Exercise Comparison
Band Skull Crusher vs Close-Grip EZ-Bar Press
Side-by-Side
Muscle Analysis
Shared
Only in Close-Grip EZ-Bar Press
Instructions
Band Skull Crusher
Secure a band to the base of a rack or the bench. Lay on the bench so that the band is lined up with your head.
Take hold of the band, raising your elbows so that the upper arm is perpendicular to the floor. With the elbow flexed, the band should be above your head. This will be your starting position.
Extend through the elbow to straighten your arm, keeping your upper arm in place. Pause at the top of the motion, and return to the starting position.
Close-Grip EZ-Bar Press
Lie on a flat bench with an EZ bar loaded to an appropriate weight.
Using a narrow grip lift the bar and hold it straight over your torso with your elbows in. The arms should be perpendicular to the floor. This will be your starting position.
Now lower the bar down to your lower chest as you breathe in. Keep the elbows in as you perform this movement.
Using the triceps to push the bar back up, press it back to the starting position by extending the elbows as you exhale.
Repeat.
Verdict
Both exercises target the triceps. Band Skull Crusher is a beginner exercise using bands, while Close-Grip EZ-Bar Press is beginner and uses e-z curl bar. Choose Band Skull Crusher if you have access to bands, or Close-Grip EZ-Bar Press if you prefer e-z curl bar. Close-Grip EZ-Bar Press is a compound movement working multiple joints, making it better for overall strength. Band Skull Crusher isolates the target muscle for focused development.