Row greater than bench?

[jijin]

Recently I am finding that I am starting to get much stronger on pulling movements (i.e. rows and chinups) than I am at pushing movements (i.e. bench and military presses). I find that not only can I push out more reps, I'm also able to pull a slightly more weight than I can push in the same plane.

Is it just me? I figure this should be natural as the back muscles are a heck load bigger than the ones on the front.

Anything wrong with my reasoning?

[Cynic]

I had this same question about six months ago. It comes down to this:

The muscle used don't make for a good comparison of weight ratio between bench press and row. If you need it quantified, I'd say as long as they're is no more than a 1.5 margin, I'd say it's good, however, I'm speculating. It's better to hear something from one of the many qualified CSCSs here.

[Jimbo]

JiJin - I think that's a good thing. I mean it seems like most folks tend to be the other way around and have to work hard at increasing their pulling strength. Sounds like you've acomplished something good. (just my opinion)

[jruck37]

In my non-professional opinion, I think that most people are stronger at bench because they were focused on bench from the time they started lifting. For most newbies and novices, bench and curls are the 2 most important lifts you can do. So, that's what they work on... especially if they don't have any training or education regarding weightlifting.

If you work hard on both rows and bench, from the very first time that you train, I don't think it would be very uncommon to be stronger on rows. But as Cynic alluded to, the two movements are not exact opposites.

[Frank.S]

I wish I could bench what I can row..

One thing also to consider, its easy to cheat on a row by using body english, but on a bench this is much harder to do.

[Mahler]

Definitely row better than I bench.

[RobLL]

Originally Posted by Mahler

Definitely row better than I bench.

DITTO

[Funk]

Are you doing rows on machines or are you doing free-standing bent-over rows?

[jijin]

free standing
don't use machines outside cable seated rows and lat pulldown (when the rep range is more than my pullups can handle)

[dos]

Really? you guys can unsupported row more than you bench press?
While it's pretty common to be able to vertical pull more than you can vertical push, I would think that most can horizonatally push more than they can horizontally pull (at least when the pull is unsupported...).