Why is benching considered a crap strength indicator?

I wouldn't say bench is a great indicator of shoulder (deltoid) strength.

Although you mostly use straps, don't you?

To test Robocop's theory, perhaps you could tell us what your best bench press is Wayne?

You wont find many, if any, raw 200+ benchers with poor shoulder strength IMO

I completely agree

Nothing wrong with tucking and a bit of an arch though.

exactly

Like how you set the bar for strong benching at 5Kg below your PB.

Mostly use straps - because double overhand feels more comfortable in my arms and back, NOT because my grip isn't good enough.

If you tell me your name I'll tell you my best bench!!

Nah, I'm not embarrassed... I did a comfortable 140 maybe 3 or 4 years ago without doing any bench training. That is therefore technically my PB. I'm confident I could do 150+, and if I trained it I think I could make quite a bit of progress.

I think 180-200 is what most would class as a 'big' raw bench

..even more progress if you wore one of those gay shirts.

So what you're saying is you don't really know what you could bench, but would like us to think it would be respectable if you were to.

i think you have all got the wrong end of the stick..

Best strength indicator to me means the one lift that you could get anyone (male/female, young/old, trained/untrained) to do and make an assessment of their strength from it.

For me thats still the deadlift.

..only because the deadlift is still your best lift.

i am neutral because all of my lifts are s**t:

SQUAT is the best, or at least better than deadlift, because there are many ways of "cheating" and fighting a deadlift up, but squats are very unforgiving and will measure the strength instead of qualities like "disregard for health and intact spine".

PMSL

by that reasoning everyone with long arms is strong as f**k