Wide Chest Pushups

This Pushups Variation places more of an Emphasis on the Outer Chest, Similar to the Wide Grip Bench Press Exercise Exercise

Welcome to our Wide Chest Pushups Exercise Instruction Guide! 

On this page you’ll learn how to do this pushups variation. Below you’ll find pictures, exercise instructions, and tips on how to get the most out of this and other Weight Training Exercises so you can immediately add to your Weight Training Programs, next Chest Workout, or next Body Weight Workout.

Have you seen our Best Chest Exercises list yet? See if this Pushups variation made the list! 

Exercise Summary

Exercise Description and Instruction:

Similar to the Wide Grip Bench Press, this advanced pushups variation places more of an emphasis on the outer portion of the pectoralis major, which is stretched at the bottom of the lift due to your wide hand base. Be sure to squeeze your chest as you press upwards. 

One major benefit of Pushups is that they are very versatile. You can target specific muscles by changing the angle of the pushup or changing the width of your hand base. You’ll benefit from adding variety to your workout routines.

View some of our pushups variations:

• Standard Pushups
• Exercise Ball Pushups
• Tricep Pushups
• Biased Pushups

To Perform This Exercise:

1. Lie on an exercise mat or the floor face down and place your hands a few inches wider than shoulder width apart on each side. Hold your torso up at arms length while keeping your back straight. This is the starting position.
2. Next, inhale and lower yourself down by bending at the arms until your chest almost touches the floor. Your biceps and forearms should form a ninety (90) degree angle in this position at the bottom of the movement.
3. Next, exhale and press your body back up to the starting position by extending your arms fully and squeezing your chest.
4. Pause for a moment then lower yourself downward again and complete the desired number of repetitions.

Tips:

1. Keep your back straight throughout the exercise.
2. The width of your hand base determines where the emphasis is placed. A wider hand base focuses more on the outer portion of the chest whereas a close grip focuses more on the triceps. See Tricep Pushups.
3. To increase the resistance, place your feet on a bench or other high surface. In addition to increasing resistance, this new angle also creates an upper chest exercise that places more of an emphasis on the upper head of the pectoralis major and your pectoralis minor.

Other Popular Upper Body Exercises:

Check out some of our other popular Arm Exercises and Variations:

• Close Grip Bench Press
• Bent Over Row
• Dumbbell Bench Press
• Chin Ups and Pull Ups
• Triceps Extension

Now that you’ve seen Wide Chest Pushups, which primarily target your pectorals, check out all of our different Chest Exercises. 

Or, check out these other pages of interest:

• Weight Training Exercises
• Chest Exercises Main Page and Best Chest Exercises List
• Muscle Building Workouts
• Fat Loss Workouts 

You’ve seen the Chest Exercises. Now access the Workout Routines. 
Start at our Home Page.