• Type: Strength
• Main Muscle Worked: Chest
• Equipment: Barbell
• Level: Beginner

1. Lie back on a decline bench with the feet securely locked at the front of the bench. Using a wide, pronated (palms forward) grip around 3 inches away from shoulder width (for each hand), lift the bar from the rack, and hold it straight over you with your arms locked. The bar will be perpendicular to the torso and the floor. This will be your starting position.
2. As you breathe in, come down slowly until you feel the bar on your lower chest.
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. Next, 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.
4. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.

Caution:

• If you are new at this exercise, it is advised that you use a spotter. If no spotter is available, be conservative with the weight used.
• Also, beware of letting the bar drift too far forward. You want the bar to fall on your middle chest and nowhere else.
• Don't bounce the weight off your chest. You should be in complete control of the barbell at all times.

Variations: You can use dumbbells for this exercise and exercise bands.

The exercise is tsimilar to the Decline Barbell Bench Press but with a wider grip.