Side view of The Launch Pad® Gen II on a flat bench.
Patented Performance Interface™
The Launch Pad®
Generation II · Upgrade the surface beneath every rep.
The Launch Pad® Generation II transforms the traditional bench surface into a patented performance interface engineered around human biomechanics, supporting stronger positioning, more natural movement, and better pressing performance.
U.S. patents
studies
risk-free money-back guarantee
Questions about compatibility? Check your bench fit.
Choose your reason to upgrade
Built for the way you train.
Whether you’re chasing a bigger bench, tired of beat-up shoulders, upgrading your home gym, or outfitting an entire training room, The Launch Pad® gives you a better surface to press from.
The product is specific. The value is personal. Choose the result that matters most to you.
Press stronger. Move better.
The Launch Pad® supports a more consistent setup, greater usable range of motion, muscle activation, and efficient force transfer. This helps you get more from the work you are already doing.
Does every bench day feel like a fight with your shoulders?
The problem may not be your effort or your program. It may be the one variable you’ve never taken a serious look at: the surface you’re pressing from. A flat bench can restrict how the shoulder blades and upper arms move against the surface. The Launch Pad® changes that contact geometry to support more natural movement and a stable pressing position.
Upgrade your bench without replacing it.
Secure The Launch Pad® to compatible equipment you already own. Use it for pressing and accessory movements, then pack it into the included tactical backpack when you finish.
Give every athlete a better surface to train from.
Add a patented, research-backed performance interface across teams, facilities, and tactical programs without replacing existing benches. Bulk ordering, customization, and institutional support are available.
A new training variable
Re-engineering how the athlete meets the bench.
The flat bench was never designed around how the upper body actually moves under load. The Launch Pad® re-engineers that point of contact with contoured geometry, adjustable lumbar support, and traction that help the athlete establish a stronger, more repeatable position. By changing the surface beneath the lift, it supports more natural movement, efficient force transfer, and better pressing performance.
Purpose-engineered systems
Every feature works together.
The geometry, lumbar support, surface traction, rigid structure, and attachment system operate together as one integrated Performance Interface™.
Shoulder clearance
Room around the shoulder region, with the torso supported on the contour.
Press without fighting the bench.
The contoured upper-torso geometry reduces unnecessary bench interference around the shoulders and upper arms, giving the athlete more usable space to establish position and move through the press.
- Supports natural shoulder mechanics
- Creates more usable pressing space
- Encourages repeatable upper-body positioning
Dial in a setup you can repeat.
The pin-secured lumbar support adjusts to the athlete’s spinal profile and setup preference, creating a consistent reference point for the hips, lower back, and torso from set to set.
- Individualized lumbar support
- Pin-secured adjustment
- Repeatable body-to-bench positioning
The tactical carrying backpack is included with every complete system.
Portable by design. Stable under load.
Two cam straps anchor The Launch Pad® to a compatible bench without drilling or permanent modification. After training, pack the complete system into the included tactical backpack and take the same interface to the next session.
- No drilling or permanent bench modification
- Two 5-foot cam straps included
- Tactical backpack for transport and storage
Aluminum structural support
Molded traction texture
A close view of the contact surface, contoured geometry, and securing straps.
Built to stay composed through every rep.
High-density molded polyurethane, an aluminum substructure, and integrated surface traction work together to preserve the intended support geometry and help you maintain contact under load.
- Rigid construction for daily training
- Aluminum structural support
- Mold-integrated traction at the athlete interface
Compare the setup
ONE ENGINEERED SYSTEM. EVERYTHING ELSE IS PADDING.
| What’s compared | Standard flat bench | Thompson Fat Pad® | AbMat® ROM Pad | TorQ Gear ROM BloQ | The Launch Pad® |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface shape | Flat | Flat, wider and thicker (14.5" W x 4.5" H) | Narrow foam strip (5.75" W) | Rounded half-foam-roller shape | Molded torso, shoulder and lumbar contours |
| Lumbar support | None | None listed | None listed | None listed | Height-adjustable, pin-locked |
| Adjustable fit | No | None listed | None listed | None listed | Yes, lumbar height |
| Surface grip | Bench vinyl | Grip vinyl | Not listed | Not listed | Textured micro-dot surface |
| Installation | — | Bolts on; drilling may be needed | Strap | Hook-and-loop strap | Two cam straps, no tools |
| Exercise compatibility | Pressing and accessory work | Pressing only; bolted to its bench | Pressing and chest work (per AbMat) | Presses, flys and rows (per TorQ) | Push, pull, accessory, floor and select lower-body work, free-weight and machine |
| Range of motion | Baseline (study control) | Not studied | Not studied | Not studied | Increased vs. flat bench (university testing) |
| Muscle activation | Baseline (study control) | Not studied | Not studied | Not studied | Greater pec activation vs. flat bench |
| Bar velocity | Baseline (study control) | Not studied | Not studied | Not studied | Greater bar velocity vs. flat bench |
| Strength, endurance & power gains | Baseline (study control) | Not studied | Not studied | Not studied | Greater gains vs. flat-bench groups |
| Backed by peer-reviewed research | — | Designer’s own research cited | None cited | None cited | 3 peer-reviewed university studies |
| Patent protected | — | Not stated | Patented foam technology (per AbMat) | Not stated | 2 issued U.S. patents (12,115,411 and 12,678,656) |
| Engineered as one system | — | — | — | — | Contour, lumbar and grip designed to work together as one system |
Not just a pad. An engineered performance interface that fits nearly any flat or adjustable bench, plus plate-loaded and selectorized machines with a built-in bench, for pressing, pulling, accessory, floor and select lower-body work.
Competitor details as stated on each manufacturer’s product page, October 2026. Trademarks belong to their respective owners.
| Standard bench | Bench with The Launch Pad |
|---|---|
| Support contour | |
| The bench’s existing pad shape. | Molded torso, shoulder and lumbar contours. |
| Lumbar adjustment | |
| Support depends on the bench and your position. | Height-adjustable lumbar support, secured with a pin. |
| Attachment | |
| No added interface to attach. | Two cam straps secure the pad to a compatible bench. |
| Setup | |
| Use your bench’s normal setup. | Position, strap in, set lumbar height and check stability. |
Illustrative setups on different benches (red and black frames). Bench designs vary. Confirm dimensions, strap routing and movement clearance on your model.
Check bench fit →One interface. Multiple applications.
A familiar movement. A better connection.
Use The Launch Pad® across barbell, dumbbell, and compatible machine work. Select an application to see the interface in a real training environment.
Three peer-reviewed studies
Three studies. Three questions.
One consistent theme.
The support surface is a training variable. Explore acute pressing mechanics, four-week strength changes and eight-week performance tests, with each protocol and its limits in view.

What changes in a single session?
10 resistance-trained men. Randomized, single-blind crossover: 5 repetitions at 70% 1-RM on each surface.
Testing conditions were about 48 hours apart. Bar travel is not a direct measure of shoulder-joint motion.
Read more: measured outcomes
Condition means, standard bench → tested pad: mean velocity 0.40 → 0.47 m/s; peak 0.57 → 0.66 m/s; right pectoralis sEMG 70.2 → 87.3% MVC; left 68.3 → 86.8% MVC; bar travel 38 → 44 cm. Concentric power was not significantly different (249 → 271 W; p = .071). Surface EMG is not a measure of muscle growth.

Can the changes accumulate?
42 trained men. Randomized trial: 12 supervised eccentric-overload sessions over four weeks using the same adaptive-resistance system.
The 66% comparison describes the relative difference in average strength improvement across this four-week protocol.

Does it carry over to broader performance tests?
30 male collegiate football players. Randomized trial: 24 supervised sessions across the same eight-week strength program.
| Outcome | Launch Pad | Flat bench |
|---|---|---|
| NFL-225 repetitions | +7 reps | +4 reps |
| Seated medicine-ball throw | +2.7 m | +2.0 m |
The 2× comparison uses the mean changes reported in Table 2: 19.4 kg and 9.7 kg. Group averages from this eight-week protocol; individual results vary. These were gym-based strength, repetition and medicine-ball tests, not on-field performance.
These studies tested Concepts 1/2; equivalence to the retail Gen II has not been established here. They do not establish pain treatment, injury prevention or retained motor learning.
Real training environments
Built for athletes.
Scalable for organizations.
For individual lifters, home gyms, performance facilities, high schools, teams and universities, and tactical units: upgrade the athlete-to-bench interface across the equipment you already own.






Outfitting a high school, team, facility, military unit, or university?
Request bulk-order pricing, institutional support, purchase-order assistance, branding and customization options, and fleet upgrade recommendations.
Explore Institutional Options →Getting started
Give your body a few sessions to adapt.
Start with a lighter load, learn the contact points, and give yourself a few deliberate sessions to make the setup familiar.
Pause to hold each illustration on a still frame.

Position the Interface
For barbell bench press, position the top approximately 1–1.5 inches beyond the bench edge. Align it flush for dumbbell work and compatible machines.

Secure It to the Bench
Route both cam straps through the torso slots and beneath the bench frame. Remove slack, lock the buckles, and confirm the interface cannot shift.

Set the Lumbar Support
Sit just in front of the lumbar support. Adjust the pin height so the support fills the natural lower-back curve without lifting the hips.

Establish Your Position
Place your head near the logo and your eyes beneath the bar. Establish your normal lower-body contact and begin with a conservative load.
Product details
Your system.
The details.
Check the package, dimensions and bench fit before you choose your setup.

Dimensions and materials
- Dimensions
- 30″ long × 12.5″ wide × 3″ high
- Product weight
- Approximately 22 lb
- Body
- High-density molded polyurethane
- Structure
- Anodized aluminum support plate
- Contact surface
- Molded traction texture
- Lumbar
- Height-adjustable, pin-secured support
Bench compatibility
Compatible with most flat, adjustable, Olympic, utility, and many machine benches. Unusually wide pads, split-pad designs, or enclosed frames may need a fit check.
Send a clear bench photo and its pad dimensions for help confirming compatibility.
Check my bench fit →Shipping and 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee
Check the current shipping policy for processing times and delivery details.
Request a return within 30 days of delivery if you’re not satisfied. Normal training trial use and discounted purchases are eligible. AMM covers return shipping with a prepaid label and offers a full refund with no restocking fee. Retain original packaging, applicable tags and proof of purchase; obtain approval before sending it back. Refunds follow receipt, inspection and approval, with 5–7 days processing plus bank time. See the policy for complete conditions.
How should the lumbar support feel?
The lumbar support is a positioning reference. Sit just in front of it, then lie back so it fills the natural curve of your lower back. Adjust the pin height or hip position until the contact feels supportive and natural.
View the setup guide →Patents and published research
Protected by U.S. patents 12,115,411 and 12,678,656. Additional applications pending.
Three peer-reviewed studies examine The Launch Pad® across acute mechanics, four-week strength training, and eight-week collegiate football performance.
Read the research →Institutional orders and customization
AMM supports volume orders, purchase orders, institutional planning, branding and customization inquiries, and bench-fleet upgrade recommendations.
Start a facility inquiry →From the people doing the work
See how it fits into real training.
Explore customer reviews, photos and experiences.
Upgrade where every repetition begins
Keep your bench.
Change the interface.
Upgrade the point of contact that influences positioning, mechanics, force transfer, and repeatability.
Standard flat bench
Thompson Fat Pad®
AbMat® ROM Pad
TorQ Gear ROM BloQ
The Launch Pad®