Recently I been focusing on my bench form a lot and I been having very sore lats the day after I bench, my question is basically is this a good or bad sign?
Also is a long term goal (as in one day I hope to achieve) of 400 bench possible for a raw lifter who wants to stay under 185? Weight right now is 157-160.

Probably a very good sign if you are getting sore lats. I always feel a pump in my lats after I hit up a dynamic effort or max effort bench as I try and bring my lats into the lift to stabilize on the way down and flex hard at the bottom to give a nice platform to press off of.

400 bench at 181 class is doable.

Originally Posted by goldenroll

Recently I been focusing on my bench form a lot and I been having very sore lats the day after I bench, my question is basically is this a good or bad sign?
Also is a long term goal (as in one day I hope to achieve) of 400 bench possible for a raw lifter who wants to stay under 185? Weight right now is 157-160.

Yes that is doable and yes that is good, means you are using your lats. And as the above poster said a 400 bench at 181 is definately possible. Remember in a meet you need to pause it or make it motion less on the chest. I am probably good for about 25 lbs more touch and go then i am for a comp bench.

i lived in florida for a short time and i use to go to the gym with a kid named stephan judah little did i know he was the strongest raw bencher at 181 at the time. He put up 500 raw at 181, i dont know if he did it at an actual sanctioned meet yet but ive seen him do it in the gym.

Give some perspective and stats :

The current 181 American unequipped bench record is Rick Weil in a 1986 APF meet hitting 556lbs.

Current 181 ranking has Will Lynch in first place hitting 451lbs in a RAW meet. The 50th place is Shawn Katz with 347lbs in an AAU meet.

In 2009 the top 181 class bencher was Jamie McDougal with 440lbs in an SPF meet.

In 2008 it was Will Lynch with 451lbs in a RAW meet. 2007 was Stephen Judah with 462lbs in a USAPL meet.

That is ****ing insane!

Originally Posted by jason2459

Give some perspective and stats :

The current 181 American unequipped bench record is Rick Weil in a 1986 APF meet hitting 556lbs.

Current 181 ranking has Will Lynch in first place hitting 451lbs in a RAW meet. The 50th place is Shawn Katz with 347lbs in an AAU meet.

In 2009 the top 181 class bencher was Jamie McDougal with 440lbs in an SPF meet.

In 2008 it was Will Lynch with 451lbs in a RAW meet. 2007 was Stephen Judah with 462lbs in a USAPL meet.

Wow!
That is sick!!
Guess I need to train harder. lol.

JP.