Chest exercises

Wide-grip Push-up

Also known as: Pompes prise large · Κάμψεις με ανοιχτά χέρια · Push-Up Wide · wide push-up

Primary
Chest
Equipment
Bodyweight
Level
Beginner
Type
Compound
Suggested rest
1.5 min

How to do the Wide-grip Push-up

  1. With your hands wide apart, support your body on your toes and hands in a plank position. Your elbows should be extended and your body straight. Do not allow your hips to sag. This will be your starting position.

  2. To begin, allow the elbows to flex, lowering your chest to the floor as you inhale.

  3. Using your pectoral muscles, press your upper body back up to the starting position by extending the elbows. Exhale as you perform this step.

  4. After pausing at the contracted position, repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.

Sets and reps

GoalSetsRepsRest
Muscle growth3–46–151.5 min
Muscular endurance2–315–201 min

When you hit the top of the rep range on every set, add a rep or a harder variation next session.

Starting points from training research. Stop each set 1–3 reps short of failure.

Muscles worked

Primary

Chest

Secondary

Abs, Shoulders, Triceps

The pecs push your arms forward and across your body. Presses build the most mass; flyes and cable work load the stretch the presses miss.

Alternatives

Same muscles, similar movement: swap in one of these if the Wide-grip Push-up doesn’t suit your gym or your joints.

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Bodyweight chest exercises