Best Workouts With Flat Bench To Build Strength For Men

The Barbell Bench Press is a key exercise for building upper body strength, targeting the chest, shoulders, and triceps. It’s commonly used in fitness programs and is essential for evaluating upper body strength.

How to do it

1. Lie on a bench with your shoulder blades squeezed together and feet flat on the ground.
2. Ensure your head, shoulders, and butt are on the bench throughout the exercise.
3. Grip the barbell slightly wider than your shoulders and lift it above your chest.
4. Engage your core by tightening your stomach muscles as you lower the barbell to your chest, keeping your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Gently touch your chest with the barbell, then push it back up to the starting position while exhaling.

The Dumbbell Bench Press is a great exercise for beginners that targets the chest, triceps, and shoulders. Using dumbbells helps improve stability and ensures both sides of the body work equally without compensating for weaknesses.

How to do it

1. Lie back on a bench, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
2. Place your feet flat on the ground, under your knees.
3. Hold the dumbbells outside shoulder-width apart, above your chest.
4. Keep your elbows at a 45-degree angle and engage your core.
5. Extend your arms fully and then lower the dumbbells back to starting position.

The Dumbbell Fly is an effective exercise for strengthening and building the chest muscles. It also engages the shoulders for support. This exercise helps to develop muscle balance by working each side of the body independently.

How to do it

1. Lie on your back on a bench, squeezing your shoulder blades together and keeping your feet flat on the ground.
2. Ensure the bench supports your head, shoulders, and buttocks.
3. Hold the dumbbells above your shoulders with palms facing inward and elbows slightly bent.
4. Engage your core and slowly lower the dumbbells out to the sides in a wide arc, keeping your elbows slightly bent.
5. When the dumbbells are level with your chest, exhale and lift them back to the starting position.

The Dumbbell Row is a great exercise that strengthens your back, shoulders, and biceps while also engaging your core for stability. You can do this exercise using a flat bench and dumbbells, making it accessible even with limited equipment.

How to do it

1. Place a dumbbell on each side of a flat bench.
2. Kneel on the bench with your right knee and place your right hand on the bench's edge.
3. Keep your torso parallel to the ground and grab the dumbbell with your left hand, palm facing your torso.
4. Pull the dumbbell up to your side, engaging your back; exhale as you lift.
5. Pause briefly at the top, then lower the dumbbell back to the starting position.

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.

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.

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 Barbell Step Up is a great exercise for building strength in your thighs, glutes, and hamstrings while improving balance. By using a barbell, you add extra resistance, which helps build muscle endurance in your lower body.

How to do it

1. Set the barbell just below your shoulders and stand with your back facing it.
2. Bend your knees slightly to get under the barbell and lift it onto your neck.
3. Step forward 3-6 inches in front of a plyo box.
4. Put your weight on your left leg, then lift your right foot onto the box.
5. Shift your weight onto your right leg, bringing your left foot next to it on the box.
6. To return, step back down with your left foot first, then your right.

The Bulgarian Split Squat is a lower-body exercise that targets your quadriceps and helps build strength, power, and stability. By placing your back leg on a bench, it challenges your balance and enhances the workout.

How to do it

1. Stand with your right foot in front and your left foot elevated on a bench behind you.
2. Keep your torso upright and lower your back knee towards the ground.
3. Once your knee is just above the floor, push through your front heel to return to the starting position.
4. Switch legs and repeat the exercise.

Decline Push Up is a challenging version of the standard Push Up. It mainly works your chest, triceps, and shoulders, focusing more on the upper chest because your feet are elevated. This exercise helps strengthen your upper body effectively.

How to do it

1. Place your hands on the floor outside of shoulder width.
2. Elevate your feet on a bench or box.
3. Keep your hips and knees straight.
4. Lower your chest towards the floor by bending your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Push back up to the starting position after your chest is close to the floor.

The Dumbbell Shoulder Press is an exercise that focuses on strengthening the shoulders. Using dumbbells helps engage stabilizing muscles and can improve balance between both sides of the body.

How to do it

1. Sit on a bench with your back straight.
2. Hold a dumbbell in each hand, just outside shoulder-width, palms facing forward.
3. Bend your elbows and keep them close to your sides.
4. Press the dumbbells overhead until your arms are fully extended, keeping your wrists straight.
5. Lower the dumbbells back to the starting position.

The Smith Machine Bench Press is a chest exercise that works your triceps and shoulders too. The Smith Machine helps keep the movement steady, making it easier to focus on properly performing the exercise.

How to do it

1. Lie on your back on a bench with your shoulder blades squeezed together.
2. Make sure your head, shoulders, and butt stay on the bench.
3. Place your feet flat on the ground and keep your knees bent.
4. Position the bar over your chest, holding it just outside shoulder-width with an overhand grip.
5. Engage your core and unhook the bar, lowering it slowly towards your chest while keeping your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
6. Touch your chest gently with the bar, then exhale and push it back to the starting position.

The Barbell Hip Thrust is a strength exercise that targets your glutes using a barbell for added resistance. By resting your upper body on a bench, this move helps you build power and strength in your lower body.

How to do it

1. Sit on the floor with your shoulders against a bench and the barbell at your feet.
2. Roll the barbell onto your lap and bend your knees, placing your feet hip-width apart on the ground.
3. Grip the barbell to keep it stable against your hips.
4. Lift your hips by squeezing your glutes until your body forms a straight line from knees to shoulders.
5. Lower your hips back to the ground in a controlled movement.

The Dumbbell Step Up is an exercise that strengthens your thighs while holding weights. It helps you improve stability and balance by targeting your leg muscles effectively.

How to do it

1. Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand with palms facing in.
2. Face a plyo box, keeping a small gap (3-6 inches) between your toes and the box.
3. Shift your weight to your left leg and lift your right foot over the box, placing it firmly on top.
4. Maintaining an upright posture, transfer your weight to your right leg and step up with your left foot to join it on the box.
5. Step back down by lowering your left foot first, followed by your right foot, returning to the starting position.

The Seated Dumbbell Rear Delt Raise strengthens the muscles at the back of your shoulders. Sitting provides stability, helping you focus on your form while balancing the weight evenly on both sides.

How to do it

1. Sit on the edge of a bench with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing in.
2. Lean forward at your hips at a 40-60 degree angle with your back straight.
3. Raise the dumbbells out to the sides until they reach shoulder height, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
4. Lower the dumbbells back to the starting position in a controlled manner.