Dude..........If you can only do 225 for 3 and 275 for 1 how the hell do expect to do 315? you need a new spotter man, serious.
He never mentioned he was going to failure. It is quite possible he could do more reps on the lower weight but racked it to save energy for the higher weight. I think higher weight than 275 is just not worth it to a non athlete though. To easy to get injured.
Actually, he's right, I just doubt he tears his muscles to the point of the OP though. http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Building-Muscle-Process&id=942441
Don't you go to failure on your last sets usually anyways? Like wouldn't you reach failure if your last set was, say, 275x5 too? Does going to failure on one rep increase the chance of injury over going to failure on five reps?
He said he was doing a max out. So I seriously doubt he would go to failure on anything before the 1 rep max.
I was defiantly trying to save up for the one rep max and thought I was warm enough. I was able to get up 275 and 295 with no real problem and should have just jumped up to 305..obvious bad move on my part. My previous bench workouts were 185 lbs x 19 reps and 275lb x 3 and haven't tried a 1 rep max in a while. Right now it really doesn't feel too bad. There is some swelling and a little bruising on my bicep and pec, but nothing crazy. I still have limited motion, but can move it around much better than earlier today. Hopefully its not as bad as my first assumption.
Just stay away from a 1 rep max. There is a reason the NFL judges on 225 reps. Much more realistic judge of strength and safer.
Just an update...After having to get two MRI's it seems that I do have a rupture in my pectoral major and will need sugery to fix. I'm meeting with Dr. Bradley Edwards M.D. at the Fondren Orthopedic center tomorrow to discuss what needs to be done. I know its a shot in the dark but has anybody delt with this Dr. before? My chest and arm do feel a lot better than it has, but you can still tell somethings up (obviously). Here's what the injury looked like last week.