Arms · Barbell
Olympic Barbell Triceps Extension
How to do the olympic barbell triceps extension, 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 on a bench holding an Olympic barbell with a shoulder-width overhand grip and arms extended over your chest. Bend your elbows to lower the bar toward your forehead, then extend your arms to press it back up, keeping your upper arms still.
- 1Your triceps stretching as the bar lowers and contracting as you press up
- 2Your upper arms staying vertical and elbows fixed in place
- 3A controlled descent rather than dropping the bar to your head
Common mistakes
- Do not let your elbows flare out wide as you lower
- Avoid moving your upper arms or pressing like a bench press
- Do not bounce the bar off your forehead or arch your back
Muscles worked
The olympic barbell triceps extension mainly works the triceps, with the forearms assisting.
- TricepsPrimary
- ForearmsSupport
- LatsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the olympic barbell triceps extension 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.