Barbell Bench Press

WHAT IT TRAINS

PRIMARY MOVERS

- Pecs

SECONDARY MOVERS

- Anterior deltoid

- Triceps

 

WHAT IT REPLACES

- Dumbell bench press

- Machine chest press

 

WHAT IT SUPPLEMENTS/COMPLEMENTS

- Rows/back exercises

- Tricep exercises

- Shoulder exercises

 

RECOMMENDED SETS AND REPS

- Good for all rep ranges

- For strength

- For power

- For size

 

SIGNS YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG

- Pain in the elbows from positioning hands too close together/not over the elbows

- Pain/bad stretch in the chest and/or anterior delt from positioning hands too far apart/not over the elbows

 

VARIATIONS

- this exercise is a variation of the dumbell bench press

 

HOW TO PERFORM

  • - Lie back on a flat bench. Using a medium width grip (a grip that creates a 90-degree angle in the middle of the movement between the forearms and the upper arms), lift the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked. This will be your starting position.
  • - From the starting position, breathe in and begin coming down slowly until the bar touches your middle chest.
  • - After a brief pause, push the bar back to the starting position as you breathe out. Focus on pushing the bar using your chest muscles. Lock your arms and squeeze your chest in the contracted position at the top of the motion, hold for a second and then start coming down slowly again. Tip: Ideally, lowering the weight should take about twice as long as raising it.
  • - Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
  • - When you are done, place the bar back in the rack.

  

IMPORTANT KEYS TO REMEMBER

- Retract the scapulae

- Weight over the shoulders

- Straighten, don't extend
- Control throughout the movement

- If you are new at this exercise, it is advised that you use a spotter. If no spotter is available, then be conservative with the amount of weight used.