-2005, 01:02 AM	#10
Seanp156 Myostatin Whore Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 6,274 Photos: 11	I like my height fine... I wouldn't want to be any shorter than 5'8" or any taller than 6'
	My Journal

12-10-2005, 12:40 PM	#14
CowPimp Fueled by Testosterone Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 15,428	I'm about 6', although some people say a little taller. I like my height. I actually feel it is perfect. I'll get my way to a 400 pound bench press one day regardless of my height. I'm not going to let that stop me.
	The only time it's bad to feel the burn is when you're peeing... CowPimp Picks Up Heavy Shit MySpace YouTube Videos

12-09-2005, 09:45 PM	#3
Myztek Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Mississippi Posts: 143	I'd rather be my height, I guess. I'm around 5'6 - 5'7, Age 17.

12-09-2005, 10:09 PM	#4
lnvanry primeau Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Phoenix Posts: 3,105 Photos: 12	I would prefer the height anyday...I'm 5'10-11 so I'm average...I don't care about the strength and appearance is more important to me.

12-09-2005, 11:13 PM	#5
largepkg Senior Fucknut Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: S FLA Posts: 3,140 Photos: 2	6'4'' and loving it!

12-10-2005, 12:27 AM	#6
myCATpowerlifts Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The lone star state Posts: 6,261 Photos: 2	I hate my height, 6'1"ish I would rather be either 5'9" or 6'4"....

12-10-2005, 05:55 AM	#11
Steele20 Intensity! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 711	Love my height. 5'10. However, some girls only prefer to date giants

12-10-2005, 12:15 PM	#12
myCATpowerlifts Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The lone star state Posts: 6,261 Photos: 2	This is his brother by the way, and no it doesn't feel like a burden. I'm 6'3 right now ( 15 ) and you just feel like yourself. If you workout you know your body pretty well, and you don't feel awkward really, you just feel like yourself.

12-10-2005, 01:38 PM	#17
Dale Mabry Moderator Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 13,881 Photos: 10	How come emo guys are always so tall?
	If sense were common, everyone would have it. 4/2007-Current 75th Ranked most popular image 1 spot behind Prince's bulge...