Exercise guide · intermediate
Skull Crushers (EZ Bar)
Skull crushers with an ez bar are a barbell exercise targeting the triceps. Performed lying on a bench, the movement isolates the triceps by flexing and extending the elbow, building size and strength in the back of the upper arm.
- Equipment
- barbell
- Typical range
- 8–15 reps
- Also works
- shoulders
01 · Set up
Choose a grip that keeps your wrists straight and place your upper arms in the position required by the exercise.
Brace your torso and begin with the elbows bent while keeping the shoulders quiet.
02 · Perform
Straighten the elbows while keeping the upper arms in their starting position.
Finish with the arms long without forcing or snapping the elbows.
Allow the elbows to bend under control until you return to the starting stretch.
Coaching tips
- Keep the non-working joints still.
- Use the full controlled range.
- Own the return phase.
Common mistakes
- Moving the torso to create momentum.
- Using resistance that shortens the range.
- Letting the resistance drop on the return.
What it should feel like
Expect the triceps to do most of the work, without sharp or joint-focused pain.
Stop or modify when
Stop or shorten the range for sharp, sudden, worsening, or joint-focused pain.
Reviewed alternatives