Exodus Strength

Basic changes:
1) No feet on bench during setup.
2) Elbows must be level with or lower than shoulder joints at the bottom of the lift.

These rule changes don't seem crazy to me. It will be interesting to see if they are adopted by other federations. I've never had a big problem with the enormous arch, "cheater" bench, because it was within the rules. But these changes will definitely affect those with such a bench, causing a bit of a shake up. My one gripe is the first rule change doesn't really seem necessary given the second.

The feet on the bench thing always seemed like unnecessary histrionics to me. If you shove your back into an arch and then walk your feet from the bench to the floor, couldn't you have just walked into the same arch from the floor?

It's like the deadlift folks that take a huge breath and hold hit while setting their grip on the bar and keeping their legs and back static, but then do several little frog squats with additional breaths before taking their final big breath and resetting their back angle.

I'm curious about the judging for "elbows below shoulders" (or however they've worded it). I'm guessing the bottom of the elbow level with the back of the shoulder against the bench?

Both changes sound good to me.

See pages 19-20 for images of good and bad lifts.

https://www.powerlifting.sport/fileadmi ... 23__1_.pdf

@broseph I agree that feet on the bench is not needed unless you are setting up a huge arch. My only point is that it is harmless given the second rule. I can't physically arch but I put my feet on the bench during setup. Just routine/habit, but not necessary.

It's about time they did this. Some of those 2" ROM world record benches were ridiculous and now will probably never be broken.

First rule change seems like a sanitary and/or wear & tear issue as well.

@JohnHelton, based on that image, I’m expecting the same notion of “IPF depth for squats” now getting applied to bench.

Gonna be some poop thrown about.

Skid wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 9:30 am It's about time they did this. Some of those 2" ROM world record benches were ridiculous and now will probably never be broken.

I don't think this affects that many people, but it will definitely be nice to disallow the 2" bench.

USAPL needs to follow this rule change.

JohnHelton wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 11:43 am

Skid wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 9:30 am It's about time they did this. Some of those 2" ROM world record benches were ridiculous and now will probably never be broken.

I don't think this affects that many people, but it will definitely be nice to disallow the 2" bench.

In my Sons latest meet there was a fellow that had a 2-3 inch range of motion bench. Remarkable flexibility but not a display of strength.

Skid wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 9:01 pm

JohnHelton wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 11:43 am

Skid wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 9:30 am It's about time they did this. Some of those 2" ROM world record benches were ridiculous and now will probably never be broken.

I don't think this affects that many people, but it will definitely be nice to disallow the 2" bench.

In my Sons latest meet there was a fellow that had a 2-3 inch range of motion bench. Remarkable flexibility but not a display of strength.

Right. Powerlifting should be a test of strength not of flexibility. I hope that other feds adopt this run. It will really hit some of the women. My daughter's bench is getting pretty respectable with a full ROM. If the USAPL were to adopt the change, this would help her.