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Incline barbell press

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Muscles worked

High load
Chest · Upper
Medium load
Delts · Front
Low load
Triceps

Primary muscles

Secondary muscles

How to do it

Set the bench between 30 and 45 degrees — no steeper, or it becomes a shoulder press. Retract the shoulder blades, lower the bar to just below the collarbones with the elbows tucked at roughly 45 degrees, then press up over the clavicles. Keep the shoulders pinned back rather than letting them roll forward at the bottom, which is where the joint gets stressed.

Form cues

  • 30-45 degrees, no steeper
  • Bar path over the clavicles

Safety

Talk to a professional before this exercise if you have any of the following:

ShoulderElbowWrist

This is general exercise reference, not medical advice. Stop and consult a qualified professional if an exercise causes pain, and never work through joint pain.