Just started skullcrushers. Could you guys tell me how to properly do them?

[Warrior]

if u do it right, u wont need a decline..


wow look at who shown up, sup warrior

Yeah... I will always be in the mist of things waiting for a right time to strike...

Been a hell of a summer - got married, moved to a new house, got a dog, a bunch of biz stuff, bulked myself back up to 270... you know... the basic stuff...

[GotMilk?]

I have always wondered if I was doing them correctly...I do them on a flat bench...so when you bring the bar back to the starting position are you supposed to lock out your elbows ?? I always seem to have a great amount of pain in my elbows when I do skullcrushers. Do you warm up elbows before you do them ....and if you do....how do you warm up ...

[Flexor]

I have always wondered if I was doing them correctly...I do them on a flat bench...so when you bring the bar back to the starting position are you supposed to lock out your elbows ?? I always seem to have a great amount of pain in my elbows when I do skullcrushers. Do you warm up elbows before you do them ....and if you do....how do you warm up ...

Warming up is essential!!! You could do some serious damage to your elbow joints if you don't warm up. Everyone's elbows would hurt if they didn't warm them up.

You can warm up by doing three warm up sets, stepping up the weight each time. For example, warm up with 10 light reps at 25% your usual operating weight. Then do 6 reps at 50% your usual, then go for 4 reps at 75% before doing your usual reps at 100%. The warmups will not fatigue your triceps much but you will protect your elbows.

Alternatively, exercises like dips and perhaps close grip bench will warm your elbows up, but there is nothing like actually warming up with skulls, to do skulls.

[Warrior]

I have always wondered if I was doing them correctly...I do them on a flat bench...so when you bring the bar back to the starting position are you supposed to lock out your elbows ?? I always seem to have a great amount of pain in my elbows when I do skullcrushers. Do you warm up elbows before you do them ....and if you do....how do you warm up ...

Don't lock out - it takes the tension of the muscle and puts it on your bone structure... or worse, your connective tissue. IMO - work for a good stretch but don't lock it out, keep your elbows in and focus on those triceps working.

[Billyspt4]

I have always wondered if I was doing them correctly...I do them on a flat bench...so when you bring the bar back to the starting position are you supposed to lock out your elbows ?? I always seem to have a great amount of pain in my elbows when I do skullcrushers. Do you warm up elbows before you do them ....and if you do....how do you warm up ...

Never lock out, it's one way to prematurely get tendonitis too upon other injuries. The joints, connective tissue just aren't made to withstand that much weight and it will cause injuries that can easily be avoided.

[GotMilk?]

worked out arms today...and the did a warmup of skullcrushers before I went heavy....and it made HUGE difference !!! THANKS !!!! you guys warm other muscles to ?? like back or chest before you go heavy ??

[Flexor]

worked out arms today...and the did a warmup of skullcrushers before I went heavy....and it made HUGE difference !!! THANKS !!!! you guys warm other muscles to ?? like back or chest before you go heavy ??

Warming up is essential for every exercise, just less so for certain muscles.

Warming up primes the nervous system for maximum intensity and allows you to lift more weight than cold. It also prevents injury