bench press, validity, center of gravity, velocity, resistance exercise, load power relationship

The purpose of this study is to compare velocity of the barbell with criterion - velocity of center of gravity during explosive bench press lift with different loads. Fifteen highly trained soccer players participated on this study. Tree-dimensional upper extremities kinematic data during bench press were collected with a seven camera motion capture system. One way ANOVA was used to determine whether significant differences in vertical velocity existed between the methodologies. Peak barbell velocity was significantly higher with 10, 30 and 50% and mean barbell velocity was significantly higher with 10 and 30% of one repetition maximum loads. This study displayed haw the kinematic methods based on barbell velocity measurement overestimate velocity of center of mass. This findings evokes needs to verify effect of overestimating velocity on the load-power and load velocity relationship and consequently optimal load to achieve maximal power output during bench press exercise.