EZ Bar Close Grip Bench Press vs Push Press Strength Standards

EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press vs Push Press Strength Standards

These bodyweight tables place the ez-bar close-grip bench press and push press targets side by side from Novice through Elite. Use them to compare standards, not to force a particular ratio between the lifts.

Find the closest row in the men’s or women’s table. Every target lists EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press / Push Press, pounds first and kilograms second. Enter your own sets above for exact ratings without testing a true one-rep max.

Men’s EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press vs Push Press Standards

How to read the table: Find the closest bodyweight, then use the labeled exercise row. Every strength-level entry shows one target with pounds first and kilograms beneath it.

Women’s EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press vs Push Press Standards

How to read the table: Find the closest bodyweight, then use the labeled exercise row. Every strength-level entry shows one target with pounds first and kilograms beneath it.

How Your EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press vs Push Press Result Is Calculated

Each set is converted to an estimated max before the calculator assigns exercise-specific strength levels and compares them.

1. Estimate a one-rep max from each set

The entered weight is used directly for one rep. With 2–12 reps, both estimates are compared and the lower value is used.

• Epley: weight × (1 + reps ÷ 30)
• Brzycki: weight × 36 ÷ (37 − reps)

Use recent EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press and Push Press sets with consistent technique and full intended range of motion. Difficult lower-rep sets generally make the estimated max less dependent on extrapolation.

2. Find the ez-bar close-grip bench press strength level

For ez-bar close-grip bench press, the individual exercise thresholds start from reference bodyweights of 190 lb for men and 150 lb for women. Exact-bodyweight targets use reference target × (user bodyweight ÷ reference bodyweight) to the two-thirds power.

Two-thirds scaling raises the target as bodyweight rises while limiting the size advantage that a direct one-to-one adjustment would create.

3. Find the push press strength level

The standards use the sex-specific thresholds from the individual Push Press tool. Targets begin at 190 lb for men and 150 lb for women, then adjust to exact bodyweight with reference target × (user bodyweight ÷ reference bodyweight) to the two-thirds power.

The target rises more slowly than bodyweight so larger lifters are expected to lift more without requiring strength to increase pound for pound.

4. Compare the two results

The lift with the lower Beginner-to-Elite rating is the priority. If both ratings match, the calculator requires a 10-point difference in next-level progress before naming a priority; otherwise it reports Balanced.

The result identifies the lower standards rating, not its cause. Technique, fatigue, training history, and set quality can all affect the comparison. Age range is recorded anonymously but does not change these standards.

Enter both sets above to see the estimated maxes, assigned levels, next-level targets, and comparison result.

How Men’s EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press and Push Press Standards Differ

How to read this chart: Choose a strength level and follow its line across bodyweight. Values show the Push Press standard minus the EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press standard: zero means equal, above zero means the Push Press standard is higher, and below zero means the EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press standard is higher. Swipe horizontally on mobile. Use the standards table for exact lb/kg targets.

How Women’s EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press and Push Press Standards Differ

How to read this chart: Choose a strength level and follow its line across bodyweight. Values show the Push Press standard minus the EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press standard: zero means equal, above zero means the Push Press standard is higher, and below zero means the EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press standard is higher. Swipe horizontally on mobile. Use the standards table for exact lb/kg targets.

EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press and Push Press Exercises Used by This Calculator

Valid results depend on using the specified ez-bar close-grip bench press and push press technique and load convention. Use strict, repeatable EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press and Push Press tests that follow each exercise’s setup, range of motion, equipment, and load rules. Do not mix variations, assistance, partial range, momentum, or different load conventions.

Use the EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press setup and load convention

Use the recorded brand-neutral Olympic EZ-bar envelope (1.15–1.25 m, 27–29 mm grips, rotating 50 mm sleeves); record actual mass/dimensions/grip and score bar/plates/collars. On a flat 0.0° bench use mirrored inner segments at 28–32 cm hand-center spacing and 25–35° from full supination. Head, shoulders, and buttocks remain planted; feet flat. Legal leg drive is allowed without contact loss. Unrack to full extension; lower to lower sternum; hold motionless one full second without bounce or sink; press to simultaneous full elbow lockout. Same setup for 1–10 reps. Spotter may hand off/protect only. Belt, wrist wraps, chalk, and shoes allowed. Elbow sleeves, supportive shirt, blocks/boards, assistance, and bar/plate floor contact prohibited.

Use the exercise-specific Push Press setup and load convention

Barbell starts in the front rack position at the shoulders. A controlled dip is performed using the legs and hips before driving the bar upward. Leg drive initiates the bar path and the arms finish the lockout overhead. Each rep counts only when the bar is fully locked out overhead with elbows fully extended. The bar must remain under control throughout the full range of motion. Dip depth and technique must stay consistent across tests. Raw lifting only. Allowed equipment: barbell, rack, belt (optional), wrist wraps (optional), lifting shoes (optional). Excluded variations: strict overhead press (no leg drive), push jerk, split jerk, partial lockout reps, Smith machine pressing, and machine shoulder press variations. Estimated 1RM is calculated from the entered load and reps.

Enter one recent EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press result and one recent Push Press result

First lift: weight used and 1–12 strict reps. Second lift: total barbell load and 1–12 strict reps. Pounds or kilograms.

Related Tools

• EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press — View the individual EZ-Bar Close-Grip Bench Press standards and next strength-level target.
• Barbell Push Press — View the individual Push Press standards and next strength-level target.
• Barbell Close-Grip Bench Press — Use this related standards tool to examine a closely related exercise without mixing its result into this comparison.
• Barbell Incline Bench Press — Use this related standards tool to examine a closely related exercise without mixing its result into this comparison.
• Wide Grip Bench Press — Use this related standards tool to examine a closely related exercise without mixing its result into this comparison.
• Paused Barbell Bench Press — Use this related standards tool to examine a closely related exercise without mixing its result into this comparison.