Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below there are some things powerlifters swear by that I don't understand and this is one of them. What difference would it make if you do one exercise for triceps over another; triceps only do one thing: elbow extension. Saying pushdowns are bad for strength and don't transfer over to bench is like saying squating will do nothing to increase your dead or vica versa. Can someone scientifically explain or prove that pushdowns are bad for stregnth? Maybe they got a bad rep because bodybuilders like them. Theorectically kickbacks are just as good as any other tricep exercise. Now I wouldn't recommend them because it's probably one of the most awkward movements around but whatever. peace
Strengthening the Triceps
- Thread starter ZZuluZ
- Start date
think it just comes down to form on pushdowns, dont know how many times i see guys almost doing ab crunches while trying to shift the plates. There aint much way to cheat on skullcrushers.
my own favs are JM presses, tate press, skullcrushers and close grip incline. Tho i have to admit that ill finish off with reverse grip pushdowns for a set or two.
Never was a fan of dips, but i know they work for some people.
I also read somewhere that bench to bench dips are kinda useless ? something about position of the arms/elbows etc, dont hold me to it, perhaps someone else might have more info ?
my own favs are JM presses, tate press, skullcrushers and close grip incline. Tho i have to admit that ill finish off with reverse grip pushdowns for a set or two.
Never was a fan of dips, but i know they work for some people.
I also read somewhere that bench to bench dips are kinda useless ? something about position of the arms/elbows etc, dont hold me to it, perhaps someone else might have more info ?
endpoint
New member
okay i retract my statement and say:
Pushdowns are shit because they are an awkward movement(for me).
I feel the movement (even though it is a tricep movement) will build strength which MAY transfer to the bench press.
I also feel that they are a "body builder" movement along with leg curls, kick backs and flyes. When i included this movement into my program i slowly lost all my explosive speed. As soon as i switch back to a dumbell movement I gradually developed my speed again. maybe it has something to do with the use of cables?
You cant deny the fact that a bent over dumbell row feels different to a Lat pulldown.
thats the difference i feel when i perform a lying extension (vs a pushdown)
they supposedly work the same muscles......but in a different way
maybe i cant do them properly?
maybe its the cables.
your the smart one.......am i making any sence?
Pushdowns are shit because they are an awkward movement(for me).
I feel the movement (even though it is a tricep movement) will build strength which MAY transfer to the bench press.
I also feel that they are a "body builder" movement along with leg curls, kick backs and flyes. When i included this movement into my program i slowly lost all my explosive speed. As soon as i switch back to a dumbell movement I gradually developed my speed again. maybe it has something to do with the use of cables?
You cant deny the fact that a bent over dumbell row feels different to a Lat pulldown.
thats the difference i feel when i perform a lying extension (vs a pushdown)
they supposedly work the same muscles......but in a different way
maybe i cant do them properly?
maybe its the cables.
your the smart one.......am i making any sence?
Well shit, if some easily replacable exercise is awkward then don't do it. I guess my point was that if some great powerlifter says elbow out extensions are the bomb shit for benching and all the other tricep exercises that he doesnt recommend are worthless, well fuck that. It's not like one exercise is going to make your bench explode and the other will be ineffective. This isn't rocket science; extending your elbow is extending your elbow; your tricep doesn't care or know the difference between them.
Bottom line: if you like a particular tricep exercise, stick with it. If it's awkward or you find yourself cheating too easily, don't.
Bottom line: if you like a particular tricep exercise, stick with it. If it's awkward or you find yourself cheating too easily, don't.
Tricep hell
5 super sets of 2 exercises, 10 reps per set for each exercise. With less rest and weights. Last time I did these I did pushdowns and then db floor extensions. Decent enough work.
It is called the tricep hell program, Chris Taylor made it popular.
As for specific exercises I always like the db extensions off the floor. Close grip benches are my all time favorite tricep exercise, but alot depends on how your training is structured and what other areas you need to work on.
5 super sets of 2 exercises, 10 reps per set for each exercise. With less rest and weights. Last time I did these I did pushdowns and then db floor extensions. Decent enough work.
It is called the tricep hell program, Chris Taylor made it popular.
As for specific exercises I always like the db extensions off the floor. Close grip benches are my all time favorite tricep exercise, but alot depends on how your training is structured and what other areas you need to work on.
powerlifterjay
New member
Its like this they work. Maybe not incredably for strength , but they serve a purpose. They flush blood into the tri's. Or pump them up easily. And i think theres nothign wrong with getting a little pump after your done. Before i ever powerlifted i could bench 435 raw touch n go and the only tri exercise i did was push downs, and may be some behind the head dumbell and cambered bar once a month. BUt i did various pushdowns for years when i first started lifting. Ropes, reverse, behind the head, you name it. But in that time my arms grew. Dont rely on them for strength. You wanna big bench you need to press number 1 and you need a heavy barbell exercise. Jm , board, floor, close grip, Whatever you do but you have to do these first. Pushdowns are a fininsher for a powerlifter. And thats only if you want little bigger (Looking) tri's. Maybe you dont need them for a pump on size, but like i said before its a habit. And some myths never go a way. If you like em do em, it cant hurt ya. If you dont like em stay away from them. I never do floor presses anymore. I just dont like em! I know they work , but i dont like em!
brianmincher
New member
I am not doing floor presses anymore either, they hurt my damn shoulder.
As for tricep movements, I use a bar movement (JM press, 5 board press, skullcrusher) on dynamic day, and a dumbell movement on max effort day, either tricep extensions or elbows out tricep extensions. On dynamic day I do pressdowns for 3 sets after all other exercises, but on max effort day I do not. Not any real great science behind this, just that with the dumbells, I feel like so much blood is going into the tri's that they are going to pop, and on dynamic day with the heavier bar movement, I don't feel much of a pump, so I hit some tricep pressdowns to get some blood in there. This has worked well for me so far, but if it stops working I will damn sure be doing something else.
As far as the tricep not knowing what exercise you are asking it to do, the central nervous system damn sure knows though, cause you will get weaker if you continually do the same move over and over.
B
As for tricep movements, I use a bar movement (JM press, 5 board press, skullcrusher) on dynamic day, and a dumbell movement on max effort day, either tricep extensions or elbows out tricep extensions. On dynamic day I do pressdowns for 3 sets after all other exercises, but on max effort day I do not. Not any real great science behind this, just that with the dumbells, I feel like so much blood is going into the tri's that they are going to pop, and on dynamic day with the heavier bar movement, I don't feel much of a pump, so I hit some tricep pressdowns to get some blood in there. This has worked well for me so far, but if it stops working I will damn sure be doing something else.
As far as the tricep not knowing what exercise you are asking it to do, the central nervous system damn sure knows though, cause you will get weaker if you continually do the same move over and over.
B
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