BenchBlock: Board Bench Press for Powerlifting

OVERVIEW Eliminate bulky wooden boards and yoga blocks that always seem to drop. The BenchBlock is a modular board designed to attach securely to standard 29mm IPF-approved barbells. Featuring a concentric, nested design, this block lets you select your exact target range of motion (ROM)—from a subtle 1" board all the way up to a 4" board—by sliding and snapping independent height sections directly onto the bar. KEY FEATURES 4-in-1 Nested Modular Design: Seamlessly configure 1", 2", 3", or 4" depth offsets in separate stackable sections. Interlocking Groove Channels: The concentric sections slide together and snap firmly to eliminate unwanted movement or separation mid-set. IPF Barbell Compatible: Precision-designed around standard 29mm powerlifting bars for a snug, reliable fit. AMS Dual-Color Callouts: Embossed numbers (1", 2", 3", 4") make depth selection quick and easy, with ready-to-print multi-color profiles for Bambu AMS. PRINT SETTINGS Material: TPU 68D (Recommended for ideal rigidity and snap flex) or TPU 95A. Walls: 3 Outer Walls (For that nice solid touch) Infill: 10% Gyroid (Provides maximum structural resistance to heavy bar loads while preserving flexibility) AMS Setup: Recessed measurement markings are pre-painted in the provided .3mf file for automatic multi-color AMS printing. HOW TO USE Select Height: Choose the section corresponding to your target board height (1", 2", 3", or 4"). Snap onto Bar: Align the snap channel with your 29mm barbell and press firmly until it clicks into place. Stacking: Slide additional concentric rings over the core base to increase offset height as needed. Single-Color Alternative: If printing without an AMS, highlight the embossed height numbers using an acrylic paint marker. Why train the block press? For powerlifters, board presses are a foundational exercise popularized by Westside Barbell, where a training partner traditionally held wooden boards against the lifter's chest to set a target height. Originally developed to help equipped lifters master heavy lockout strength and adapt to rigid bench shirts, board presses can be valuable for raw powerlifters. Targeting Competition Sticking Points: By selecting specific board heights (e.g., 1", 2", 3", or 4" boards), raw and equipped lifters can isolate and overload exact sticking points along their press trajectory. Overloading Central Nervous System (CNS) & Lockout: Shortening the range of motion allows you to handle supra-maximal loads heavier than your full-ROM 1-Rep Max. This conditions your grip, tendons, and nervous system to high intensities while building massive triceps power for lockout. Training Around Shoulder/Pec Injuries (Raw): By stopping the bar before maximum chest depth, board presses reduce shoulder extension and pec stretch, letting injured raw lifters train heavy bench presses while recovering. Replicating Bench Shirt Dynamics (Equipped): For equipped lifters, boards replicate the groove and touching height of a stiff multi-ply or single-ply bench shirt without having to strain down to chest level on every heavy attempt.