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Exercise guide

Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover

How to do the Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

CompoundBarbellIntermediatePull
Primary muscles

Lats

Secondary

Chest, Lats, Shoulders, Triceps

Equipment

Barbell

Step by step

How to do the Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover

  1. 1

    Lie on a flat bench with a barbell using a shoulder grip width.

  2. 2

    Hold the bar straight over your chest with a bend in your arms. This will be your starting position.

  3. 3

    While keeping your arms 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.

  4. 4

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

  5. 5

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

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap, so your lats volume is visible at a glance, and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More lats exercises

FAQ

Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover: common questions

What muscles does the Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover work?

The Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover primarily works the Lats. It also recruits the Chest, Lats, Shoulders and Triceps as supporting muscles.

Is the Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover suitable for beginners?

The Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover is an intermediate-level exercise. It's best once you've built a base of general strength and movement control, beginners can work up to it.

What equipment do I need for the Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover?

To do the Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover you'll need a barbell.

Is the Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover a compound or isolation exercise?

The Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover is a compound exercise, it moves multiple joints and works several muscle groups at once, which makes it efficient for building overall strength.

How do I do the Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover with correct form?

Lie on a flat bench with a barbell using a shoulder grip width. Follow the full step-by-step above for the complete movement.

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