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Incline Bench Barbell Press

The Incline Bench Barbell Press is a barbell exercise that primarily targets the chest. It is a staple in well-designed hypertrophy and strength programs when programmed with proper volume and progressive overload.

How to perform the Incline Bench Barbell Press

  1. 1Lie back on an incline bench set around 30–45 degrees with your feet flat on the floor and your eyes under the bar. Grip the bar a bit wider than shoulder-width and pull your shoulder blades down and back into the bench while lightly bracing your abs.
  2. 2Unrack the bar so it’s over your upper chest, then lower it with control toward the top of your chest with your elbows at about a 45-degree angle from your body. Lightly touch or come close to your chest, then press the bar back up in a smooth, strong motion, breathing in as you lower and out as you push.

Coach tips

  • Keep your wrists straight and stacked over your elbows so the weight feels stable and doesn’t strain your joints.
  • Don’t bounce the bar off your chest; move with control to keep the work on your chest and protect your shoulders.
  • If you’re new to this or lifting heavy, use a spotter or safety bars so you can rack and unrack the weight safely.
Powered by Hypro

Train chest smarter

One rep, one set. Hypro turns the Incline Bench Barbell Press into measurable progress, week after week.

Smart Progression

The right weight, every set

Hypro suggests your next Incline Bench Barbell Press weight and reps based on what you actually lifted, your rest, and your fatigue. Choose weight-first or reps-first. The more you log, the sharper it gets.

Smart Progression screen suggesting weight and reps for the next set
Weekly Volume

See exactly how much chest you train each week

Every set you log counts toward weekly volume per muscle group. Spot imbalances, avoid junk volume, and program the same way IFBB Pros do.

Body heatmap showing weekly training volume per muscle group
Coach-Built Plans

Use this exercise inside an IFBB Pro plan

Pick a coach-made program, get a plan matched to your goals, and message your coach for form checks. The Incline Bench Barbell Press fits right into proven hypertrophy and strength templates.

Library of coach-built training plans inside Hypro

Frequently asked questions

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