Barbell Incline Bench Press
Barbell Incline Bench Press trades complexity for pressing power across the chest, and it works as a chest-day opener.
How to do Barbell Incline Bench Press
- Set up an incline bench at a 45-degree angle.
- Lie down on the bench with your feet flat on the ground.
- Grasp the barbell with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Unrack the barbell and lower it slowly towards your chest, keeping your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
- Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push the barbell back up to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Barbell Incline Bench Press Sets and Reps by Goal
Strength
4 sets of 4-6 reps with 3 minutes of rest. Reset the bar between reps rather than bouncing.
Hypertrophy
4 sets of 8-12 reps with 75-90 seconds of rest. Take the smallest plate jump available once the reps are clean.
Endurance
3 sets of 15-20 reps with 45 seconds of rest. Keep a rep or two in reserve on the heaviest sets.
Common Barbell Incline Bench Press Mistakes
Gripping off-centre so one side carries more load
Set both hands on matching knurl marks before each set.
Letting the shoulders roll forward at the bottom
Set the shoulder blades back and down before rep one and hold it there.
Letting the last set decay into a different exercise
End the set when the pattern changes, not when the reps run out.
Easier and Harder Than Barbell Incline Bench Press
Swap Barbell Incline Bench Press For
Barbell Incline Bench Press — Frequently Asked Questions
How do you do the Barbell Incline Bench Press?
Set up an incline bench at a 45-degree angle. Lie down on the bench with your feet flat on the ground. Grasp the barbell with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Use a barbell and keep the movement controlled through the full range. The animated GIF above shows the complete rep at normal speed.
What muscles does the Barbell Incline Bench Press work?
The Barbell Incline Bench Press primarily targets the pectorals. It is classified as a chest exercise and is performed with a barbell.
How many sets and reps of the Barbell Incline Bench Press should I do?
For muscle growth: 4 sets of 8-12 reps with 75-90 seconds of rest. Take the smallest plate jump available once the reps are clean. Adjust the load rather than the rep target if form breaks down before the final rep.
Is the Barbell Incline Bench Press good for beginners?
It is an intermediate movement. You will get more out of it once you can already perform the basic chest patterns with controlled form. Beginners can still use it with light load and close attention to technique.
What can I do instead of the Barbell Incline Bench Press?
Try the Push-up Medicine Ball, Dumbbell Incline Bench Press or the Cable Standing Up Straight Crossovers. Each trains the pectorals with a similar movement pattern, so you can swap based on the equipment you have available.
