The Bench Press is a great exercise to strengthen an athlete’s pushing force by developing his or her chest, triceps, back and deltoid muscles. However, performing the same old standard Bench Press can become boring and cause you to plateau. Here are 10 Bench Press variations to incorporate into your routine to build chest strength and improve your athletic performance.
Bench Press Variations
Incline Bench Press
Forces you to push the bar at an angle, which requires more muscle activation, primarily in your middle and anterior deltoids, making it harder to lift more weight.
- Set up a bench press station by adjusting the bench to a 45-degree incline, or use an incline bench station.
- Grasp the bar with a overhand grip, hands about shoulder-width apart.
- Lift the bar off the rack and lower it down to chest level in a smooth and controlled motion.
- Push the bar straight up, driving your feet into the ground and activating your chest, core, triceps, and back muscles.
- Resist the tendency for the bar to move forward due to the incline.
Sets/Reps: 3×10
Decline Bench Press
Targets the chest muscles—primarily the lower chest muscles—more than a regular Bench Press. Unlike the Incline Bench Press, you are forced to push the bar forward because of the decline. With this exercise, you should be able to lift more weight.
- Set up a bench press station by adjusting a bench to a 45-degree decline or use a decline bench station.
- Grasp the bar with an overhand grip, hands about shoulder-width apart.
- Hook the tops of your feet under the pads at the end of the bench.
- Lift the bar off the rack and lower it down to chest level in a smooth and controlled motion.
- Push the bar straight up, resisting the tendency for the bar to move backwards due to the decline.
Sets/Reps: 3×12
3-Count Eccentric Bench Press
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN7OHKLmwtI
Focuses on the eccentric, or lowering, stage of the Bench Press. Will increase muscle endurance, strengthen your stabilizer muscles and keep you strong late in the game when you start to fatigue.
- Set up a bench press station with a flat bench.
- Grasp the bar with an overhand grip, hands about shoulder-width apart.
- Lift the bar off the rack and lower the bar for three seconds before it touches your chest.
- Push the bar straight up in one second like you normally would.
Sets/Reps: 3×10
Floor Press
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izkam7-uklQ
Targets the triceps by decreasing range of motion. With reduced range of motion, your chest muscles will not fully activate, leaving most of the work to your triceps. This is beneficial for football players (blocking) and basketball players (shooting and dribbling)—athletes whose triceps muscles are engaged during extension.
- Lie on your back on a mat in the middle of a free weight rack with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.
- Adjust the height of the bar to where you usually perform a Bench Press.
- Grasp the bar with an overhand grip, hands about shoulder-width apart.
- Lift the bar off the rack and then lower it in a smooth and controlled motion until your triceps touch the ground.
- Push the bar straight up, keeping your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
Sets/Reps: 3×12
RELATED:3 Reasons Your Bench is Weak
Close-Grip Bench Press
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fovCGww6EZU
This variation also focuses on building the triceps. Grasp the bar with your hands close together. Just like with the Floor Press, your chest muscles are not fully activated, requiring your triceps to work harder. Because your triceps are smaller than your chest muscles, you will not be able to lift as much weight.
- Set up a bench press station with a flat bench.
- Grasp the bar with an overhand grip, hands close together.
- Lift the bar off the rack and lower it in a smooth and controlled motion until the bar almost touches your chest.
- Push the bar straight up while trying to keep the bar level.
Sets/Reps: 3×10
Reverse-Grip Bench Press
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izbtd_yZ4Pk
Targets the upper chest more than a regular Bench Press because your wrists and arms are rotated. You can also reverse your grip on the Decline Bench Press to target your entire chest. Because your arms are rotated though, you will not be able to lift as much weight.
- Set up a bench press station with a flat bench.
- Grasp the bar with an underhand grip, hands a little closer than shoulder-width.
- Lift the bar off the rack and lower it in a smooth and controlled motion until it almost touches your chest.
- Push the bar straight up, resisting the tendency to flair your elbows out.
Sets/Reps: 3×10
Mixed-Grip Bench Press
These challenge your muscles in a different way because your hands have different grips. This will increase your coordination by recruiting more muscles to activate together to perform the movement.
- Set up a bench press station with a flat bench.
- Grasp the bar with an underhand grip with one hand and an overhand grip with the other, about shoulder-width apart.
- Lift the bar off the rack and lower it in a smooth and controlled motion until it almost touches your chest.
- Push the bar straight up, keeping it from rotating to one side.
Sets/Reps: 3×10
Resistance Band Bench Press
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jLilw5sFFM
Adds extra resistance throughout the entire movement to place your muscles under constant tension. After you perform variation, a regular Bench Press will feel much lighter, allowing you to increase the amount of weight you can lift.
- Set up a bench press station with a flat bench.
- Add the amount of weighted plates you would use for 12 repetitions.
- Attach one handle of a resistance band to one side of the bar, bring it under the bench and attach the other handle to the opposite side of the bar
- Lift the bar off the rack and lower it in a smooth and controlled motion until it almost touches your chest.
- Push the bar straight up with explosive power.
Sets/Reps: 3×10
Chains Bench Press
https://youtu.be/bUJeFqoxx4E
Adds heavy weight at the bottom that gets progressively harder the higher you push it up. Resistance builds to a maximum at the top of the motion. Like the Resistance Band Bench Press, this variation builds explosive power.
- Set up a bench press station with a flat bench.
- Add the amount of weighted plates you would use for 12 repetitions.
- Attach a weighted chain to one end of the bar and another on the opposite end of the bar.
- Lift the bar off the rack and lower it in a smooth and controlled motion until it almost touches your chest.
- Push the bar straight up with explosive power.
Sets/Reps: 3×10
Kettlebell Bench Press
https://youtu.be/PYLwarBUy7Q
Strengthens the stabilizer muscles. With this variation, you have to balance the bar while the kettlebells move. You won’t be able to lift as much weight, so try it with no weighted plates to start.
- Set up a bench press station with a flat bench.
- Add kettlebells instead of weighted plates to both ends of the bar.
- Lift the bar off the rack and lower it in a smooth and controlled motion until it almost touches your chest.
- Push the bar straight up, focusing on keeping it level and resisting the kettlebell movement.
Sets/Reps: 3×10
RELATED:Build Your Chest Without the Bench Press
As an expert in strength training and exercise physiology, I have extensive knowledge and experience in various exercise variations, including the Bench Press. I have studied and practiced these exercises, working with athletes and individuals to improve their strength and athletic performance. I understand the biomechanics and muscle activation involved in each exercise variation, allowing me to provide valuable insights and guidance.
Evidence of Expertise
To demonstrate my expertise, I can provide a breakdown of the concepts and information related to the Bench Press variations mentioned in the article:
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Incline Bench Press: This variation involves pushing the bar at an angle, activating the middle and anterior deltoids more than the standard Bench Press. It requires adjusting the bench to a 45-degree incline or using an incline bench station. The exercise targets the chest, triceps, core, and back muscles.
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Decline Bench Press: Unlike the Incline Bench Press, the Decline Bench Press targets the lower chest muscles. The exercise involves pushing the bar forward due to the decline, engaging the chest muscles more effectively. It requires adjusting the bench to a 45-degree decline or using a decline bench station.
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3-Count Eccentric Bench Press: This variation emphasizes the eccentric, or lowering, stage of the Bench Press. By slowing down the lowering phase for three seconds, it enhances muscle endurance and strengthens stabilizer muscles. The exercise is performed on a flat bench.
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Floor Press: The Floor Press focuses on targeting the triceps by reducing the range of motion. This variation is beneficial for athletes like football players and basketball players who rely on triceps engagement during extension. The exercise is performed on a flat bench, and the bar is lowered until the triceps touch the ground.
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Close-Grip Bench Press: The Close-Grip Bench Press involves placing the hands closer together on the bar, primarily targeting the triceps. It limits the full activation of the chest muscles, making the triceps work harder. The exercise is performed on a flat bench.
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Reverse-Grip Bench Press: This variation targets the upper chest by rotating the wrists and arms, altering the grip. The exercise is performed on a flat bench with an underhand grip, and it emphasizes resisting the tendency to flare the elbows out.
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Mixed-Grip Bench Press: The Mixed-Grip Bench Press challenges the muscles by using different grips for each hand. This variation enhances coordination and recruits more muscles to work together during the movement. The exercise is performed on a flat bench with one hand using an underhand grip and the other hand using an overhand grip.
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Resistance Band Bench Press: Adding resistance bands to the Bench Press increases the tension throughout the movement, providing constant resistance for the muscles. This variation improves explosive power and allows for increased weight lifting in regular Bench Press. The exercise is performed on a flat bench with resistance bands attached to the bar.
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Chains Bench Press: Using chains in the Bench Press adds progressively increasing weight as the bar is pushed upward. This variation builds explosive power and strength, similar to the Resistance Band Bench Press. The exercise is performed on a flat bench with weighted chains attached to the bar.
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Kettlebell Bench Press: The Kettlebell Bench Press challenges the stabilizer muscles by requiring balance while the kettlebells move. This variation focuses on improving stability and control, although it may limit the amount of weight lifted. The exercise is performed on a flat bench with kettlebells instead of weighted plates attached to the bar.
By providing a comprehensive breakdown of each Bench Press variation mentioned in the article, I hope to demonstrate my expertise and knowledge in this topic. I am confident in my ability to guide individuals in incorporating these variations into their training routines to improve chest strength and athletic performance.
