Triceps · Barbell

Close-Grip Barbell Bench Press

A compound movement that trains your triceps, done with a barbell. Your chest and shoulders help out.

EquipmentBarbell
TypeCompound
Push or pullPush
LevelBeginner

Muscles you'll work

Close-Grip Barbell Bench Press muscles worked, front viewClose-Grip Barbell Bench Press muscles worked, back view
TricepsPrimaryChest · ShouldersSecondary

How to do it

  1. Lie back on a flat bench. Using a close grip (around shoulder width), lift the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked. This will be your starting position.
  2. As you breathe in, come down slowly until you feel the bar on your middle chest. Tip: Make sure that - as opposed to a regular bench press - you keep the elbows close to the torso at all times in order to maximize triceps involvement.
  3. After a second pause, bring the bar back to the starting position as you breathe out and push the bar using your triceps muscles. Lock your arms in the contracted position, hold for a second and then start coming down slowly again. Tip: It should take at least twice as long to go down than to come up.
  4. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
  5. When you are done, place the bar back in the rack.

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