The seated French press is a top-drawer train for including mass to your triceps. 

It’s efficient as a result of it emphasizes probably the most voluminous a part of the triceps—the lengthy head. It’s additionally simpler to arrange and carry out than most comparable workout routines, making it appropriate for weightlifters of all expertise ranges. 

On this article, you’ll discover ways to carry out the EZ-bar French press with correct kind, which muscle tissues it really works, the very best French press options and variations, and extra. 

 

How one can Do the Seated French Press

To grasp seated French press kind, break up the train into three elements: arrange, descend, and ascend.

1. Arrange

Sit up on a flat bench. Grip a loaded EZ-bar together with your arms 6-to-10 inches aside and elevate it overhead in order that your arms are straight. 

2. Descend

Whereas maintaining your again straight and your higher arms as near perpendicular to the ground as doable, decrease the EZ-bar behind your head by bending your elbows. Go so far as you comfortably can or till you’re feeling a deep stretch in your triceps.

3. Ascend

Push the EZ-bar towards the ceiling by straightening your elbows and return to the beginning place. 

Attempt to decrease your upper-arm motion as you elevate the burden, as shifting your arms will increase the possibilities of knocking your noggin with the bar. 

Right here’s the way it ought to look while you put all of it collectively:

Seated French Press: Muscle tissue Labored

The seated French press trains all three heads of the triceps:


Triceps (anatomy)Triceps (anatomy)


Seated French Press: Advantages

It emphasizes the triceps lengthy head.

The triceps have three heads: The lateral head, medial head, and lengthy head. The lengthy head is the most important of the three and thus contributes most to the general measurement of your triceps. 

In contrast to most compound workout routines that practice the triceps, the French press emphasizes the lengthy head over the medial and lateral heads. This implies it’s significantly nicely suited to serving to you add measurement to your higher arms.

It trains your triceps whereas stretched.

Analysis reveals that coaching a muscle in a stretched or “lengthened” place ends in extra development than coaching it in a shortened one. 

Nevertheless, most triceps workout routines solely stretch the medial and lateral heads of the triceps as a result of they don’t place the arms overhead, which is critical to completely lengthen the lengthy head. 

The French press is completely different as a result of it positions your arms overhead, totally stretching all three heads of the triceps. This makes it extremely efficient for including mass to your higher arms.

It’s straightforward to arrange and carry out.

Utilizing an EZ-bar for the French press makes it simpler to arrange and carry out in comparison with different related workout routines.

For instance, whereas cable and dumbbell overhead triceps extensions are equally efficient, the cable model could be tough to arrange because it usually pulls you off stability, and the dumbbell variation could be difficult since you’re extra more likely to hit your head or lose your grip.

Consequently, the EZ-bar French press is usually extra appropriate for new weightlifters who could not but have the coordination and stability required for these different workout routines.

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Widespread French Press Mistake

The most typical errors to keep away from whereas performing the French press train are:

1. Flaring your elbows. 

Permitting your elbow to flare out to the perimeters can result in elbow ache. As an alternative, goal to level your elbows towards the ceiling all through every rep. 

2. Gripping too extensive.

Gripping the EZ-bar too extensive (arms greater than 10 inches aside) makes it tougher to level your elbow towards the ceiling, which will increase the chances you’ll expertise shoulder ache. To repair this, grip the bar together with your arms 6-to-10 inches aside for every set.

3. Arching the decrease again.

For those who lack shoulder mobility, arching your decrease again could make it simpler to maintain your higher arms perpendicular to the ground. The issue with doing that is that it will probably stress your backbone, particularly when the weights get heavy.

An efficient workaround is to carry out the train on an incline bench set to round 60 levels. This reduces the mobility calls for of the train and makes it simpler to carry out appropriately with out compromising your again. 

The Finest Seated French Press Alternate options & Variations

1. Seated Dumbbell French Press

The seated dumbbell French press (extra generally referred to as the overhead triceps extension) is a viable different to the French press when you don’t have an EZ-bar. The one potential downsides of utilizing a dumbbell are that your grip is much less safe, and you could be extra more likely to hit your head with the burden. 

2. Standing French Press

The standing French press is way the identical because the seated variation, besides you carry out it in your ft. Each variations practice the triceps to the identical diploma, so select whichever you discover most comfy and steady. 

3. Incline French Press

The incline French press requires much less shoulder mobility than the common French press, making it a wonderful variation of the French press for individuals who discover holding the arms overhead difficult or uncomfortable. 

4. Skullcrusher

The skullcrusher (typically referred to as the mendacity French press) trains the triceps muscle tissues equally to the common French press, particularly when you decrease the bar behind your head till it’s nearly touching the bench. The advantage of the mendacity variation is that many discover it simpler to carry out because you don’t need to stabilize your core as a lot.

5. Triceps Pushdown

Just like the French press with an EZ-bar, the cable triceps pushdown trains the lengthy head of the triceps to a excessive diploma, significantly when you preserve your elbows barely behind your torso. It additionally trains the triceps by a full vary of movement, which is good for muscle development.