Guillotine Bench Press (Barbell)

Level
intermediate
Force
push
Mechanic
compound
Equipment
barbell
Category
strength
Primary Muscles
Secondary Muscles
Guillotine Bench Press (Barbell)Guillotine Bench Press (Barbell)

Bench press performed with a barbell over the neck

Instructions

  1. 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 your neck with your arms locked. This will be your starting position.
  2. As you breathe in, bring the bar down slowly until it is about 1 inch from your neck.
  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. 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.
  5. When you are done, place the bar back in the rack.

Recommended starting values

Sensible novice starting points for each goal, for a lifter aged 25–40. Scale down for smaller frames or older lifters. Treat the first set of any session as a discovery set.

Goal Sets Reps Weight
Male Female
Gain strength 5 5 reps 22.5 kg 12.5 kg
Build muscle 5 8 reps 20 kg 10 kg
Build endurance 5 10 reps 15 kg 7.5 kg

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