Advanced Muscle Mechanics

The bench press hasn’t truly changed in over 100 years… until now.
From George Hackenschmidt’s 1898 “Supine Press” to today’s cutting-edge Launch Pad™, this is the complete story of bench press history — the milestones, the biomechanics, and the breakthroughs that finally moved it forward.

📜 Evolutionary Timeline: Major Milestones in Bench Press History.

- 1898–1905: Hackenschmidt’s “Supine Press” — Floor-based pressing restricted scapular motion but created the foundational pattern (Todd, 1995).

- 1900s–1910s: Floor Press Variations — Platforms emerged to extend range of motion.

- 1920s–1930s: Simple Benches — Wood/metal benches, often without uprights (Todd, 1995).

- 1930s–1950s: Standardization — Integrated uprights; bench press surpasses standing presses (Barnett et al., 1995).

- 1950s–1960s: Competitive Adoption — Powerlifting cements the bench as a core lift (Duffey & Challis, 2007).

- 1970s–2000s: Incremental Tweaks — Wider pads, incline/decline, better cushioning (Freedman, 2016; Reinold et al., 2004).

- Early 21st Century: Biomechanics First — Focus shifts to scapular freedom & spinal alignment (Park et al., 2019; Yildiz et al., 2020).

- Present Day: The Launch Pad™ — A first-principles redesign integrating ergonomics, biomechanics, and neuromuscular optimization.

Learn how bench press design has evolved (or failed to evolve) for over a century.

Understand the biomechanical limitations of traditional benches

See how The Launch Pad™ solves problems lifters didn’t even know they had!

It’s not just a pad—it’s a performance system.

For nearly 100 years, we’ve been lifting on the same outdated surface: wood planks, cheap foam, and vinyl slapped onto a frame. From your typical machine press to Olympic benches, they all compromise your body’s natural alignment in favor of ‘one-size-fits-none’ support.

The Launch Pad™ changed that.

We engineered the first ergonomically optimized, biomechanically correct universal support system—built to improve joint alignment, posture, and muscle engagement across every lift: chest, back, shoulders, arms, legs, even abs.

Better positioning isn’t a luxury—it’s the foundation of performance. Setup matters. Stabilization matters. And position precedes performance.

While others tape foam rollers to pec decks, rig makeshift pads onto benches, or claim they’ve “been doing it since ‘09,” we actually built the system—validated by research, protected by U.S. Patent No. 12,115,411, and used by elite strength coaches, pro athletes, and U.S. Special Operations.

We weren’t the first to slap foam on a bench—we were the first to design one that puts the human body first.

The Launch Pad™—Your Body. In Its Prime Position. Every Time.