For triceps growth

Overhead Cable Extension vs Skull Crusher

For triceps growth, overhead cable extension rates well ahead on our research criteria: more stretch, easier to progress.

Both are good choices that train the triceps the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.

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Overhead Cable Extension

Research score

Target tension

Excellent

Loaded stretch

Excellent

Strong

Progression

Excellent

Strong

Low cost

Strong

Good

See the full triceps ranking

What these mean

Target tension.: Whether the muscle you’re training is what gives out first, not your grip, balance or other muscles.
Loaded stretch.: How hard the muscle works while stretched. Training it there is linked to more growth.
Progression.: How easily you can keep adding weight in small steps over months and years.
Low cost.: How easy it is on your joints and recovery, and how quickly you can learn it.

The research score comes from these, scored by hand from the studies. Lifter scores appear once an exercise has 10 ratings. How scores work

When each one fits

Good reasons to choose overhead cable extension

You want more load on the triceps while they’re stretched
You want to keep adding weight in small steps
You want something easier on your joints

Good reasons to choose skull crusher

The EZ bar is free

Overhead Cable Extension

Skull Crusher

You need

Cable station

EZ bar, bench

Skill

Easy to learn

Type

Isolation

Why they rank where they do

Overhead Cable Extension. Overhead extensions grew the triceps about 1.4× more than the arm-at-side version in a 12-week study.

Skull Crusher. Lowering behind the head stretches the long head, but heavy reps can be hard on the elbows.

From the research

Maeo et al., 2023: Overhead cable extensions grew the triceps about 1.4× more than the same exercise with the arm at the side, over 12 weeks. (21 untrained adults; one study.)Cited for overhead cable extension in triceps

Questions

Which is better for triceps growth, overhead cable extension or skull crusher?

For triceps growth, overhead cable extension rates well ahead on our research criteria: more stretch, easier to progress. Both are good choices that train the triceps the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.

Is overhead cable extension or skull crusher easier to learn?

About the same: both are easy to learn.

Can you do overhead cable extension or skull crusher at home?

Overhead cable extension needs a cable station, so for most people it’s a gym exercise. Skull crusher needs an EZ bar and a bench, so for most people it’s a gym exercise.

Which is easier on the joints, overhead cable extension or skull crusher?

Overhead cable extension: it rates Strong for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric, against Good for skull crusher.

More comparisons

Overhead Cable Extension Skull Crusher All triceps exercises

Overhead Cable Extension vs Skull Crusher

For triceps growth, overhead cable extension rates well ahead on our research criteria: more stretch, easier to progress.

Both are good choices that train the triceps the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.

What these mean

Target tension.: Whether the muscle you’re training is what gives out first, not your grip, balance or other muscles.
Loaded stretch.: How hard the muscle works while stretched. Training it there is linked to more growth.
Progression.: How easily you can keep adding weight in small steps over months and years.
Low cost.: How easy it is on your joints and recovery, and how quickly you can learn it.

The research score comes from these, scored by hand from the studies. Lifter scores appear once an exercise has 10 ratings. How scores work

When each one fits

Good reasons to choose overhead cable extension

You want more load on the triceps while they’re stretched
You want to keep adding weight in small steps
You want something easier on your joints

Good reasons to choose skull crusher

The EZ bar is free

Overhead Cable Extension

Skull Crusher

You need

Cable station

EZ bar, bench

Skill

Easy to learn

Type

Isolation

Why they rank where they do

Overhead Cable Extension. Overhead extensions grew the triceps about 1.4× more than the arm-at-side version in a 12-week study.

Skull Crusher. Lowering behind the head stretches the long head, but heavy reps can be hard on the elbows.

From the research

Maeo et al., 2023: Overhead cable extensions grew the triceps about 1.4× more than the same exercise with the arm at the side, over 12 weeks. (21 untrained adults; one study.)Cited for overhead cable extension in triceps

Questions

Which is better for triceps growth, overhead cable extension or skull crusher?

Is overhead cable extension or skull crusher easier to learn?

About the same: both are easy to learn.

Can you do overhead cable extension or skull crusher at home?

Overhead cable extension needs a cable station, so for most people it’s a gym exercise. Skull crusher needs an EZ bar and a bench, so for most people it’s a gym exercise.

Which is easier on the joints, overhead cable extension or skull crusher?

Overhead cable extension: it rates Strong for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric, against Good for skull crusher.