Alright so I don't know if this is a problem or not but it is definitely aggravating.

The gym I have my membership at and that I lift daily at has a flat bench of course. My max so far there is 270lb.

I usually get 225lb for 4 reps or so.

Ok so here is my issue anytime I go to any other gym I can bench more.

Makes 3 different gyms now where i can bench more at.

Went to new gym today hit 225x6 on flat bench.

Make any sense to you guys? I hit a new max down there today ez. Got 280 and prolly coulda got 285


Only thing I can think of is the padding on the bench cause the one i always use has like no padding kinda wore out. And at these other gyms they have nice padding couple inches thick

varying barbell weight/thickness can be a factor

i find it much easier lifting with a thin bar

Yeah usually thin bars will give u more grip strength from my experience.

I have been doing some research since I posted this. I serious think it's the bench. I'm starting to think the bench at my gym is just a cheap one it has no name on it very little padding.

The one I used today was a dynabody competition bench and it just seemed easier on it.

I think the bars are the same but can't swear to it since I didn't measure or weigh them. Looked the same though

Try checking the bar, could easily be lifting with a 35lbs bar and not know it.

This is one of my favorite workout phenomenons. That’s what it is, the fitness world just doesn’t recognize it as that because it hasn’t been instilled by the elitists

Continue your thing man train on that crappy Bench and never look back, it’s making you a beast and you don’t even know it.

It’s a great experience to have, and if you focus enough you can recognize that the limits you set on yourself with your mind are subtle and seem logical, when you clearly are going and benching more than you ‘think’ you can

The human mind is one hell of a drug.

Yeah man it's a mind game for sure. Like I don't even consider 280 my pr. I still think 270 is my pr on bench since that's what I hit on the bench I always use.

Yes it is lol

have a tranny sit on your lap, easily increase bench 35+ lbs

Lol idk about this theory. Have you tried it ?

varying height of benches will fuck up your leg drive, some benches that are really low to the ground cause you trouble trying to bring your knees lower than your hips so you have a power leak.