Barbell Guillotine Bench Press vs Bent-Arm Dumbbell Pullover

Using a medium width grip (a grip that creates a 90-degree angle in the middle of the movement between the forearms and the upper arms), lift the bar from the rack and hold it straight over your neck with your arms locked. This will be your starting position.

As you breathe in, bring the bar down slowly until it is about 1 inch from your neck.

After a second pause, bring the bar back to the starting position as you breathe out and push the bar using your chest muscles. Lock your arms and squeeze your chest in the contracted position, hold for a second and then start coming down slowly again. It should take at least twice as long to go down than to come up.

Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.

When you are done, place the bar back in the rack.

Place a dumbbell standing up on a flat bench.

Ensuring that the dumbbell stays securely placed at the top of the bench, lie perpendicular to the bench (torso across it as in forming a cross) with only your shoulders lying on the surface. Hips should be below the bench and legs bent with feet firmly on the floor. The head will be off the bench as well.

Grasp the dumbbell with both hands and hold it straight over your chest with a bend in your arms. Both palms should be pressing against the underside one of the sides of the dumbbell. This will be your starting position. Caution: Always ensure that the dumbbell used for this exercise is secure. Using a dumbbell with loose plates can result in the dumbbell falling apart and falling on your face.

While keeping your arms locked in the bent arm position, lower the weight slowly in an arc behind your head while breathing in until you feel a stretch on the chest.

At that point, bring the dumbbell back to the starting position using the arc through which the weight was lowered and exhale as you perform this movement.

Hold the weight on the initial position for a second and repeat the motion for the prescribed number of repetitions.