How to perform Cable Bench Press with proper form
Setup
- Equipment: Use a cable machine with adjustable pulleys.
- Bench Positioning: Place a flat bench in the middle of the cable machine.
- Pulley Adjustment: Set the cable pulleys to the lowest position.
Execution
- Grip the Handles: Stand facing away from the machine. Grab the cable handles with an overhand grip (palms facing away) or underhand grip (palms facing you), depending on your preference.
- Lying Position: Lie down on the bench with your feet flat on the floor. Position the handles at chest level, elbows bent at about 90 degrees.
- Starting Position: Keep your shoulder blades retracted and your back flat against the bench.
- Press Upwards: Extend your arms straight up while keeping a slight bend in the elbows; this prevents locking out your joints.
- Control the Descent: Slowly lower the handles back to the starting position while maintaining tension in your chest muscles.
Tips
- Breathing: Exhale while pressing up and inhale while lowering.
- Elbow Position: Keep your elbows at an angle of about 45 degrees to your body to avoid shoulder strain.
- Core Engagement: Maintain tension in your core for stability throughout the movement.
Common Mistakes
- Overextending: Avoid locking your elbows at the top of the press.
- Arching the Back: Keep your back flat against the bench to protect your lower back.
- Rushing the Movement: Focus on controlled movements to maximize efficiency and minimize injury risk.
Exercises

Arnold Press, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest, Triceps

Arnold Press, Kettlebell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest, Triceps

Behind The Neck Press, Barbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Triceps

Behind The Neck Press, Smith Machine
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Triceps

Behind The Neck Press, Band
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Triceps

Bench Dip, Bodyweight
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps
Synergist: Shoulders, Back, Chest

Bench Press, Barbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps

Bench Press, Cable
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps

Bench Press, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps

Bench Press, Smith Machine
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps

Bench Press, Band
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps

Bench Press, Kettlebell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps

Bench Press Close Grip, Barbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps
Synergist: Shoulders, Chest

Bench Press Close Grip, Smith Machine
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps
Synergist: Shoulders, Chest

Bench Press Close Grip, EZ Bar
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps
Synergist: Shoulders, Chest

Bench Press Wide Grip, Barbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps

Bench Press Wide Grip, Smith Machine
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps

Cable Kickback, Cable
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps

Chest Dip, Bodyweight
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Back, Triceps

Chest Fly, Barbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Biceps, Shoulders

Chest Fly, Cable
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Biceps, Shoulders
Chest Fly, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Biceps, Shoulders
Chest Fly, Leverage Machine
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Biceps, Shoulders
Chest Press, Band
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Biceps, Shoulders
Chest Press, Leverage Machine
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Biceps, Shoulders
Clean, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Push
Target: Glutes, Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Back, Shoulders
Synergist: Calves, Biceps, Chest, Forearms
Clean and Jerk, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Push
Target: Glutes, Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Back, Shoulders
Synergist: Calves, Biceps, Chest, Forearms
Decline Bench Press, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps
Decline Bench Press, Smith Machine
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps
Front Raise, Barbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest
Front Raise, Cable
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest
Front Raise, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest
Front Raise, Band
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest
Front Raise, Bodyweight
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest
Handstand Push Up, Bodyweight
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps
Synergist: Shoulders, Chest
Incline Bench Press, Barbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps
Incline Bench Press, Cable
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps
Incline Bench Press, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps
Incline Bench Press, Smith Machine
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps
Incline Bench Press Wide Grip, Barbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps
Incline Chest Fly, Cable
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Biceps, Shoulders
Incline Chest Fly, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Biceps, Shoulders
Incline Chest Press, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps
Incline Chest Press, Band
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps
Incline Chest Press, Leverage Machine
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps
Lateral Raise, Cable
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest
Lateral Raise, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest
Lateral Raise, Band
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest
Lateral Raise, Kettlebell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest
Lateral Raise, Leverage Machine
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest
Legs Up Bench Press, Barbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps
Overhead Press, Barbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest, Triceps
Overhead Press, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest, Triceps
Overhead Press, EZ Bar
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest, Triceps
Pec Deck, Leverage Machine
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Push Press, Barbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Biceps, Chest
Push Press, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Biceps, Chest
Push Press, Kettlebell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Biceps, Chest
Push Press, Bodyweight
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Biceps, Chest
Push Up, Band
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps
Push Up, Bodyweight
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Chest
Synergist: Shoulders, Triceps
Seated Front Raise, Barbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest
Seated Front Raise, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest
Seated Overhead Press, Barbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest, Triceps
Shoulder Press, Cable
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest, Triceps
Shoulder Press, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest, Triceps
Shoulder Press, Smith Machine
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest, Triceps
Shoulder Press, Band
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest, Triceps
Shoulder Press, Leverage Machine
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest, Triceps
Shoulder Press Parallel Grip, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Shoulders
Synergist: Chest, Triceps
Skullcrusher, Barbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps
Skullcrusher, Cable
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps
Skullcrusher, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps
Skullcrusher, EZ Bar
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps
Thruster, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Push
Target: Shoulders, Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Chest, Calves, Triceps
Triceps Dip, Bodyweight
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps
Synergist: Back, Chest, Shoulders
Triceps Dip, Leverage Machine
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps
Synergist: Back, Chest, Shoulders
Triceps Extension, Barbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps
Triceps Extension, Cable
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps
Triceps Extension, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps
Triceps Extension, Band
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps
Triceps Pushdown, Cable
Type: Upper, Push
Target: Triceps