Chest-Supported Row

A prone row on an inclined bench that takes the lower back and momentum out entirely. The cleanest way to add mid-back volume in sets of 10-15 after heavier pulling.

DIFFICULTY
Beginner
EQUIPMENT
Dumbbell · Bench
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Rhomboids · Lats
ALSO WORKS
Posterior Deltoid · Biceps · Lower Trapezius
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Set a bench to roughly forty-five degrees and lie chest-down on it.
  2. 02Hold a dumbbell in each hand and let the arms hang straight.
  3. 03Set the shoulder blades down before the first rep.
  4. 04Row both dumbbells toward the hips with the elbows tracking close to the body.
  5. 05Lower under control until the arms are fully straight, keeping the chest on the pad.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01Chest stays on the bench the whole set.
  2. 02Pull the elbows behind you.
  3. 03Pause a beat at the top.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Peeling the chest off the pad — that is momentum, and it defeats the entire reason to use this variation.
  2. 02Rowing too high toward the shoulders — the upper traps take over from the mid-back.
  3. 03Using weights that force a half range — the rhomboids need the full stretch to be worth training.

Note: Reference material, not a prescription. Load, volume and whether this movement suits you at all depends on your assessment — if something hurts, stop and get it looked at.

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