Exercise Comparison
Band Skull Crusher vs Floor Press with Chains
Side-by-Side
Muscle Analysis
Shared
Only in Floor Press with Chains
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.
Floor Press with Chains
Adjust the j-hooks so they are at the appropriate height to rack the bar. For this exercise, drape the chains directly over the end of the bar, trying to keep the ends away from the plates.
Begin lying on the floor with your head near the end of a power rack. Keeping your shoulder blades pulled together, pull the bar off of the hooks.
Lower the bar towards the bottom of your chest or upper stomach, squeezing the bar and attempting to pull it apart as you do so. Ensure that you tuck your elbows throughout the movement. Lower the bar until your upper arm contacts the ground and pause, preventing any slamming or bouncing of the weight.
Press the bar back up as fast as you can, keeping the bar, your wrists, and elbows in line as you do so.
Verdict
Both exercises target the triceps. Band Skull Crusher is a beginner exercise using bands, while Floor Press with Chains is intermediate and uses barbell. Choose Band Skull Crusher if you're looking for a more accessible option, or Floor Press with Chains for a greater challenge. Floor Press with Chains is a compound movement working multiple joints, making it better for overall strength. Band Skull Crusher isolates the target muscle for focused development.