Exercise library
Skull Crusher
The skull crusher is a lying triceps extension with an EZ-bar that isolates and overloads all three heads of the triceps.
BarbellArmsIntermediate
- Equipment
- Barbell
- Focus
- Arms
- Level
- Intermediate
- Suggested sets
- 3–4 sets of 8–12 reps.
- Muscles worked
- Triceps
How to do it
- 1Lie flat on a bench holding an EZ-bar above your chest with a shoulder-width grip.
- 2Start with your arms extended and your upper arms pointing roughly straight up.
- 3Bend at the elbows to lower the bar toward your forehead or just behind your head.
- 4Keep your upper arms still while only the forearms move.
- 5Press the bar back up to full extension by straightening the elbows, then repeat.
Tips & tricks
- Lower toward the top of your head for a bigger triceps stretch.
- Keep the elbows pointing up rather than letting them flare wide.
- Use an EZ-bar to keep the wrists and elbows comfortable.
Common mistakes
- Flaring the elbows out and turning it into a press.
- Moving the upper arms instead of keeping them fixed.
- Using too much weight and losing control near your face.
