Wide-grip bench press

The wide-grip bench press is a compound exercise targeting the chest and, to a lesser extent, the triceps. The main difference between this exercise and the standard bench press is that the hands are placed farther apart on the bar. Many lifters find they can handle more weight going wide than with narrower grips, although it's also worth noting that plenty of banged-up lifters have said benching with a wide grip may also have contributed to their shoulder injuries and pain. The wide-grip bench is often used as a chest-building movement in chest or upper-body workouts, or as an accessory movement for the traditional bench press.

Benefits

  1. Targets the chest even more than the standard bench press
  2. May enable lifters to handle more weight
  3. Shortens the range of motion of the lift
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Wide-grip bench press Images

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Wide-grip bench press Instructions

Wide-grip bench press muscle diagram
  1. Lie back on a flat bench with feet firm on the floor. Using a wide, pronated (palms forward) grip that is around 3 inches away from shoulder width (for each hand), lift the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked. The bar will be perpendicular to the torso and the floor. This will be your starting position.
  2. As you breathe in, come down slowly until you feel the bar on your middle chest.
  3. 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.
  4. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.

Caution:

  • If you are new at this exercise, it is advised that you use a spotter. If no spotter is available, then be conservative with the amount of weight used.
  • Also, beware of letting the bar drift too far forward. You want the bar to fall on your middle chest and nowhere else.
  • Don't bounce the weight off your chest. You should be in full control of the barbell at all times.

Variations: You can use dumbbells for this exercise as well as exercise bands.

Same as the Barbell Bench Press but with a different grip.

Alternative Exercises for Wide-grip bench press

Smith machine bench press thumbnail image Smith machine bench press thumbnail image

Smith machine bench press

Muscle Targeted: Chest
Equipment Type: Machine
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