ok so im still a nib and you know poeople have their powerlevels (i like to call them power levels like in dbz)

so lets say u can bench 200 squat 300 and dead 400

your powerlevel is 900

ok srs though what do you call this?

anyway

what counts?

i see ppl at the gym using cushion thingy for squats behind their neck shoulder area, straps for deadlifts, mixed grip, chalk, etc...

can you use chalk? mixed grip? for it to "count" towards your "powerlevel"?

thanks fam

for the record my 1rm powerlevel is 795 so im learning still. dont hurt me pls

it doesn't matter until you break 9000 obv.

there aren't many scenarios where you need to differentiate between "what counts" towards your max lift. i can see it being important if you're in a competition (eg: olympics/powerlifting/etc), but i dont see why it should matter to you. what matters is that your numbers are going up compared to your previous numbers. if it's just for bragging rights, add 100 to your real numbers. when someone calls you on it, just be defensive "oh i was including chalk/gloves/compression t shirt / 1/3 ROM / midgets on each side holding the barbell / etc"

This post was edited by carteblanche on Jun 4 2015 05:48pm

a big milestone is if your big 3 (squat dead bench) add up to 1000lbs (1000#club i am not a member)

or better yet, brag really high numbers then walk to the smith machine

It's usually the total of the squat bench and deadlift done ''raw'' but for powerlifters it only counts if it's done on a powerlifting platform with judge and strict rules.

if you're competing you can only use chalk, straps are a tool that can be used when your grip is starting to give but you can pump out more reps, that being said don't use them all the time or you'll never be able to hold a max
use double overhand grip until you can't anymore then start using chalk, when that doesn't work anymore start using an over/under grip. you should never really need straps unless you have really weak ass grip strength