Incline Chest Press

Setup

1. 01Set the seat so handles sit at upper-chest level.
2. 02Sit with back and head against the pad.
3. 03Grip the handles with wrists straight.
4. 04Plant feet flat and pull shoulder blades back.

Execution

1. 01Press the handles up and away until arms extend.
2. 02Stop just short of locking the elbows.
3. 03Lower the handles back toward the upper chest.
4. 04Pause briefly at the stretch, then press again.

Checkpoints

• -Back and head stay in contact with the pad.
• -Handles align with the upper chest, not the neck.
• -Elbows track about 45 degrees from the torso.
• -The weight stack moves smoothly without banging.

Common mistakes

• -Setting the seat too low so handles align with the neck.
• -Bouncing the stack at the bottom of each rep.
• -Lifting the hips or arching off the pad.
• -Locking the elbows hard at the top.