Exercise guide · Advanced · Compound

Barbell Reverse Grip Incline Bench Press: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The barbell reverse grip incline bench press is a chest exercise performed on an incline bench using a barbell with a reverse (underhand) grip. This variation targets the upper chest and also involves the triceps and shoulders.

Primary muscles
Chest
Secondary muscles
Triceps , Shoulders
Equipment
Barbell
Level · type
Advanced · Compound
Demonstration of the barbell reverse grip incline bench press
Front view: muscles worked by the barbell reverse grip incline bench press. Primary: chest. Secondary: triceps and shoulders.
Back view: muscles worked by the barbell reverse grip incline bench press. Primary: chest. Secondary: triceps and shoulders.
Primary Secondary

How to do the barbell reverse grip incline bench press

  1. Step 1: Set up an incline bench at a 45-degree angle.
  2. Step 2: Lie down on the bench with your feet flat on the ground.
  3. Step 3: Grasp the barbell with a reverse grip, hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
  4. Step 4: Unrack the barbell and lower it slowly towards your chest, keeping your elbows tucked in.
  5. Step 5: Pause for a moment when the barbell touches your chest.
  6. Step 6: Push the barbell back up to the starting position, fully extending your arms.
  7. Step 7: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the barbell reverse grip incline bench press by training goal
Goal Sets Reps Rest Effort
Strength 3–5 3–6 3–5 min 1–3 reps in reserve
Muscle growth 3–4 6–12 2–3 min 1–2 reps in reserve
Muscular endurance 2–3 12–20 1–2 min 1–3 reps in reserve

Ranges follow the ACSM position stand on progression in resistance training. Muscle grows across a wide range of loads when sets end close to failure (Schoenfeld et al., 2017), longer rests between heavy sets support strength and size (Schoenfeld et al., 2016), and stopping a rep or two short of failure works about as well as training to failure (Grgic et al., 2022). Estimate your working weights with the strength calculators.

Barbell Reverse Grip Incline Bench Press alternatives

More exercises that train the chest as their main target:

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Sources

  1. American College of Sports Medicine. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):687-708.
  2. Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Strength and hypertrophy adaptations between low- vs. high-load resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(12):3508-3523.
  3. Schoenfeld BJ, Pope ZK, Benik FM, et al. Longer interset rest periods enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res. 2016;30(7):1805-1812.
  4. Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Orazem J, Sabol F. Effects of resistance training performed to repetition failure or non-failure on muscular strength and hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2022;11(2):202-211.

Step-by-step instructions and demonstration media are from the ExerciseDB exercise dataset.

This guide is general fitness information, not medical advice. Stop if an exercise causes pain and speak to a doctor or physiotherapist about injuries or health conditions before starting a new programme.