Barbell Pullover with Bench Press - How to Perform, Muscles, Variants | SatisFIT Skip to main content

Barbell Pullover with Bench Press

Step by step instructions, muscle activation and variants for the Barbell Pullover with Bench Press.

HardMiddle chest

About this exercise

A compound movement that combines a barbell pullover and a bench press in one continuous repetition. The pullover phase pre-stretches the lats and chest before transitioning directly into the press, increasing time under tension and overall upper-body activation.

How to Perform

  • Lie on a flat bench and hold a barbell at arms' length above your chest with a shoulder-width overhand grip
  • Lower the barbell in an arc behind your head toward the floor (pullover phase) until you feel a full stretch across the chest and lats
  • Reverse the arc, pulling the bar back overhead to the chest-press starting position
  • Press the bar straight up until your arms are fully extended (bench-press phase)
  • Lower the bar back to your chest with control
  • Repeat the pullover-to-press sequence for each rep

Muscle Activation

Primary
Middle chest
Secondary
TricepsUpper chestMiddle back

Common Mistakes

Common mistakes content is coming soon.

About the Barbell Pullover with Bench Press

The Barbell Pullover with Bench Press is a foundational movement that builds strength and muscle through controlled, progressive overload. Train it 1 to 2 times per week with 3 to 5 working sets per session, gradually adding weight or reps as form holds up.