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Exercise guide

Standing Overhead Barbell Triceps Extension

How to do the Standing Overhead Barbell Triceps Extension with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

IsolationBarbellBeginnerPush
Primary muscles

Triceps

Secondary

Shoulders

Equipment

Barbell

Step by step

How to do the Standing Overhead Barbell Triceps Extension

  1. 1

    To begin, stand up holding a barbell or e-z bar using a pronated grip (palms facing forward) with your hands closer than shoulder width apart from each other. Your feet should be about shoulder width apart.

  2. 2

    Now elevate the barbell above your head until your arms are fully extended. Keep your elbows in. This will be your starting position.

  3. 3

    Keeping your upper arms close to your head and elbows in, perpendicular to the floor, lower the resistance in a semicircular motion behind your head until your forearms touch your biceps. Tip: The upper arms should remain stationary and only the forearms should move. Breathe in as you perform this step.

  4. 4

    Go back to the starting position by using the triceps to raise the barbell. Breathe out as you perform this step.

  5. 5

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Standing Overhead Barbell Triceps Extension set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap — so your triceps volume is visible at a glance — and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More triceps exercises

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