6 Best Chest Exercises for Men to Sculpt Bigger Pecs

Soniya
Want to build bigger chest muscles? Try these six effective chest exercises. (Image via Unsplash / Gordon Cowie)
Want to build bigger chest muscles? Try these six effective chest exercises. (Image via Unsplash / Gordon Cowie)

Sometimes referred to as the “pecs” or “pectorals,” your chest muscles are responsible for helping you push things or pick them up from the floor. Aiming for a tighter chest is a good idea if you have plans to work out your upper body and strengthen it.

To get a stronger and tighter chest, you can add certain exercises to your workout routine. If you’re just getting started, select light weights. You can slowly increase the intensity, repetition, and weight as you progress.


Dumbbell fly, dips, and 4 other great chest exercises for sculpting bigger pecs

Listed below are some chest exercises that will help you develop a tight chest. Heavier weights at lower repetitions will add more muscle mass; lighter weights at higher repetitions will add more definition.

Ideally, you want a mixture of both for optimal development, but high-repetition movements will be vital for adding shape, definition, and lean muscle to your chest.

1) Bench Press

The bench press is the exercise that is most often used to develop the chest. It is performed by lying face-up on a bench and pushing a barbell from the chest upward towards the ceiling. This exercise is useful for both bodybuilders and powerlifters.

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To sculpt a wider chest, try lifting lighter weights and aiming for 10-15 reps. Lowering the weight and taking your time will help you build more definition in your chest. Keep it slow but controlled.


2) Dumbbell Fly

The dumbbell fly is a good chest exercise. To do it correctly, lie on an incline bench or flat bench and raise your arms out to the side of your body with dumbbells in them. Slowly lower the dumbbells so that they are even with your chest and then slowly lift again.

You can also do dumbbell flies using a decline or an incline bench if you want to work your chest from different angles.

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3) Dumbbell Pullover

Dumbbell pullovers, like any other isolation exercise, can be done using dumbbells or cables. The movement is quite unique compared to other chest exercises. It is a multi-joint movement that works the chest muscles as well as triceps.

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The starting position involves you lying on a bench with your head closer than your upper arms, holding a dumbbell above you. Slowly lower the weight behind your head while keeping your arms straight. Raise the weight back to the starting position.


4) Dips

Dips are a simple bodyweight exercise that targets your chest, triceps, and shoulders.

To do a dip, place your hands on the edge of a bench or chair and position your legs behind you. Bend forward at the hips, lower your body until your upper arms are parallel to the floor, and push yourself back up again. Use weights to add resistance.

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5) Push-ups

The push-up is one of the most effective exercises out there. There are many ways to modify the exercise to make it easier or more difficult.

For example, close-grip push-ups emphasize the triceps, while clapping push-ups provide an opportunity to build strength as well as coordination.

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6) Chest Dips

The chest dip is a weight-bearing exercise that targets many upper body muscles. In the normal dip position, you must bend at the knees and hips while keeping your arms straight. In contrast, during the chest dip, your hands are slightly wider than shoulder width, and your chest is tilted forward while your elbows are flared out.

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To do chest dips, stand between the dip machine handles or parallel bars and grab the handles with your palms facing inward. Straighten your arms to lift yourself off the floor.

Bend forward at the chest with your shoulders down and your elbows flared out. Lower yourself until your arms are at a 90-degree angle and hold for two seconds before pushing back up again. Repeat.


Takeaway

These six chest exercises will work your chest from a number of angles. They will serve as a solid foundation for building larger pec muscles through targeted isolation exercises. It’s not an easy process, so be patient.

There are many chest exercises that can help you achieve your individual goals and enhance your physique. You need to have the right tools in your arsenal if you want to effectively develop the form or function of the different muscles in your body.

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