Arms · Barbell
Barbell Lying Triceps Extension Skull Crusher
How to do the barbell lying triceps extension skull crusher, 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
- Extension
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Lie flat on a bench holding a barbell over your chest with a shoulder-width or slightly closer grip. Keeping your upper arms fixed and pointing up, bend your elbows to lower the bar toward your forehead. Extend your elbows to press the bar back to the start.
- 1A deep stretch across the triceps at the bottom
- 2Upper arms locked in place while the elbows hinge
- 3Triceps driving the bar back up
Common mistakes
- Letting your elbows drift apart or forward
- Turning it into a pullover by swinging at the shoulders
- Lowering the bar onto your face without control
Muscles worked
The barbell lying triceps extension skull crusher mainly works the triceps, with the forearms assisting.
- TricepsPrimary
- ForearmsSupport
- BicepsMinor
- Mid ChestMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the barbell lying triceps extension skull crusher 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 triceps exercises
- How to do the bent-over tricep extension
- How to do the crossbody tricep extension
- How to do the cable katana tricep extension
- How to do the cable single arm tricep extension
- How to do the kickback
- How to do the lying tricep extension
Last reviewed June 2026.