Svend Bench Press

The Svend Bench Press targets your pectorals, triceps, and deltoids using two weight plates.

Intermediate
Compound
Push
1 min per set2 min rest

Description

A Svend Bench Press is a chest exercise that targets the pectoral muscles and also involves the triceps and deltoids. This exercise is performed using two weight plates held together in both hands, lying on a bench.

Save Svend Bench Press to a routine

Log sets, reps, and weight as you train — free in the Ellim app.

Get Ellim — Free

How to Do Svend Bench Press

  1. 1
    Setup

    Lie supine on a flat bench, holding two weight plates pressed firmly together between both hands, with your palms facing each other.

  2. 2
    Setup

    Position the plates directly over your sternum, with your elbows slightly tucked and pointed towards your feet.

  3. 3

    Exhale as you press the plates straight up towards the ceiling, fully extending your arms while maintaining constant pressure between the plates.

  4. 4

    Inhale as you slowly lower the plates back down to the starting position over your sternum, controlling the movement throughout.

Tips

  • Continuously squeeze the weight plates together as hard as possible throughout the entire movement to maximize pectoral activation.
  • Focus on a strong mind-muscle connection, actively contracting your chest muscles with each press.
  • Maintain a controlled tempo, especially during the eccentric (lowering) phase, to increase time under tension for muscle growth.
  • Keep your shoulder blades retracted and depressed into the bench to provide a stable base and enhance chest engagement.

Common Mistakes

  • ×Not squeezing the plates hard enough reduces pectoral engagement; instead, maintain maximum isometric tension between the plates throughout the set.
  • ×Letting the elbows flare out too wide can put undue stress on the shoulder joints; keep your elbows slightly tucked and aligned with your torso.
  • ×Rushing the movement diminishes the effectiveness of the exercise; control both the concentric and eccentric phases to maximize muscle stimulation.

In the Ellim app, Svend Bench Press unlocks

Free — no subscription needed

  • Log sets, reps, and weight

    Track every set as you train

  • See your strength curve

    Performance graphs across all sessions

  • Add to a routine

    Save into a custom workout in one tap

  • Rest timer with Live Activity

    Dynamic Island countdown between sets

  • HealthKit sync

    Workouts flow to Apple Health

  • 3,500+ exercise library

    Search, filter, and pick variations offline

Ready to train svend bench press?

Get Ellim — Free

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Svend Bench Press good for beginners?
Svend Bench Press is rated intermediate. Beginners can still attempt it with lighter weight and careful form, but it's best to master easier variations first.
What equipment do I need for Svend Bench Press?
You need Weighted to perform Svend Bench Press. If you don't have this equipment, look for variations that target the same muscles with what you have available.
What are the best tips for Svend Bench Press?
Continuously squeeze the weight plates together as hard as possible throughout the entire movement to maximize pectoral activation. Focus on a strong mind-muscle connection, actively contracting your chest muscles with each press. Maintain a controlled tempo, especially during the eccentric (lowering) phase, to increase time under tension for muscle growth. Keep your shoulder blades retracted and depressed into the bench to provide a stable base and enhance chest engagement.
What are common mistakes when doing Svend Bench Press?
Not squeezing the plates hard enough reduces pectoral engagement; instead, maintain maximum isometric tension between the plates throughout the set. Letting the elbows flare out too wide can put undue stress on the shoulder joints; keep your elbows slightly tucked and aligned with your torso. Rushing the movement diminishes the effectiveness of the exercise; control both the concentric and eccentric phases to maximize muscle stimulation.

Track every rep of Svend Bench Press.

Watch your weight climb session by session. See your strength curve. Add it to a routine you'll actually run.

Get Ellim — Free

Ready to train?

Svend Bench Press

Get Ellim — Free