Chest · Barbell
Barbell Larsen Press
How to do the barbell larsen press, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Barbell
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- HorizontalPush
- Mechanic
- Compound
How to do it
Lie on a flat bench holding a barbell at chest level, but keep your legs straight out in front of you with feet off the floor so you cannot use leg drive. Press the bar straight up until your arms are extended, then lower it under control to your chest. Stay tight and balanced without your feet for support.
- 1Press the bar up using your chest and triceps with no leg drive
- 2Keep your shoulder blades pinned and your core braced for balance
- 3Feel your pecs control the bar through the full path
Common mistakes
- Don't bounce the bar off your chest or arch hard to cheat
- Avoid flaring your elbows out wide or letting your wrists bend back
- Don't let your hips or shoulders shift to find leverage
Muscles worked
The barbell larsen press mainly works the mid chest, with the triceps, upper chest, lower chest, and front delts assisting.
- Mid ChestPrimary
- TricepsSupport
- Upper ChestSupport
- Lower ChestSupport
- Front DeltsSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- Upper AbsMinor
- Lower AbsMinor
Kovo programs the barbell larsen press for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More chest exercises
- How to do the archer push-up
- How to do the assisted dip
- How to do the resistance band chest flyes
- How to do the resistance band push-up
- How to do the barbell bench press
- How to do the paused bench press
Last reviewed June 2026.