Doesn't make sense . . .

[DAPSJH]

I have wondered something for quite some time and wanted to know if someone might have an answer. I am 5'6 185lbs and only bench about 200. I have a friend who is about 5'7 200lbs and benches about 285. If we both do pushups I can do wide grip and clap, while he can only do about 15 regular pushups. Why with only 15 pounds difference can he bench 85 pounds more than me but can't push his 15 pounds to do pushups? Just aggrivating to me because people always ask what you bench, not how many pushups you can do, or how many pull ups you can do.

[gcs118]

If you want to look at it in very general terms, benching = strength and push ups = endurance. It's like in running, sprinting versus distance. You're still running, it's the distance and speed (in this case weight and reps) that differ.

[thalakos84]

First of all, I'd say that you can't let numbers bother you. So what if your friend benches more. To answer your main question, it's a matter of endurance. Obviously, since you can do more pushups, you have better muscular endurance.