bench

The barbell bench press is the king of the bench press jungle, but the dumbbell bench press is striding with it side by side. Barbell variations allow you to move more weight due to their fixed range of motion, but dumbbell bench press variations offer more freedom of movement. Why does that...

In the world of powerlifting, the three events of squats, bench presses, and deadlifts are like three powerful steeds, leading countless fitness enthusiasts and athletes to challenge themselves and pursue the limits of strength. I. Squats Squats mainly train the lower limb muscle groups...

Jay Cutler may have become famous for his “Quad Stomp,” but without a physique that was in proportion to the rest of his humungous legs, he could have never lifted 3 consecutive Olympia trophy’s. When it comes to the upper body, and particularly the chest, Cutler says that the dumbbell bench...

When it comes to the big lifts, technique is technique. But on top of mastering the form, everyone looks for progression – and there comes a time when even the best of us run into a stymie, and our strength (and size) doesn’t increase at the same linear rate that it did when we were 21 years...

Arnold Schwarzenegger says his chest was a challenging area of the anatomy to build, but he was able to grow it from what he described as “very flat and sunken” to one of the biggest in bodybuilding, and he did so with the flat bench dumbbell chest fly. Peaking at 58 inches, Schwarzenegger...

We’re often sold the idea that the training game should have a list of non-negotiables within it, especially when it comes to exercise choices that absolutely belong in your program, and then there are overrated exercises that don’t really belong in any strength training program. To be clear...

The most often asked gym question is, ‘How much do you bench?’ No one ever asks how much you chin up, but they should. Although the bench press is a fantastic exercise to add upper body size and strength, the chin up, in my opinion, is the gold standard when it comes to upper body strength. It’s...

Fix shoulder pain bench press

No one talks about their one rep max for a dumbbell bench press and row. And why would they? Because boosting unilateral strength numbers is unheard of. If you ask a lifter how much they squat, bench, and deadlift, those numbers roll off the tongue. Ask them how long they have been married and...

The dumbbell pullover is one of those multipurpose exercises that can be a great addition to any chest or back workouts. However, no matter which body part you’re focusing on, there’s a trick to add a little extra spice to this exercise, and all it takes is a looped resistance band. That is...

Unilateral rows are the bomb because they strengthen imbalances between sides, which leads to better muscle development and stronger bilateral rows. But as the dumbbells get larger and more awkward, progressing becomes more challenging. Enter the Meadows Row, the brainchild of the late John...

The strength community lost a brother with the passing of California powerlifting legend Richard Schoenberger on July 20. Affectionately nicknamed “Big Daddy,” he was 57 years old. Schoenberger was known in local lifting circles for his prodigious, unenhanced strength. He was a drug-free...

There is no doubting most gymgoers’ attraction to the barbell bench press. It is part of the Big 3 lifts for a reason: The barbell bench press, with its stability and relatively fixed range of motion, allows the lifter to move the most weight possible. But through injury or range of motion...

One of the best pieces of muscle-building is that you must row to grow. You may have heard this before, but it bears repeating because too many lifters still focus on the mirror muscles. Training the posterior delts, upper back, and lats must be a priority when muscle and strength are your...

The bench press. It’s one of the original rite of passage exercises that many lifters spend countless—oftentimes too many—hours toward perfecting. When you’re a beginner, you most likely performed two main exercises—biceps curl and bench press. Then, the love affair begins. The bench press is...

Considering the triceps muscle makes up two-thirds of your upper arm mass, it’s no secret that triceps-focused exercises like certain dip variations should dominate arm day. Triceps dips (or bodyweight dips) are a classic, tried-and-tested exercise known for not only adding strength and size to...

Get creative with the most dreaded day of the workout week with these 5 insane-yet-effective moves that will build leg-muscle mass in no time. Leg training isn’t easy and you may think your exercise arsenal is limited at best. You may be under the impression that when leg day rolls around you...

Whether you want to add size or develop shape, these advanced movements will help you maximize your arm-building potential. Sample workout is also included! There is a common expression that is used in all aspects of life - “keep it simple.” However, another popular phrase is “variety is the...

This article pits two potent tricep builders head to head: parallel bar dips and the close grip bench press. Which is better for arm size? Read on to find out! Brad Borland is a strength & conditioning specialist, cancer survivor and the founder of WorkoutLab. When it comes to choosing exercises...

Let’s get the science out of the way; the pectoralis major is comprised of a clavicular and a sternocostal head, or better known as the upper and lower pec respectively. When flat benching, both heads are stressed evenly. The anterior deltoids also come into play, and the triceps are used during...