Pectoral · Bar

Tabled developed — Bar

Muscles requiredPectoralis major, sternal head · Pectoralis major, abdominal head · Anterior deltoid

Description

Horizontal push to develop the pectorals with strong involvement of the triceps.

01 · Setup

Set up the movement

  • Lie on a flat bench with your feet anchored to the floor.
  • Feet stable on the ground, glutes and upper back fixed.
  • Shoulder blades tight and lowered, chest out.
  • Elbows approximately 45-60 degrees from the chest.
  • Wrists aligned with forearms.
02 · Execution

Perform the rep

  1. Go down in control towards the middle of the chest.
  2. Pause briefly at the bottom with no bounce.
  3. Push in a stable trajectory to above the shoulders.
Technique cue

Fixed shoulder blades and stable trajectory with each repetition.

Common mistakes
  • elbows too open to 90 degrees
  • bounce on the chest
  • wrists broken back
  • buttocks that come off
  • descent too fast
Safety notes

Risks of poor execution

  • With a free bar, an uncontrolled load can fall on the chest, throat or face.
  • Rebounding or descending too quickly can cause a pectoral tear and shoulder injury.
  • Working close to failure without safety increases the risk of serious accidents.
  • Poor shoulder-wrist alignment increases joint overload.
  • Bouncing and loss of control increases the risk of chest or shoulder injury.

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