Barbell Floor Skull Crusher

Body region

• Arms

Muscles

Main

• Triceps

Helps

• Anconeus

Holds

• Pectoralis Major
• Latissimus Dorsi
• Flexor Carpi Radialis

Equipment

• Barbell or EZ Bar

Technique

1. Sit on the floor with the bar across your thighs, then lie back with knees bent and feet flat.
2. Hold the bar overhand with hands about shoulder-width apart and press it up over your chest.
3. Keeping the upper arms still, bend the elbows to lower the bar toward the top of your head, stopping just before the plates reach the floor.
4. Extend the elbows to press the bar back up.

Cues

• Pick a light load you can safely get into position by yourself, or have a partner hand you the bar.
• Keep the elbows pointing up, not out to the sides.
• The floor sets the depth, so every rep stops at the same point.

Common mistakes

• Letting the bar crash into the floor or toward the face.
• Flaring the elbows wide.
• Lifting the hips and arching the back.

Variations

• EZ-Bar Floor Skull Crusher

Alternatives

• Barbell Skull Crusher
• Barbell Floor Press
• Dumbbell Skull Crusher