Reverse Band Bench Press

An intermediate compound powerlifting exercise that works the triceps, using a barbell.

Reverse Band Bench Press — Starting position Starting position
Reverse Band Bench Press — End position End position
Difficulty Intermediate
Type Powerlifting
Equipment Barbell
Primary Muscle Triceps
AI Rep Counting Log manually

How to Do Reverse Band Bench Press

  1. Position a bench inside a power rack, with the bar set to the correct height. Begin by anchoring bands either to band pegs or to the top of the rack. Ensure that you will be position properly under the bands. Attach the other end to the barbell.
  2. Lie on the bench, 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. However wide your grip, it should cover the ring on the bar.
  3. Pull the bar out of the rack without protracting your shoulders. Focus on squeezing the bar and trying to pull it apart. Lower the bar to your lower chest or upper stomach. The bar, wrist, and elbow should stay in line at all times.
  4. Pause when the barbell touches your torso, and then drive the bar up with as much force as possible. The elbows should be tucked in until lockout.

Muscles Worked

Front
Back

Primary

Where Reverse Band Bench Press does most of its work.

Secondary

Assisting and stabilising muscles.

Alternatives to Reverse Band Bench Press

10 movements that train the same primary muscle, closest substitutes first — same kind of training, then variations of the movement itself, then a similar difficulty.

  1. 1 Bench Press - Powerlifting

    Bench Press - Powerlifting

    An intermediate compound powerlifting exercise that works the triceps, using a barbell.

    intermediate Barbell
  2. 2 Bench Press with Chains

    Bench Press with Chains

    An advanced compound powerlifting exercise that works the triceps, using a barbell.

    advanced Barbell
  3. 3 Board Press

    Board Press

    An intermediate compound powerlifting exercise that works the triceps, using a barbell.

    intermediate Barbell
  4. 4 Dumbbell Floor Press

    Dumbbell Floor Press

    An intermediate compound powerlifting exercise that works the triceps, using dumbbells.

    intermediate Dumbbells
  5. 5 Floor Press

    Floor Press

    An intermediate compound powerlifting exercise that works the triceps, using a barbell.

    intermediate Barbell
  6. 6 Floor Press with Chains

    Floor Press with Chains

    An intermediate compound powerlifting exercise that works the triceps, using a barbell.

    intermediate Barbell
  7. 7 Bench Press

    Bench Press

    The bench press is the most popular upper body exercise for building chest strength and muscle mass. It's a compound movement that also develops the triceps and anterior deltoids.

    intermediate Barbell
  8. 8 Pin Presses

    Pin Presses

    An intermediate compound powerlifting exercise that works the triceps, using a barbell.

    intermediate Barbell
  9. 9 Reverse Triceps Bench Press

    Reverse Triceps Bench Press

    An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the triceps, using a barbell.

    intermediate Barbell
  10. 10 Smith Machine Close-Grip Bench Press

    Smith Machine Close-Grip Bench Press

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the triceps, using a machine.

    beginner Machines

Frequently Asked Questions

What muscles do reverse band bench press work?

Reverse Band Bench Press primarily works the triceps. The chest, forearms, upper back and shoulders assist as secondary muscles.

What equipment do I need for reverse band bench press?

Reverse Band Bench Press uses barbell.

Reverse Band Bench Press: is it suitable for beginners?

Reverse Band Bench Press is rated intermediate. Movements that assume you already own the basic pattern and are ready to load it.

What can I do instead of reverse band bench press?

Bench Press - Powerlifting, Bench Press with Chains, Board Press train the same primary muscles and are listed with 7 more alternatives above.

Can Fitnit count my reverse band bench press reps automatically?

Not automatically yet. Fitnit's AI rep counting covers push-ups, squats, dumbbell curls, crunches and pull-ups today; reverse band bench press can be logged manually in the app, and tracked movements are added over time.

Photographs and step-by-step instructions from free-exercise-db, a public-domain exercise dataset. Muscle mapping and alternatives by Fitnit.

Track Your Reverse Band Bench Press with AI

Fitnit automatically tracks push-ups, crunches, squats, pull-ups, and curls with advanced body tracking technology — and you can manually input any other workout too. Start free — Pro is $8.99/month.