Close-Grip Barbell Bench Press

Train your triceps with this functional a barbell exercise.

Fitness Tracker is a local-first, privacy-focused fitness application that helps you measure progress, track workouts, and stay consistent — all without subscriptions, logins, or tracking. This page covers how to perform the close-grip barbell bench press, including tips, variations, and the muscle groups it targets.


Instructions

  1. Lie down slowly 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. for best results.
  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. for best results.
  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. for best results.
  4. Repeat this exercise the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions. for best results.
  5. When you are done, place the bar back in the rack. for best results.

Video demonstration of Close-Grip Barbell Bench Press