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EZ Bar Lying Bent Arms Pullover

A lying pullover with an EZ bar and deliberately bent elbows, loading the lats through a long overhead arc with less elbow strain than a straight-arm version.

BackBarbellPullover
GoLightWeight mediaez-bar-lying-bent-arms-pullover

Demonstration coming soon

Primary

Latissimus dorsi

Secondary

Pectoralis majorTricepsTeres majorSerratus anterior

Equipment

Barbell

Pattern

Pullover

Setup

  1. 01Lie back on a flat bench with feet planted on the floor.
  2. 02Hold the EZ bar over the chest on the inner angled grips, palms facing away.
  3. 03Bend the elbows to roughly 90 degrees and keep them that way.
  4. 04Set the ribs down and brace lightly before the first rep.

Execution

  1. 01Lower the bar back over your head in an arc, keeping the elbow bend fixed.
  2. 02Descend until you feel a strong stretch through the lats.
  3. 03Pull the bar back over the chest along the same arc.
  4. 04Stop above the lower chest without pressing the bar upward.

Checkpoints

  • -Elbow angle stays constant; the shoulders do the moving.
  • -Ribs stay down with only a small natural arch.
  • -The stretch lands in the lats, not the shoulder joint.
  • -Bar path is a smooth arc, not a drop and heave.

Common mistakes

  • -Turning it into a triceps extension by opening and closing the elbows.
  • -Flaring the ribs and overarching to gain range.
  • -Going so deep that the shoulders pinch.
  • -Using a load that forces a jerky turnaround at the bottom.

Programming notes

  • -Use 2 to 4 sets of 10 to 15 reps with a controlled 2 to 3 second lowering.
  • -Keep it as a stretch-focused accessory after rows or pulldowns.
  • -Increase range before increasing load.

Related exercises

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