LiftSetsLiftSets / Exercises / Close-Grip Barbell Bench Press
Close-Grip Barbell Bench Press
Works the triceps. Helped by the chest and shoulders.
Bright blue is the target muscle. Darker blue is helping. The app shows this as a moving demo.
Muscles worked
tricepschestshoulders
How many reps
| Goal | Reps per set |
|---|---|
| Strength | 3-6 |
| Muscle size | 6-10 |
| Endurance | 12-20+ |
Whatever the number, the set should end within a rep or two of the point where you could not do another with good form.
| Kit | Barbell |
|---|---|
| Level | Beginner |
What to think about
- Shoulder blades pinned back and down.
- Elbows about 45 degrees from your sides.
- Lower for 2-3 seconds to chest level.
How to do it
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
- When you are done, place the bar back in the rack.
Other exercises for the triceps
- Bench Dips
- Bench Press - Powerlifting
- Bench Press with Chains
- Cable Lying Triceps Extension
- Cable One Arm Tricep Extension
- Cable Rope Overhead Triceps Extension
- Close-Grip EZ-Bar Press
- Decline Dumbbell Triceps Extension
Track it in LiftSets
Log Close-Grip Barbell Bench Press with last time's numbers in front of you, a rest timer on your lock screen and a graph of your progress.
Coming soon to the App Store