Barbell Close Grip Larsen Press

The Barbell Close Grip Larsen Press targets the triceps and chest muscles. This exercise is performed lying on a bench, allowing for a greater range of motion.

  1. Lie on a flat bench with a barbell held above your chest using a close grip.
  2. Lower the barbell towards your chest while keeping your elbows close to your body.
  3. Press the barbell back up to the starting position, fully extending your arms.

How to perform the Barbell Close Grip Larsen Press

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Barbell Close Grip Larsen Press using your barbell.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your pectoralis major.
  3. Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.

Coaching cues

  • Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
  • Drive force through your pectoralis major rather than momentum.
  • Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much weight and losing positional control.
  • Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
  • Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.

Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.

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