Exercise guide
Barbell Guillotine Bench Press
The Barbell Guillotine Bench Press is a bench press variation that lowers the bar toward the upper chest or neck area with the elbows positioned farther outward. This creates a different chest and shoulder angle than a standard bench press. It is generally better suited to experienced lifters who already understand their comfortable pressing range.
Training context
Setup cues for the Guillotine Bench Press
Because the bar travels near the neck, reliable rack safeties and a spotter are especially important. The variation should normally use less resistance than a standard bench press.
Shoulder mobility and comfort will determine the appropriate touch point and depth. Do not force the bar toward the neck or continue through discomfort simply to match a traditional description of the exercise.
Technique overview
Use a conservative and controlled range
Set your grip and upper-back position before unracking. Lower the bar slowly toward the upper chest through a range that remains comfortable at the shoulders. Keep the wrists stacked and avoid bouncing or relaxing beneath the bar. Press back to the starting position and rerack deliberately. Stop immediately if control over the bar path becomes uncertain.
Treat this as an overview and use a range, pace, and setup you can control.