Horizontal Push

Barbell Bench Press

A practical movement guide for every Mission SOP that uses this exercise. Sets, reps, load, tempo, and purpose remain specific to each mission and phase.

Movement guide available

Anatomy map

Muscles involved

Primary Supporting
Option 2 custom anatomy illustration for Barbell Bench Press, with primary and supporting muscles highlighted
PrimaryPectoralis major
SupportingAnterior deltoidsTriceps brachii

ShaOS custom anatomy illustration. Visual reference only; movement coaching and muscle classifications remain defined by the Exercise Library.

Description

A compound pressing movement that develops the chest, triceps, and anterior shoulders while teaching the athlete to create full-body tension against a stable bench.

Setup & Execution

  1. Lie with your eyes under the bar, feet planted, and five points of contact: head, shoulders, glutes, and both feet.
  2. Grip just outside shoulder width, draw the shoulder blades down and together, and unrack with straight wrists.
  3. Lower the bar under control toward the lower chest while keeping the elbows slightly tucked.
  4. Press the bar up and slightly back until the elbows are extended without losing upper-back tension.

Coaching Cues

  • Drive your feet into the floor.
  • Keep your chest tall and wrists stacked.
  • Touch softly, then press with intent.

Common Mistakes

  • Flaring the elbows directly sideways.
  • Letting the shoulders roll forward at the bottom.
  • Bouncing the bar or lifting the hips off the bench.

Movement media

See the movement

Reviewed short loop
Published media
Short silent loop · 6.1 seconds
Reviewed
Jul 16, 2026
Video source
Open source record
30–60 second tutorialplanned
Setup angleplanned
Side angleplanned
Key cue overlayplanned
Captionsplanned
Transcriptplanned

Accessible movement summary

Lie with your eyes under the bar, feet planted, and five points of contact: head, shoulders, glutes, and both feet. Grip just outside shoulder width, draw the shoulder blades down and together, and unrack with straight wrists. Lower the bar under control toward the lower chest while keeping the elbows slightly tucked. Press the bar up and slightly back until the elbows are extended without losing upper-back tension.

Key cue: Drive your feet into the floor.

The production indicators above are roadmap states, not claims that multi-angle footage, overlays, captions, or a narrated transcript are already available.

Adapt the movement

Regressions & alternatives

Preserve the movement pattern while matching current capacity, available equipment, and the mission environment.

Regression

Neutral-grip dumbbell bench press

Progression

Paused barbell bench press

Home gym

Dumbbell floor press or strict push-up

Commercial gym

Selectorized chest press

Used in

Linked Mission SOPs

Upper Strength & GripForge