Exercise Library / Chest

Decline Bench Press

How to do the Decline Bench Press with proper form, and the muscles it works.

Muscle group
Chest
Primary muscles
Chest
Secondary muscles
Shoulders and triceps
Equipment
Barbell
Type
Compound
Level
Beginner

Video: “Decline Dumbbell Chest Press: How To” by Hammer Fitness on YouTube.

How to do the Decline Bench Press

  1. Secure your legs at the end of the decline bench and slowly lay down on the bench.
  2. Using a medium width grip (a grip that creates a 90-degree angle in the middle of the movement between the forearms and the upper arms), lift the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked. The arms should be perpendicular to the floor. This will be your starting position. Tip: In order to protect your rotator cuff, it is best if you have a spotter help you lift the barbell off the rack.
  3. As you breathe in, come down slowly until you feel the bar on your lower chest.
  4. 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).
  5. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
  6. When you are done, place the bar back in the rack.

Muscles worked

The Decline Bench Press mainly works your chest, with help from your shoulders and triceps.

Decline Bench Press start and finish positions

Decline Bench Press: Starting position
Starting position
Decline Bench Press: Ending position
Ending position

Track your Decline Bench Press progress

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