Exercise guide
Neck Press
The Neck Press is a guillotine-style bench press in which the bar is lowered toward the neck with the elbows positioned widely. It trains the chest, shoulders, and triceps but exposes the shoulders and neck to unnecessary risk.
Training context
Why the Neck Press Is Not Recommended
Lowering a loaded bar onto or near the neck creates a serious consequence if the repetition fails. The wide elbow position may also place the shoulders in a vulnerable range.
A standard barbell bench press, dumbbell press, or machine chest press can train the same major muscles with a more practical bar path. These alternatives are preferable for general training.
Technique overview
Choose a safer chest-press variation
Do not lower a barbell onto the neck. Use a standard bench press setup with safeties or a spotter and guide the bar toward the mid-to-lower chest instead. Select a grip and elbow path that keep the wrists stacked and shoulders comfortable.
Treat this as an overview and use a range, pace, and setup you can control.