Guillotine Press

Move · Resistance Training · Movement, Typed Supps

It is the flared elbow position, not where the bar lands, that decides how much the front of the shoulder takes.

Stage by stage

Set-up (Touch point sets abduction): Aiming at the neck forces humeral abduction toward 90 degrees, a much wider elbow angle than a standard bench.
During the set (Clavicular head emphasised): The flared position shifts a larger share of the work onto the upper chest and anterior deltoid.
At the bottom (Anterior capsule loaded): This is the position of least passive shoulder stability, which is why loads stay submaximal and a spotter is used.
Months later (Modest upper chest gain): Kept as a light accessory, it adds upper chest development for lifters who get little from flat or incline pressing.

Muscles trained

Primary: chest
Secondary: biceps, shoulders, triceps

Intensity

6 METs (Resistance training (weight lifting, free weight, nautilus or universal), power lifting or body building, vigorous effort (Taylor Code 210)).

Time to effect

Weeks: The upper chest and front delts feel the shift in emphasis quickly, and the exercise often feels more taxing on the shoulders than a standard bench.
Months: Added upper chest development for lifters who don't get much of it from flat or incline pressing alone.

Related supplements

Creatine Monohydrate

Common myth

"Guillotine press is inherently dangerous and should never be performed." In reality: It does place the shoulder in a more vulnerable position - flared elbows and a bar path near the neck load the front of the shoulder capsule more than a standard bench, which is a fair reason many coaches steer lifters away from it. But it isn't automatically dangerous with light-to-moderate loads, a controlled tempo, and a spotter; the real risk is loading it heavy before the shoulder is prepared for that range.

In the glossary

Evidence grade