Best Advanced Triceps Workouts To Build Muscle Mass

The Close-Grip Bench Press targets the triceps more than the standard bench press by keeping your hands closer together. This exercise is ideal for adding triceps strength to your chest workout.

How to do it

1. Lie on a bench with your shoulder blades squeezed together and feet flat on the ground.
2. Grab the barbell with hands slightly closer than shoulder-width apart, and lift it over your chest.
3. Lower the barbell toward your chest by bending your elbows, keeping them close to your body.
4. Touch the barbell lightly on your chest, then push it back up to the starting position.

Dips are a bodyweight exercise that primarily targets the triceps. You lift and lower your body using your arms while keeping your core engaged.

How to do it

1. Hold onto the dip bars with straight arms and slightly bent elbows.
2. Suspended above the ground, brace your core and keep your back straight.
3. Lean your body forward slightly and pull your elbows down to lower yourself.
4. Keep your elbows close to your sides until they reach a 90-degree angle.
5. Push back up to straighten your arms and return to the starting position.

The Dumbbell Skullcrusher is a great exercise for strengthening your triceps. Using dumbbells helps ensure both arms work equally and adds a challenge to your stability.

How to do it

1. Lie on your back on a bench with your shoulder blades squeezed together and feet flat on the floor.
2. Ensure the bench supports your head, shoulders, and hips.
3. Hold dumbbells above your shoulders with palms facing each other and elbows slightly bent.
4. Engage your core and lower the dumbbells behind your head by bending your elbows, keeping your upper arms stable.
5. When the dumbbells are just above your forehead, exhale and lift them back to the starting position.

The Cable Rope Tricep Extension is a great exercise to specifically strengthen your triceps. Using a cable machine allows for better control and consistent tension, making it ideal for adjusting weights easily and performing high-repetition sets.

How to do it

1. Set the pulley to the highest position and attach the rope.
2. Hold the rope with your palms facing each other, elbows at your sides, bent at 90 degrees.
3. Engage your core and keep your back straight.
4. Extend your arms by straightening your elbows while keeping them close to your body.
5. Return to the starting position by bending your elbows.

Skullcrushers are a triceps exercise performed while lying on a bench. This movement focuses on isolating the triceps and can be done with an EZ-Bar for better grip and stability.

How to do it

1. Lie back on a bench, keeping your shoulder blades squeezed and your heels flat on the ground.
2. Ensure the bench supports your head, shoulders, and buttocks at all times.
3. Hold the EZ-Bar above your shoulders with hands shoulder-width apart.
4. Keep your upper arms still and bend your elbows to lower the bar just above your forehead.
5. Exhale as you extend your arms to lift the bar back to the starting position.

The Seated Tricep Press is an exercise that strengthens your triceps by using a dumbbell. It helps improve your range of motion by pressing the weight overhead, adding variety to your workouts.

How to do it

1. Sit upright on a bench with your feet shoulder-width apart.
2. Hold a dumbbell vertically at chest height with palms facing up.
3. Brace your core and press the dumbbell overhead, keeping elbows forward.
4. Lower the dumbbell behind your head until your forearms touch your biceps.
5. Lift the dumbbell back to the starting position.

The EZ-Bar Overhead Tricep Extension is a great exercise that focuses on strengthening the triceps. Using an EZ-Bar makes it easier to grip, helping you lift more weight safely while also improving your overall strength and stability.

How to do it

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
2. Hold the EZ-bar with both hands behind your head, elbows pointing up.
3. Push the EZ-bar overhead by contracting your triceps, keeping elbows steady.
4. Lower the EZ-bar back behind your head slowly, maintaining tension in your triceps.
5. Keep your core tight and back straight throughout the exercise.

The Bench Dip is a simple bodyweight exercise that mainly works your triceps. It’s easier than regular dips because your feet stay on the ground, making it perfect for beginners to build strength towards full dips.

How to do it

1. Sit on a bench with your hands next to your hips, palms down.
2. Move your body forward, lowering your hips off the bench while keeping your feet on the ground.
3. Bend your elbows and lower your hips until your upper arms are parallel to the ground, keeping your chest up.
4. Push back up by extending your elbows to return to the starting position.

Dumbbell Kickbacks are a great exercise for beginners to strengthen the triceps. Using dumbbells helps ensure you work each arm evenly. This exercise can also be adjusted for more challenge as you progress.

How to do it

1. Stand with feet hip-width apart and knees slightly bent.
2. Hold a dumbbell in each hand and hinge forward at your hips until your torso is at a 45-degree angle, keeping your back straight.
3. Bend your elbows and position your arms behind you, so dumbbells are under your elbows.
4. Push the dumbbells back by straightening your arms, squeezing your triceps at the end of the movement.
5. Pause briefly, then slowly return to the starting position while keeping tension in your triceps.

Machine Tricep Dips are a beginner-friendly exercise that focuses on strengthening your triceps using a machine. The machine provides stability, making it easier to concentrate on the movement without worrying about balance. This exercise is ideal for building muscle and preparing for bodyweight dips.

How to do it

1. Sit upright in the tricep dip machine, pressing your lower back and shoulders against the back pad.
2. Grab the handles with your palms facing in and elbows bent at 90 degrees.
3. Keep your elbows close to your body and extend your arms.
4. Slowly return to the starting position by bending your elbows.

The Machine Tricep Extension is an exercise that focuses on strengthening your triceps. Using a machine helps stabilize your movement, ensuring that only your triceps are engaged while keeping your elbows steady against the pad.

How to do it

1. Sit up straight in the machine with your arms resting on the pads.
2. Grab the handles with your palms facing in (neutral grip).
3. Keep your upper arms parallel in front of your shoulders.
4. Extend your elbows to lower the handles, keeping your upper arms on the pad.
5. Before fully extending your elbows, return the handles to the starting position.

Ring Dip is a challenging exercise that targets your triceps using rings. The instability of the rings helps improve your body control while performing dips, making it a great way to enhance your upper body strength.

How to do it

1. Grab the rings so the straps are on the outside of your arms with elbows slightly bent.
2. Lift your body up, keeping your core tight and spine straight.
3. Lean slightly forward and pull your shoulders back as you bend your elbows to lower yourself.
4. Keep your elbows close to your body until they're at a 90-degree angle.
5. Push back up by straightening your elbows to return to the starting position.

The Smith Machine Close-Grip Bench Press is a safe way to strengthen your triceps, chest, and shoulders. This exercise focuses on your triceps, helping to build arm strength and muscle definition, making it great for beginners and experienced lifters alike.

How to do it

1. Lie on a bench and squeeze your shoulder blades together. Keep your heels flat on the floor.
2. Ensure the bench touches your head, shoulders, and butt throughout the exercise.
3. Position the Smith Machine bar over your lower chest and grip it with your hands directly above your shoulders.
4. Brace your core, unhook the bar, and lower it to your chest by bending your elbows.
5. Gently touch your chest with the bar, then exhale and push it back to the starting position.

The Tricep Overhead Extension with Rope is a great exercise to strengthen your triceps. Using a cable machine allows for better control and keeps tension on the muscles throughout the movement for effective results.

How to do it

1. Attach a cable rope to the pulley at shoulder height.
2. Stand facing away from the pulley and grip the rope with your palms facing each other.
3. Bend slightly forward with your back straight and your chest up, positioning one foot forward.
4. Extend your arms straight above your head, keeping your elbows close to your ears.
5. Slowly bring your elbows back to the starting position.

The Cable Tricep Pushdown is an exercise that works the triceps, the muscles at the back of your arms. Using a flat bar allows you to keep your palms facing down, helping to stabilize your wrists as you perform the move.

How to do it

1. Set the pulley to the highest position with a straight or angled bar attached.
2. Grip the bar with your palms facing down and elbows bent at 90 degrees, close to your body.
3. Keep your core tight and your shoulders back.
4. Push the bar down by extending your elbows, keeping them close to your sides until your arms are straight.
5. Return to the starting position by bending your elbows back.