Wide-grip guillotine bench press

Barbell, flat bench, safety pins

Also called guillotine press, wide grip guillotine press

Lie on a flat bench with a very wide grip, lower the bar toward the upper chest near the collarbones, then press up.

Movement

Main movers get full credit for a set, helpers half.

Upper body

Scores 1-5 averaged over sources. Tap a rating for the claims behind it. Claims are our summaries of the linked sources, fact-checked by AI.

Muscle growth higher is better4.0
Very good; among the better picks for the muscle. 2 sources.
- 4/5 Wide grip puts load on the pecs and a deep stretch at the clavicle; awesome for those with sturdy shoulders. Renaissance Periodization, The Best Forgotten Exercises From the '80s @ 10:43videoExpert opinion2025checked by AI
- 4/5 Stretches the pecs better than other barbell presses and he is a fan, but see safety verdict. Jeff Nippard, The Best And Worst Chest Exercises (Ranked By Science) @ 8:08videoExpert opinion2024checked by AI
Injury risk lower is better4.5
High risk even with good technique. 2 sources.
- 4/5 Risky for the shoulders; must be controlled with a pause at the bottom or it can cause injury. Renaissance Periodization, The Best Forgotten Exercises From the '80s @ 11:13videoExpert opinion2025checked by AI
- 5/5 Dropping the bar on the neck is potentially lights-out, so he ranks it F; shoulder concerns itself are unsupported by evidence. Jeff Nippard, The Best And Worst Chest Exercises (Ranked By Science) @ 8:08videoExpert opinion2024checked by AI