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Exercise Comparison

Bench Dips vs Reverse Triceps Bench Press

Bench Dips - starting position
Bench Dips - ending position
Bench Dips
beginner·Bodyweight·compound
Reverse Triceps Bench Press - starting position
Reverse Triceps Bench Press - ending position
Reverse Triceps Bench Press
intermediate·Barbell·compound

Side-by-Side

Bench Dips
VS
Reverse Triceps Bench Press
beginner
Level
intermediate
Bodyweight
Equipment
Barbell
compound
Mechanic
compound
push
Force
push
Strength
Category
Strength
triceps
Primary
triceps
chestshoulders
Secondary
chestshoulders

Muscle Analysis

Shared

tricepschestshoulders

Instructions

Bench Dips

1

For this exercise you will need to place a bench behind your back. With the bench perpendicular to your body, and while looking away from it, hold on to the bench on its edge with the hands fully extended, separated at shoulder width. The legs will be extended forward, bent at the waist and perpendicular to your torso. This will be your starting position.

2

Slowly lower your body as you inhale by bending at the elbows until you lower yourself far enough to where there is an angle slightly smaller than 90 degrees between the upper arm and the forearm. Tip: Keep the elbows as close as possible throughout the movement. Forearms should always be pointing down.

3

Using your triceps to bring your torso up again, lift yourself back to the starting position.

4

Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Reverse Triceps Bench Press

1

Lie back on a flat bench. Using a close, supinated grip (around shoulder width), lift the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked extended in front of you and perpendicular to the floor. This will be your starting position.

2

As you breathe in, come down slowly until you feel the bar on your middle chest. Tip: Make sure that as opposed to a regular bench press, you keep the elbows close to the torso at all times in order to maximize triceps involvement.

3

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

4

Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.

5

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

Verdict

Both exercises target the triceps. Bench Dips is a beginner exercise using bodyweight, while Reverse Triceps Bench Press is intermediate and uses barbell. Choose Bench Dips if you're looking for a more accessible option, or Reverse Triceps Bench Press for a greater challenge.

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