A 180 lb male with an Intermediate-level Clap Pull Up of 11 lbs ranks at the 50th percentile (FVCP), stronger than ~50% of lifters. An Advanced lifter at this weight lifts 21 lbs (0.12x bodyweight).
FitnessVolt Competition Percentile (FVCP), based on 2.5M+ verified competition results
How strong is your Clap Pull Up? Compare your 1RM against standards for 21 bodyweight categories, from Beginner to Elite.
How Strong Is Your Clap Pull Up?
How Much Should You Clap Pull Up?
1RM weight (lbs) you should be able to lift at each standard, based on your bodyweight.
| BW (lbs) | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | < 1 | 2 | 12 | 25 | 40 |
| 120 | < 1 | 3 | 12 | 25 | 38 |
| 130 | < 1 | 3 | 12 | 24 | 37 |
| 140 | < 1 | 3 | 12 | 23 | 36 |
| 150 | < 1 | 3 | 12 | 23 | 35 |
| 160 | < 1 | 3 | 11 | 22 | 33 |
| 170 | < 1 | 3 | 11 | 21 | 32 |
| 180 | < 1 | 3 | 11 | 21 | 31 |
| 190 | < 1 | 3 | 10 | 20 | 30 |
| 200 | < 1 | 3 | 10 | 19 | 29 |
| 210 | < 1 | 2 | 10 | 18 | 28 |
| 220 | < 1 | 2 | 9 | 18 | 27 |
| 230 | < 1 | 2 | 9 | 17 | 26 |
| 240 | < 1 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 25 |
| 250 | < 1 | 1 | 8 | 16 | 24 |
| 260 | < 1 | 1 | 8 | 15 | 23 |
| 270 | < 1 | 1 | 8 | 15 | 22 |
| 280 | < 1 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 22 |
| 290 | < 1 | < 1 | 7 | 13 | 21 |
| 300 | < 1 | < 1 | 7 | 13 | 20 |
| 310 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 12 | 20 |
| 90 | < 1 | < 1 | 4 | 11 | 19 |
| 100 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 11 | 19 |
| 110 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 11 | 19 |
| 120 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 11 | 18 |
| 130 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 11 | 18 |
| 140 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 11 | 17 |
| 150 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 10 | 17 |
| 160 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 10 | 16 |
| 170 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| 180 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| 190 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 9 | 14 |
| 200 | < 1 | < 1 | 4 | 9 | 14 |
| 210 | < 1 | < 1 | 4 | 9 | 13 |
| 220 | < 1 | < 1 | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| 230 | < 1 | < 1 | 3 | 8 | 12 |
| 240 | < 1 | < 1 | 3 | 8 | 11 |
| 250 | < 1 | < 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 |
| 260 | < 1 | < 1 | 2 | 7 | 10 |
How Does Age Affect Clap Pull Up Strength?
How Clap Pull Up standards change across different age groups. Values represent a 1RM in lbs.
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 16 | 27 |
| 20 | < 1 | 1 | 10 | 22 | 35 |
| 25 | < 1 | 2 | 11 | 23 | 37 |
| 30 | < 1 | 2 | 11 | 23 | 37 |
| 35 | < 1 | 2 | 11 | 23 | 37 |
| 40 | < 1 | 2 | 11 | 23 | 37 |
| 45 | < 1 | < 1 | 10 | 21 | 33 |
| 50 | < 1 | < 1 | 8 | 18 | 29 |
| 55 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 14 | 25 |
| 60 | < 1 | < 1 | 2 | 10 | 20 |
| 65 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 7 | 15 |
| 70 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 4 | 11 |
| 75 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 7 |
| 80 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 4 |
| 85 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 |
| 90 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 |
| 15 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 7 | 14 |
| 20 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 12 | 20 |
| 25 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 13 | 22 |
| 30 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 13 | 22 |
| 35 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 13 | 22 |
| 40 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 13 | 22 |
| 45 | < 1 | < 1 | 4 | 10 | 19 |
| 50 | < 1 | < 1 | 2 | 9 | 16 |
| 55 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 13 |
| 60 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 3 | 9 |
| 65 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 |
| 70 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 3 |
| 75 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 |
| 80 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 |
| 85 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 |
| 90 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 |
What Do Clap Pull Up Strength Standards Mean?
Stronger than 5% of lifters. You are learning the movement on the Clap Pull Up, building the controlled movement pattern and mind-muscle connection needed to train the target muscle effectively.
Stronger than 20% of lifters. You can perform the Clap Pull Up with strict form and a smooth tempo. You are adding resistance progressively without sacrificing range of motion or using body English.
Stronger than 50% of lifters. Your Clap Pull Up is performed with excellent control and targeted tension. You use RPE to manage isolation work intensity and program it strategically within your training split.
Stronger than 80% of lifters. You have built significant strength on the Clap Pull Up through disciplined, progressive training. You employ advanced techniques like drop sets, pauses, and tempo work to continue driving adaptation.
Stronger than 95% of lifters. Your Clap Pull Up strength is at the upper end of what most lifters achieve. You have maximized the target muscle development through years of focused, periodized isolation work.
How to Progress Your Clap Pull Up
Tier-specific training recommendations to move your Clap Pull Up to the next level.
- Train the Clap Pull Up 2x per week with slow, controlled reps.
- Focus on full range of motion and eliminating momentum or swinging.
- Keep sets at RPE 6-7 to develop proper movement patterns.
- Build the mind-muscle connection - feel the target muscle working on every rep.
- Increase load progressively while keeping strict form on the Clap Pull Up.
- Program 3-4 sets of 8-15 reps at RPE 7-8.
- Add a variation (different grip, angle, or equipment) to address development gaps.
- Place isolation work after your primary compound movements.
- Use drop sets, paused reps, and partial reps to break through Clap Pull Up plateaus.
- Train at RPE 8-9 with advanced intensity techniques on your last 1-2 sets.
- Manipulate tempo to increase time under tension without compromising form.
- Manage total volume for the target muscle group across all exercises.
- Maximize Clap Pull Up strength through precise programming and fatigue management.
- Use periodized blocks to cycle between volume, intensity, and deload phases.
- Quality of contraction matters more than load at this level.
- Continuous refinement of technique will yield the remaining gains.
How to Perform Clap Pull Up
- Start by hanging from a pull-up bar with a shoulder-width grip, palms facing away from you.
- Engage your core and scapular muscles, then pull your body upwards explosively.
- As your chin clears the bar, release your hands quickly and clap in front of your chest.
- Immediately re-grip the bar and control your descent back to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Tips for Clap Pull Up
- Ensure a strong, secure grip on the bar to prevent slipping.
- Focus on an explosive upward movement to generate enough momentum for the clap.
- Keep your core tight throughout the exercise to maintain stability.
- Start with regular pull-ups to build strength before attempting clap pull-ups.
- Avoid using momentum from swinging your legs; rely on upper body strength.
Where Do These Clap Pull Up Standards Come From?
These Clap Pull Up standards are based on 2.5M+ verified competition results from powerlifting, weightlifting, and strongman federations worldwide. Every number comes from a sanctioned meet with certified judges - not self-reported gym lifts. Data is sourced from OpenPowerlifting and other verified competition databases, ensuring accuracy you can trust.
Last Updated: March 30, 2026
Reviewed by the Fitness Volt Editorial Team, certified strength training analysts.
Is Your Clap Pull Up Good for Your Weight?
Strength standards help you objectively measure your Clap Pull Up performance relative to other lifters of the same bodyweight and sex. Here is how to interpret them:
- Find your bodyweight in the left column of the table above.
- Look across the row to find which strength level your 1RM falls into.
- Use the age tab to see how your strength compares within your age group.
- Switch between Male and Female standards using the toggle - each has its own dataset.
If you do not know your 1RM, use the E1RM Calculator to estimate it from any rep set. For example, if you can Clap Pull Up 185 lbs for 5 reps, the calculator will estimate your max.
These standards are derived from 2.5M+ competition results across powerlifting, weightlifting, and strongman federations worldwide, combined with community training data.