Originally Posted by
oneclick
I don't think that's correct.
Anyone who can do a pull-up is exerting more force than their body weight.
Squeezing a pump is, of course, not a pull-up; an exercise that is fairly similar to pumping is a chest-fly; average values for machine chest flys (flies?) quoted on the 'net show that any male more advanced than "novice" can exert more force than their body weight.
Not from what I’m seeing. MyFit.ca says that the average weight with a chest fly machine is 104 lbs they suggest starting at 50% of that for a novice. They also have a chest fly standard chart that lists weight for various levels of experience. You don’t get to more than body weight until intermediate level which they define as
Intermediate: Stronger than 50% of lifters. An intermediate lifter has trained regularly in the technique for at least two years.
A novice is defined as
Stronger than 20% of lifters. A novice lifter has trained regularly in the technique for at least six months.
Most people are going to be closer to a “beginner” in terms of arm strength. They are going to find driving the piston into the ground with their body weight than squeeze it.