Chest · Barbell

Decline Barbell Bench Press

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

EquipmentBarbell
TypeCompound
Push or pullPush
LevelBeginner

Muscles you'll work

Decline Barbell Bench Press muscles worked, front viewDecline Barbell Bench Press muscles worked, back view
ChestPrimaryShoulders · TricepsSecondary

How to do it

  1. Secure your legs at the end of the decline bench and slowly lay down on the bench.
  2. 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. The arms should be perpendicular to the floor. This will be your starting position. Tip: In order to protect your rotator cuff, it is best if you have a spotter help you lift the barbell off the rack.
  3. As you breathe in, come down slowly until you feel the bar on your lower chest.
  4. After a second pause, bring the bar back to the starting position as you breathe out and push the bar using your chest muscles. Lock your arms and squeeze your chest 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).
  5. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
  6. When you are done, place the bar back in the rack.

More chest exercises

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