How to Stop Getting “No-Counts”: The No-BS Guide to 60 Push-Ups

TL;DR: Learn how to eliminate IPPT push-up no-counts and hit 60 clean reps by mastering ELISS form, explosive training, proper lockout, and smart pacing under fatigue.

The ELISS Headache

I see this every test day. You swear you did 50 push-ups. You come down smiling already. Then you look up at the ELISS screen and it says 30. This shows the difference between feeling good versus being counted. It’s a very real thing I see with trainees who train in gyms but fail IPPT push ups. Mood gone. Face black. Inside you feel nervous and a bit angry also. After 15 years coaching IPPT push-ups I tell you honestly this machine not your enemy. But it is very strict.

ELISS does not care about effort. It only cares about clean reps. Gym push-ups you can half go down, chest float in the air, elbow not locked, still feel shiok. IPPT push-ups totally different story. Chest must touch. Arms must straighten. Body must stay straight. Anything off, no count. Simple as that.

I see this all the time at Maju Camp, Bedok Fitness Conditioning Centre, even Kranji Camp. Strong guys also get caught. So listen carefully. Do not kope your own reps. Do properly, or do not do at all. Otherwise you are just cheating yourself, not the system.

Training Your Explosive Power

This is where many people train wrongly. They proudly tell me they can do 80 or even 100 push-ups nonstop. Sounds impressive, but honestly it does not mean much for IPPT. The test is not about how many you can do slowly over five minutes. It is about how many clean reps you can push out in 60 seconds. Different game altogether.

If you do push-ups slowly all the time, your body learns to move slowly. On test day, you suddenly try to go fast, everything falls apart. Arms shake, rhythm gone, form breaks, no counts start coming in. I see this mistake over and over again.

You must train speed and power, not just endurance. One of my favourite workouts for this is EMOM training. Every minute on the minute. Set a timer for 10 minutes. At the start of every minute, do 15 solid push ups. Finish them fast, then rest for whatever time you have left before the next minute starts. Repeat this for all 10 minutes.

This trains your body to explode from the bottom position and recover quickly under fatigue. It also builds confidence because 15 reps in one burst feels very similar to test pace. Stick with this consistently and your push-ups will start to look sharp, fast, and confident when the clock is ticking.

The Cheat Code for the Last 10 Seconds

The last 10 seconds is where points are won or thrown away. By this time your arms are burning, breathing messy, and form starts to collapse. This is when most no counts happen. Not because you are weak, but because you are rushing blindly.

Here is the simple reset trick I teach all my trainees. When you feel your rhythm breaking, stop for one breath at the top position. Lock your arms, straighten your body, take one sharp breath, and then continue. That one second reset can save you three or four clean reps instead of wasting energy on no counts.

Mentally, never think about 60 push-ups. That number is too big when you are tired. Break it down. Think in sets of 10. Tell yourself just finish this 10, then we talk again. Once you clear one set, immediately move on to the next.

In the final seconds, do not panic. Stay tight, stay sharp, and chase clean reps, not desperate ones. Clean reps always score better than rushed ones

Common Mistakes Why the Machine Hates You

Let me be very straight with you. Most no counts are not because you are weak. It is because you are doing small things wrong and the machine is unforgiving. First mistake I see all the time is people looking up at the counter. The moment you lift your head, your body line breaks and the rep does not register. Keep your eyes down and neck neutral. Second big issue is not locking out your elbows fully at the top. You think you straight already but the machine says no.

I always tell trainees, finish the rep like you mean it. Straight arms, firm push, brief pause. Third mistake is hand placement. Too wide, too forward, or shifting halfway through. The sensors are calibrated for standard form. Set your hands once and do not move them. If the machine keeps rejecting you, it is not personal. It is just asking for cleaner reps. fix these and your counts will climb fast.

Why it’s the #1 reason for “No-Counts”

The ELISS machine uses sensors to track your movement. It has a “start” point (the top) and a “finish” point (the bottom).

• The Trap: When you get tired, you start to do “pumping” reps (halfway up, then straight back down).
• The Result: Because your arms never fully straightened, the sensor thinks you are still in the middle of the first rep. It won’t count the next one until it sees you return to the “Lockout” position.

What is “Lockout”? And our advice.

Lockout refers to the full extension of your arms at the top of the push-up. When you push your body up, your elbows must straighten out completely until they “lock” into a straight line.

So, don’t rush your reps, bro. I know you want to finish fast, but if you don’t lock your elbows, the machine will just ‘diam’. Every single rep, you must feel your triceps click into place at the top. It’s better to do 40 perfect reps with lockout than 60 fast ones where the machine gives you ‘No-Count’ for 30 of them. You’ll just waste your energy and get frustrated only.

Recovery and Gear

Let me share some honest bro advice after coaching so many people. Training hard is one thing, but recovery is what lets you come back stronger. If your muscles always sore, consider whey protein or creatine. Nothing fancy. Just basic stuff to help your body recover faster and push more reps next session, no need to overthink. For home practice, please do not train on bare floor. A cheap yoga mat saves your elbows and keeps your form stable. If wrists always pain, simple push up bars also help a lot. Simple tools used consistently will already make a big difference.

Conclusion and the Gold Goal

Let me end this properly, coach to trainee. You are not training just to pass. You are training for Gold. That five hundred dollars is real money, not imaginary points.
Push-ups are just one part of the equation, and if you want to understand how the run, push-ups, and sit-ups work together to secure IPPT Gold, our IPPT Strategy Guide on how to game the system for Gold and Silver breaks it down step by step.
One month of really siong training will give you a lifetime of bragging rights and extra cash in your pocket. I have seen ordinary guys hit Gold after years of failing because they finally trained smart and consistent. Stop thinking you cannot. That mindset is what kills progress. At the end of the day, all this clean form and hard work needs to show up in your score. Before test day, check your numbers using our IPPT calculator so you know exactly how many push-ups you need to hit your target. Train properly, respect your recovery, clean up your form, and trust the process. Do not get nervous when test day comes. You already did the work. Now just go and collect your reward.