strength
Bench Press - With Bands
Works the chest, using bands.
Specification
| Equipment | bands |
| Primary muscles | chest |
| Secondary muscles | shoulders, triceps |
| Mechanic | compound |
| Force | push |
| Level | beginner |
| Category | strength |
How to do it
- Using a flat bench secure a band under the leg of the bench that is nearest to your head.
- Once the band is secure, grab it by both handles and lie down on the bench.
- Extend your arms so that you are holding the band handles in front of you at shoulder width.
- Once at shoulder width, rotate your wrists forward so that the palms of your hands are facing away from you. This will be your starting position.
- Bring down the handles slowly until your elbow forms a 90 degree angle. Keep full control at all times.
- As you breathe out, bring the handles up using your pectoral muscles. Lock your arms in the contracted position, squeeze your chest, hold for a second and then start coming down slowly. 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 of your training program.
Test it
This is one of the three lifts that get judged in competition, which means there is a real distribution to measure yourself against.