Skullcrushers

[linden]

Do you go to 90* or do you go to your forehead? I go to 90* because when i go to my forehead my elbows start move out and i invoulantarily use more chest. does this happen to any one else. does anyone have reason why going to their forehead is better?

[Montague]

I can’t think of any.
I prefer lowering the bar to behind my head.
Better stretch, greater ROM, and easier on the elbows.

[allnatural]

I can’t think of any.
I prefer lowering the bar to behind my head.
Better stretch, greater ROM, and easier on the elbows.

Yeap, I do them behind the head also. I feel it in the triceps alot more than to the forehead.

[Bobby]

lighter weight, to forehead, keep elbows in = maximum triceps

behind the head = chest involvement

[coltrane]

lighter weight, to forehead, keep elbows in = maximum triceps

behind the head = chest involvement

Is this being done when you're in "offseason" or not?

[tbombz]

lighter weight, to forehead, keep elbows in = maximum triceps

behind the head = chest involvement

i dont see how it recrutes chest. it would be recruting a tiny bit of lats and rear delts, the opposite of chest.



its like pullovers. these workout the lats. yet tons of people think its chest and do them on chest day.  the pecs pull the arms across the body, the back pulls the arms down and back... 

[Bobby]

i dont see how it recrutes chest. it would be recruting a tiny bit of lats and rear delts, the opposite of chest.



its like pullovers. these workout the lats. yet tons of people think its chest and do them on chest day.  the pecs pull the arms across the body, the back pulls the arms down and back... 

well i work chest before tris normally and then you can really tell, otherwise it might not be as noticeable. But yeah it does recruit chest and so do pullovers. sometimes i do pullover for back, sometimes for chest. Although it's more of a back exercise so you really have to be at the end of chest wo to feel it.

[big man]

I can’t think of any.
I prefer lowering the bar to behind my head.
Better stretch, greater ROM, and easier on the elbows.

x2

[dyslexic]

I like having a spotter for skullcrusheez...

[pumpster]

well i work chest before tris normally and then you can really tell, otherwise it might not be as noticeable. But yeah it does recruit chest and so do pullovers. sometimes i do pullover for back, sometimes for chest. Although it's more of a back exercise so you really have to be at the end of chest wo to feel it.

35+ years of doing lying extensions not once have i noticed chest involvement. What i've noticed is that lowering behind the head blows up the tris better than anything else. Any secondary muscle involement is minor, if there's anything it's commonly thought of as involving lats since it's slightly like pullovers.

Skulls to the head (1) works the elbows and tissue near the elbows a lot more than the belly of the long head that's hit with extensions, and (2) skulls are easily dangerous, as there's no way to serious work to anywhere near failure on skulls without the danger of  dropping the weight on the head (hence the need for a spotter as someone said).

Just my informed opinion. The real students of BB like Scott and Coe say the same thing.

[jpm101]

Might want to remember that true SC'ers are partial rep movements. Not meant to have the bar lower, as behind the head or anywhere else, only touching from the bridge of the nose to the upper forehead. Elbows will be out, for this is not a strict movement by any means. Might even be pushing off reaching the top part of the exercise, as some do. Some men consider it a power exercise. Seeing as how 200+ is not that unusual in a lot of power gyms, I can understand this. Seen 300+ for workout reps. Guy's were mostly big benchers.

There is also the DB version, one arm at a time, with even a shorter ROM. Also seen  big benchers favor these.The pec's are involved to help keep the arms stable, as are the shoulders and back (lats). Might be a slight gain in pec growth but that would be all.  Anyone feel the need of a spotter, than get one. Most guy's just flip the bar back, behind the head, if a problem arises.

True SC'ers are not meant for most trainee's. The average elbow will not take that stress. So applying a little caution when doing this exercise may be needed. Using wraps  or rubbing lotion to keep the area warm, with a good blood flow, may help. If suited for you than it can be a great muscle builder and even help strengthen the elbow tendons & ligaments. Though there are limits to everything. Good Luck.

[JasonH]

I tend to lower to the forehead rather than behind the head.

[pumpster]

I tend to lower to the forehead rather than behind the head.

Interesting but how about a little more than a sentence, for example have you tried other variations and what do you like about this version?

[ngm21084]

35+ years of doing lying extensions not once have i noticed chest involvement. What i've noticed is that lowering behind the head blows up the tris better than anything else. Any secondary muscle involement is minor, if there's anything it's commonly thought of as involving lats since it's slightly like pullovers.

Skulls to the head (1) works the elbows and tissue near the elbows a lot more than the belly of the long head that's hit with extensions, and (2) skulls are easily dangerous, as there's no way to serious work to anywhere near failure on skulls without the danger of  dropping the weight on the head (hence the need for a spotter as someone said).

Just my informed opinion. The real students of BB like Scott and Coe say the same thing.

holy shit bro 35 years of doing it....damn your old...hahahaa just messing with you but i have recently started to go more behind the head and i do like it better but i love lying on the floor and going behind your head and setting the weight down and then pressing it back up..but i dont see how that involves any chest ....maybe a little but nothing to note...another way i liek doing them is on a decline bench and doing them with DB one aarm at atime now those are interesting...

[JasonH]

Interesting but how about a little more than a sentence, for example have you tried other variations and what do you like about this version?

Okay, fair enough.

I prefer skull-crushers to the forehead because I have tried many variations over the last fifteen years or so - EZ bar, straight bar, even a hammer curl bar.

I have found the EZ bar with a reasonably close thumbless grip to be the best form for me, bringing the weight down to eye level - this way, I'm not forced to go too heavy and start bringing my elbows into play, or swinging the weight using momentum. I tend to use it as a finishing exercise rather than a pure mass building exercise simply because this style doesn't lend itself to using extreme heavy weights.

When I bring the weight back up, I make sure I don't lock out - I keep my arms slightly bent - this keeps the pressure firmly on the triceps and off the elbows and wrists.

Another reason I do the exercise this way is because Leroy Davis told me so when I trained with him a few months ago and Dorian Yates told him so, so if it's good enough for them, then  it's good enough for me.

[pumpster]

holy shit bro 35 years of doing it....damn your old...hahahaa just messing with you but i have recently started to go more behind the head and i do like it better but i love lying on the floor and going behind your head and setting the weight down and then pressing it back up..but i dont see how that involves any chest ....maybe a little but nothing to note...another way i liek doing them is on a decline bench and doing them with DB one aarm at atime now those are interesting...

Don't worry about it, i still look better than you  lowering the bar to the floor behind the head is the very first way i ever did it, before i had a bench and is still one of the best versions as well as a good example of a partial ROM that works very well.

Another reason I do the exercise this way is because Leroy Davis told me so when I trained with him a few months ago and Dorian Yates told him so, so if it's good enough for them, then  it's good enough for me.

I wonder, because Yates is one of those guys who wanted specific (better) equipment in his gym that he thinks is the best out there, and for triceps extensions he's got what looks like a nice machine for extensions behind the head.

[ngm21084]

Don't worry about it, i still look better than you lowering the bar to the floor behind the head is the very first way i ever did it, before i had a bench and is still one of the best versions as well as a good example of a partial ROM that works very well.


I wonder, because Yates is one of those guys who wanted specific (better) equipment in his gym that he thinks is the best out there, and for triceps extensions he's got what looks like a nice machine for extensions behind the head.

im sure you do...where can i find a picture of this bad ass machine yates used..?

[pumpster]

im sure you do gramps...where can i find a picture of this bad ass machine yates used..?

Here it is. The machine was part of a good training series of vids involving Yates and Dugdale. I suggest watching all of them.

[ngm21084]

Here it is, little one. The machine was part of a good training series of vids involving Yates and Dugdale. I suggest watching all of them.

man i love watching him train people i wish i had a good training partner(i train alone at my house so..)it makes a huge difference imo...i would like to train with in his dungeon with him and learn everything he has...good video thanks..

[Reign Down]

Good video Pumpy.

I am training heavy duty style again and I can tell you now it will be a while before I hit those intensity levels!

I'm gonna watch em all and learn from a master.


As for skull crushers, heavy as poss within reason (thinking of elbow damage), to the bridge of my nose, elbows always flare out but it still works well.

Just my 2 cents

[Bobby]

35+ years of doing lying extensions not once have i noticed chest involvement. What i've noticed is that lowering behind the head blows up the tris better than anything else. Any secondary muscle involement is minor, if there's anything it's commonly thought of as involving lats since it's slightly like pullovers.

Skulls to the head (1) works the elbows and tissue near the elbows a lot more than the belly of the long head that's hit with extensions, and (2) skulls are easily dangerous, as there's no way to serious work to anywhere near failure on skulls without the danger of  dropping the weight on the head (hence the need for a spotter as someone said).

Just my informed opinion. The real students of BB like Scott and Coe say the same thing.

True, forehead = near elbow and behind head = near delt part of the tri. From now on i'm gonna do both, alterate every week.

also some do different variations... 1 = keep elbows still and do extensions all the way 2 =  extend then push the weight straight up at the top part of the rom.

it is with nr 1 behind the head that i felt some chest involvement, i think i was unconsiensly moving my elbows forward that caused it.

[tbombz]

it is with nr 1 behind the head that i felt some chest involvement, i think i was unconsiensly moving my elbows forward that caused it.

moving the elbow forward would be caused by a combo lat/rear delt contraction. wouldnt involve chest to any significant degree, if at all.

[Bobby]

moving the elbow forward would be caused by a combo lat/rear delt contraction. wouldnt involve chest to any significant degree, if at all.

you don't feel pullovers in your chest at all? i do, alot. the (upper)chest is under stress in a stretched position.

[pumpster]

FYI from experience I don't think it's ever worth worrying about elbow positioning, they do NOT have to be forced to remain stationary. What's important is the exercise itself, that will create the right effect on the muscle, not forcing the elbows to have to remain stationary-they can flare out, they can move during the exercise, it doesn't matter in terms of effectiveness therefore don't worry or spend time keeping them still.

[slaveboy1980]

Do you go to 90* or do you go to your forehead? I go to 90* because when i go to my forehead my elbows start move out and i invoulantarily use more chest. does this happen to any one else. does anyone have reason why going to their forehead is better?

 go behind the head...better stretch and better for your elbows...and you wont smash the bar into your head if you triceps give out suddenly.

i prefer to do em on a decline bench.

(alot of people still get elbow problems..even when going behind the head)