5 Best Barbell Exercises

5 Best Barbell Exercises

No other tool can be used to build strength better or with more versatility than the basic barbell. You can build elite strength and a world-class physique with only these five time-tested exercises:
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1. The Back Squat: The KING of all exercises. Save the debate.
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2. The Conventional Deadlift: This lift could just as easily be ranked number one. It really just depends who you ask. I actually consider the deadlift to be the most functional of all barbell exercises. Nothing is more functional than bending down and picking something heavy up off the ground.
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3. The Bench Press: My least favorite barbell lift. However, I still rank it as number three because it’s undeniably effective at building upper-body pushing strength.
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4. The Overhead Press: By far my favorite pressing exercise… even though it’s my weakest lift.
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5. The Bent-Over Row: What did six-time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates and the greatest powerlifter of all time, Ed Coan, have in common? Mutant-like back development. What else did they have in common? They both performed HEAVY bent-over rows. This exercise builds strength in the entire posterior chain and should be a staple in every serious lifter’s routine.
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What do you notice about these five lifts? They’re basic. Always prioritize the basics. Never stray from them. –