Bench-pressing doesn’t ultimately matter in bodybuilding, which is all about muscle, not metal. Still, even Flex Lewis spends a lot more time in gyms than on stages. And because the bench press has been ordained the best arbiter of upper-body strength, most of us want to truthfully answer that clichéd query with a big number. Thankfully help has arrived if you’re in need of touting a more impressive max. Here’s how to boost your bench.