This study aimed to (1) evaluate the linearity of the force–velocity relationship, as well as the reliability of maximum force (F₀), maximum velocity (V₀), slope (a), and maximum power (P₀); (2) compare these parameters between the traditional and ballistic bench press (BP); and (3) determine the correlation of F₀ with the directly measured BP 1-repetition maximum (1RM). Thirty-two men randomly performed 2 sessions of traditional BP and 2 sessions of ballistic BP during 2 consecutive weeks. Both the maximum and mean values of force and velocity were recorded when loaded by 20–70% of 1RM. All force–velocity relationships were strongly linear (r > .99). While F₀ and P₀ were highly reliable (ICC: 0.91–0.96, CV: 3.8–5.1%), lower reliability was observed for V₀ and a (ICC: 0.49–0.81, CV: 6.6–11.8%). Trivial differences between exercises were found for F₀ (ES: < 0.2), however the a was higher for the traditional BP (ES: 0.68–0.94), and V₀ (ES: 1.04–1.48) and P₀ (ES: 0.65–0.72) for the ballistic BP. The F₀ strongly correlated with BP 1RM (r: 0.915–0.938). The force–velocity relationship is useful to assess the upper body maximal capabilities to generate force, velocity, and power.