Barbell California Press
The California press combines a close-grip bench press with a skull crusher in one movement, creating a powerful hybrid tricep builder. You lower the bar to your upper chest/neck area with a close grip, blending elbow extension and pressing.
How to Perform
Lie on a flat bench and grip the barbell with hands about 12 inches apart.
Lower the bar to your upper chest by bending both at the elbows and dropping them back.
The bar should travel in a slight arc toward your chin, elbows staying fairly tucked.
Press back up to lockout by extending the elbows and finishing with a press motion.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Lowering the bar too far down the chest, which turns it into a standard close-grip bench.
Lowering too close to the face, which overloads the elbows in a skull crusher position.
Using too wide a grip, which recruits the chest more than the triceps.
Muscle Activation
Variations
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