Exercise Comparison
Board Press vs Body-Up




Side-by-Side
Muscle Analysis
Shared
Only in Board Press
Only in Body-Up
Instructions
Board Press
Begin by lying on the bench, getting your head beyond the bar if possible. One to five boards, made out of 2x6's, can be screwed together and held in place by a training partner, bands, or just tucked under your shirt.
Tuck your feet underneath you and arch your back. Using the bar to help support your weight, lift your shoulder off the bench and retract them, squeezing the shoulder blades together. Use your feet to drive your traps into the bench. Maintain this tight body position throughout the movement.
You can take a standard bench grip, or shoulder width to focus on the triceps. Pull the bar out of the rack without protracting your shoulders. The bar, wrist, and elbow should stay in line at all times. Focus on squeezing the bar and trying to pull it apart.
Lower the bar to the boards, and then drive the bar up with as much force as possible. The elbows should be tucked in until lockout.
Body-Up
Assume a plank position on the ground. You should be supporting your bodyweight on your toes and forearms, keeping your torso straight. Your forearms should be shoulder-width apart. This will be your starting position.
Pressing your palms firmly into the ground, extend through the elbows to raise your body from the ground. Keep your torso rigid as you perform the movement.
Slowly lower your forearms back to the ground by allowing the elbows to flex.
Repeat.
Verdict
Both exercises target the triceps. Board Press is a intermediate exercise using barbell, while Body-Up is intermediate and uses bodyweight. Choose Board Press if you have access to barbell, or Body-Up if you prefer bodyweight. Board Press is a compound movement working multiple joints, making it better for overall strength. Body-Up isolates the target muscle for focused development.