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Skull crusher question
- Thread starter Lee
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PolishHammer1977
New member
I use to vary my grip and ending point with each set. My triceps grew tremendously when I added heavy close grip benches to my workout as opposed to the skull krushers. Something to think about. Then again, diff't strokes for diff't folks. If you really like skull krushers and do not want to give them up try them on an incline bench. Change it every week or so. Hope this was helpful brother Lee.
SofaGeorge
New member
For skullcrushers to hit the triceps - you have to aim at your face/forehead. If you go behind your head you roll the emphasis off your triceps. (A lot of people do this because it freaks them out to aim heavy weight at their face... unfortunately... it leads to them getting inferior results.)
They are called "skull crushers" for a reason.
They are called "skull crushers" for a reason.
louden_swain
New member
Lee said:
This is what I do. There is no sense in performing a movement that is uncomfortable. It is better to find something natural. I go behind my head because it is easier on my elbows, plus I can emphasize the inner head of the tricep to a greater degree. I have been performing this exercise like this since 1995. Find out what works for you.
louden_swain
New member
SofaGeorge said:
I must disagree with this statement. No one should ever perform a movement that is uncomfortable. I have built good triceps from peforming the movement behind the head.
there is absolutely NO difference between bringing the bar to the forehead or behind your head. The key is keeping your elbows in and move only foremarms up and down in a controled manner. Essentially your elbows are a hinge.
ACtually bringing the weight behind the head puts more of a stretch on the tricep.
ACtually bringing the weight behind the head puts more of a stretch on the tricep.
strider364
New member
I just follow what's in the Arnold encyclopedia, bring them down to the forehead.
FatRat
New member
punch said:
This is the key!
I aim to keep my upper arms still at all times, but angled back maybe 15/20 degrees. This keeps constant tension on the tri's at the top of the movement, but means that the bar will have to fall behind my head. The extra stretch is also good.
The problem with this is it IS easy to cheat your form and do a bit of a lat pullover with each rep, taking the emphasis off your tri's.
louden_swain
New member
Recently, I tried JM presses. So far, I am please with how they felt and the stress they placed on the triceps. There are so many variations like someone had already mentioned.
gymtime
New member
SofaGeorge said:
Agreed. For an SC to be performed correctly, the upper arm must remain completely stationary. The only thing moving should be your forearms, up and down. To bring the bar down behind your head will force your upper arms to move, thus removing the emphasis from the tri, onto the shoulder, like SG says.
Will going behind the head make skulls worthless? Of course not. It's simply not the most effective way to do them. In other words, it's bad form.
louden_swain
New member
Lee said:
Yes.
strider364 said:
Do you also follow the part where it says to do 4-5 exercises per bodypart, 5+ sets per exercise, and work out twice per day for 2 hours per workout and to do this 6 days per week?
BTW, I do them to behind my head and I've gotten great results. Much better stretch than doing them to your face.
gymtime
New member
R CRUSHER said:so correct over comfort?
how long are you going to do a movement that uncomfortable.?
how many uncomfortable movents do you do?
SLOE~"some folks just be hard headed"
When I first started, they were ALL uncomfortable. And let me make something clear, I'm talking uncomfortable, not painful...that's a different animal.
Very few excercises done correctly are comfortable to start out with. But you have two choices: do them wrong or do them right, a little pain is part of the game. If that's too much for you well, I suggest you take up knitting.
louden_swain
New member
gymtime said:
This is horrible advice!!! There are multiple variations of this exercise!!
You are confused between two different types of pain. There is a muscle pain (lactic acid and tearing of the muscle fibers) and there is an injury related pain.
Why on earth would anyone perform a movement that is painful and that could risk injury?
I have been working out for 8 years and I have never performed so called skull crushers, because they are murder on my elbows. They cause tendonitis. When I perform the movement as a french press by going beyond the head I am able to keep the upper arm stationary plus get a much deeper stretch, which attacks the inner head of the triceps.
You are saying perform an exercise even if it can cause injury. Thats pure b**sh*t!!
gymtime
New member
gymtime said:
Oops, my mistake. The term used was "unnatural."
Virtually every excercise I learned to do felt that way at first. If the correct way to perform an excercise felt natural to everyone, there'd be no need for trainers or instructors!! The fact is, the right way to do an excercise feels awkward at first, that's all I'm saying. It's no reason to slack off on form.
louden_swain
New member
gymtime said:
I consider uncomfortable as negative injury related pain. When I perform squats, deads, or rows with heavy weight they are comfortable because I have the weight under control. However, I experience extreme burning and muscle fatigue when I perform these exercises. I don't consider this to be an uncomfortable pain.
As for french presses, I get a nice deep burn until I reach muscular failure, but I do not consider this to be uncomfortable. I can barely feel pain anymore because I have train for so many years. My CNS has been through it all.
gymtime
New member
louden_swain said:
Louden, read the original post on this thread. Does it sound to you like this young man was experiencing "negative injury related pain?" He simply said it felt unnatural. They ALL FEEL UNNATURAL WHEN YOU START OUT!! That's really all I'm saying. To suggest that I'm recommending people go out and injure themselves is ridiculous.
Originally posted by gymtime
a little pain is part of the game. If that's too much for you well, I suggest you take up knitting.
~ "so ya one of them smartass BB'er thinking they realy puttin' up some weight.......how bout i knit my knuckles on yo forehead.....that's the kinda skullcrusher" 
My experience
I have been doing this for about 18 years and my tris are by far my favorite and most responsive. I prefer to let my elbows stay locked out behind my head not over my forehead. I get the best stretch and contraction in that manner. It just depends on how YOU feel it in YOUR tris. Once you learn the basic excercise it is up to you to experiment and find out how your body responds best.
I have been doing this for about 18 years and my tris are by far my favorite and most responsive. I prefer to let my elbows stay locked out behind my head not over my forehead. I get the best stretch and contraction in that manner. It just depends on how YOU feel it in YOUR tris. Once you learn the basic excercise it is up to you to experiment and find out how your body responds best.
Well there ya go bro
You answered your own question
You answered your own question
i want to build mass for my triceps too so im going to try skull crushers. Are you only suppose to raise the bar from your head X amount of times and then move on to the next set? Ive seen some people finish each set with a closed grip bench press. Does this help size? Which version is better?
Friscochick
New member
I bring the barbell down to my forehead and then bring it up. Ive seen people do both. I've tried to bring it over my head and it wasn't very comfortable for my lil short arms , Try both ways for about a month and see what work the triceps best for you.
, Try both ways for about a month and see what work the triceps best for you.
cockdesiel
New member
do both .......behind the head and down to the fore head...because they work great
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