Banded Bench Press

Set up your bench press as usual, with bands anchored to the floor or rack and looped over each end of the bar. The bar will feel lightest at your chest and heaviest as your arms straighten, since the bands stretch and add tension through the top half of the press. Lower the bar under control to your chest, then drive it back up, expecting the resistance to build rather than staying constant like a plain barbell. That growing tension rewards a hard, complete lockout -- don't ease off near the top just because it gets harder, that's the part the bands are there for. Keep your feet planted and your shoulder blades pulled together throughout.