The Launch Pad

Trusted by D1 programs · Tactical units · Elite coaches

Press heavier.
Protect your shoulders.

The Launch Pad® turns any flat or adjustable bench into a biomechanically smarter pressing surface, so you build more strength and power while taking load off your shoulders, elbows, and spine. Installs in under 60 seconds. No tools, no modifications.

  • Build More Strength, Power & Speed.
  • Train Harder with Healthier Shoulders.
  • Maximize Muscle Activation.
  • Backed by 3 Peer-Reviewed University Studies.
Watch Seth add 71 lb to his bench
★★★★★ 67 reviews
$516.00

or 4 interest-free payments of $89.50

  • 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
  • Includes a Tactical Carry BackPack, Fits Virtually Any Bench
  • U.S. Patent 12,115,411 · Built to Outlast the Bench It Sits On.
For the performance athlete

It outperforms the flat bench on every measurable performance metric.

Proven in 3 independent, peer-reviewed university studies.

greater strength gains, athletes added +42.7 lb to their 1-RM vs +20.1 lb on the flat bench.
8-week NCAA football study
+75%
muscular endurance, reps at 225 lb rose to 21 vs 18 on the flat bench.
8-week NCAA football study
+35%
explosive power, medicine-ball throw distance jumped to 20.0 ft vs 18.0 ft.
8-week NCAA football study
+16.1 lb
extra 1-RM improvement, roughly 66% greater strength gains over the flat bench.
4-week eccentric-overload study
↑ EMG
higher neuromuscular activation, significant increases in bilateral pec major activity.
2026 acute sEMG & kinetics study
↑ ROM
greater velocity & range of motion, mean and peak barbell velocity and pressing ROM both rose.
2026 acute sEMG & kinetics study
For the lifter playing the long game

The strongest bench is the one your shoulders can still do at 50.

A flat bench pins your shoulder blades against a hard, flat surface, forcing your shoulders to press from a cramped position they were never designed to work from. Over years of heavy training, that extra stress adds up, leading to cranky shoulders, sore elbows, unnecessary wear and tear, and eventually a bench press that stops improving.

The Launch Pad changes the interface between your body and the bench. Its patented contoured side panels create space for your shoulder blades to move the way they’re designed to, while the height-adjustable lumbar support guides your spine into a neutral, stable position. The result is a stronger, more repeatable setup that directs force into the bar, not your joints.

  • Frees Natural Shoulder Motion

    Contoured side panels allow the shoulder blades to move through their natural range of motion instead of being pinned against a flat bench.

  • Reduces Unnecessary Joint Stress

    Improved alignment helps reduce loading on the shoulders, elbows, and spine during heavy pressing.

  • Creates a Neutral, Stable Foundation

    The height-adjustable lumbar support promotes consistent spinal positioning for greater stability under load.

  • Builds a Stronger, Repeatable Press

    The design naturally guides you into a safer, more efficient pressing position, so every rep starts from the same powerful setup.

For the skeptic, here’s the mechanism

Patented Ergonomic Design · U.S. Patent 12,115,411

Engineered Around Your Body, Not a 100-Year-Old Bench Design.

The Launch Pad isn’t a cushion or a pad you lie on. It’s a patented redesign of how your body interfaces with the bench. Every feature was engineered to solve a specific biomechanical limitation of the traditional flat bench, and each contributes to measurable improvements in performance, positioning, and shoulder mechanics.

01, Shoulder Freedom

Chamfered, Filleted Side Panels

Contoured side panels create space for your shoulders and upper arms to move naturally instead of being pinned against a flat surface. By reducing interference between your body and the bench, the Launch Pad allows a more natural pressing path and greater usable range of motion.

Result

  • Frees natural shoulder movement
  • Increases usable range of motion
  • Reduces unnecessary stress on the shoulders and elbows
02, Neutral Spinal Position

Height-Adjustable Lumbar Support

An integrated, height-adjustable lumbar support conforms to your lower back and provides immediate tactile feedback, helping you find and maintain a neutral, stable spinal position. Every rep begins from the same mechanically efficient setup.

Result

  • Promotes better spinal alignment
  • Creates a stronger, more stable pressing platform
  • Improves consistency from rep to rep and set to set
03, Maximum Force Transfer

High-Traction Performance Surface

An integrated high-traction surface keeps you securely planted throughout every set. Instead of losing position under heavy loads, your setup remains locked in so more of your effort is transferred directly into the bar.

Result

  • Eliminates setup drift under load
  • Improves stability throughout the press
  • Transfers more force into the barbell

Every Feature Works Together.

Most bench accessories attempt to solve one problem. The Launch Pad was engineered as a complete biomechanical system. Shoulder clearance, spinal positioning, and body stability work together to improve the way you press, creating a stronger, more repeatable movement pattern.

Setup

Dial in perfect positioning in under 60 seconds.

01

Position the pad

Step 1: Position the pad

Align it with the top of the bench. For barbell pressing, let it extend slightly past the top; keep it flush for all other upper-body work.

02

Lock it in

Step 2: Lock it in

Thread the straps through the torso slots and under the frame. Open the cam lever, pull out all slack, release to lock, then give two firm tugs.

03

Find your position

Step 3: Find your position

Sit in front of the lumbar support with your hips at its edge, then lie back so it settles into the curve of your lower back.

04

Press with precision

Step 4: Press with precision

Move through a full range with proper mechanics, maximizing muscle engagement while minimizing stress on the shoulders and joints.

The Launch Pad vs. a standard bench.

A flat bench is cheaper and more familiar, we won’t pretend otherwise. Here’s the honest trade-off.

The flat bench wins on price and familiarity. The Launch Pad wins on the things that decide long-term progress: positioning, range of motion, and joint health.
  The Launch Pad® Standard bench
Upfront cost Added cost Cheaper you already own one
Familiarity Beginner-friendly, easy to master Universal everyone knows it
Shoulder & joint health Clinically supported frees the shoulder, reduces stress Pins the shoulder against a flat surface
Range of motion Greater deeper stretch & loading Limited by the flat surface
Body positioning Guided neutral spine, stable setup Self-managed every rep
Exercise variations 100+ presses, rows, accessories Standard pressing
Peer-reviewed research

Three independent university studies. Read them yourself.

We link the full protocols because the data holds up to scrutiny.

Study 01

8-week NCAA football

Participants
30 male collegiate football players
Protocol
Randomized trial, both groups training 3×/week for 8 weeks
Read full study →
Study 02

4-week eccentric overload

Participants
42 resistance-trained, college-aged males
Protocol
One-month supramaximal bench program
Read full study →
Study 03

2026 acute sEMG & kinetics

Participants
10 resistance-trained males
Protocol
Crossover trial, 5 reps at 70% 1-RM, flat bench vs. Launch Pad
Read full study →
67 reviews

What lifters say after they switch.

★★★★★

“Phenomenal product, absolutely worth it despite the price. I can’t imagine pressing without it now, a must-have for your garage gym.”

Ben K. · Verified · 9/4/2025
★★★★★

“Without a doubt responsible for saving my shoulders and restoring my bench press performance, despite years of previous football injuries.”

Daniel P. · Verified · 1/26/2025
For coaches & facilities

Equip the whole roster. Protect every athlete.

Built for the volume and abuse of a real weight room, and the liability that comes with it.

Request team / facility pricing
  • Built to last, high-density polyurethane and anodized aluminum, 22 lb, designed to outlast the benches it sits on.
  • Safer athletes, guides correct, repeatable form and reduces shoulder, elbow, and spine stress across your program.
  • Fits your room, works with Olympic, adjustable, and machine benches; no tools or modifications.
  • Proven on athletes like yours, validated in a randomized trial with collegiate football players.
  • Volume pricing, tiered rates for teams, facilities, and tactical units.

Questions, answered.

Will it fit my bench?

Yes. The Launch Pad works with Olympic, adjustable, and machine-based benches. Its 30” length sits on top of your existing bench, and two 5-foot straps secure it to the frame, no tools, no modifications, nothing permanent.

How is this different from a foam back pad?

A foam pad just adds cushioning. The Launch Pad is a patented, engineered surface (U.S. Patent 12,115,411): contoured, chamfered side panels create shoulder clearance, and a height-adjustable lumbar support sets your spine. It changes the biomechanics of the press, which is why it shows measurable strength, power, and activation gains in independent studies.

Is it really worth $357.99?

That’s a fair question at this price. Consider it two ways. As performance: study participants added roughly twice the 1-RM of the flat-bench group. As insurance: a single tweaked shoulder can cost you months of training and far more in physio. It’s built from polyurethane and anodized aluminum to last for years, and it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test it on your own bench risk-free.

Will it slow down my setup?

No. The strap-and-cam-lever system locks it in place in under 60 seconds, and it stays put between sets thanks to the high-traction surface.

Is it only for bench press?

No, it supports 100+ exercise variations, including chest-supported rows and accessory work. The Gen II contouring was specifically refined to improve positioning for pulls and accessory movements, not just pressing.

Can I travel or train off-site with it?

Yes. It’s a foldable, 22 lb design and ships with a tactical carrying backpack, so it moves between a garage, a facility, or the field.

The first real upgrade to the bench press in a century.

One Launch Pad® · $516.00 · or 4 payments of $89.50 · 30-day money-back guarantee

In the box & specs
IncludesLaunch Pad® + tactical backpack
StrapsTwo 5-foot securing straps
LumbarAdjustable lumbar support pin
Dimensions30” L × 12.5” W × 3” H
Weight22 lb
MaterialsHigh-density polyurethane + anodized aluminum
CompatibilityOlympic, adjustable & machine benches
PatentU.S. 12,115,411
@advancedmusclemechanics

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The Launch Pad
The Launch Pad®
$516.00 · or 4× $89.50

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