Close-Grip EZ-Bar Triceps Extension Behind the Head

Body region

• Arms

Equipment

• EZ Bar
• Flat Bench

Technique

1. Lie on a flat bench with your head near the end and hold the EZ bar on the inner angled grips.
2. Press the bar up over your chest, then tilt the upper arms back slightly toward your head.
3. Bend the elbows and lower the bar in an arc past your forehead until it is behind the top of your head.
4. Extend the elbows to bring the bar back up along the same path, stopping above your face.

Cues

• Keep the elbows pointing up and close together, in line with the hands.
• The tilted upper arm keeps tension on the long head of the triceps.
• Start light or with a spotter until the path feels natural.

Common mistakes

• Letting the elbows flare out wide.
• Dropping the bar quickly toward the head.
• Turning the lift into a pullover by swinging the upper arms.

Variations

• Close-Grip Barbell Triceps Extension Behind the Head

Alternatives

• Barbell Skull Crusher
• Overhead Barbell Triceps Extension
• Dumbbell Skull Crusher