Here are some of the best chest exercises and you can perform them in many different ways.

You can use dumbbells, barbells, machines and your own body weight.

Dumbbell Chest Strengthening Exercises

• Dumbell Flat Bench Press
  
• Dumbell Incline Bench Press

Barbell Chest Strengthening Exercises

The lat pull down and seated row are the 2 most popular back machines and they are both good exercises.

• Barbell Flat Bench Press
  
• Barbell Incline Bench Press

Body Weight Back Strengthening Exercise

There are 2 main body weight exercises that work the chest muscles, and they are push ups and dips.

Push Ups don't require any equipment, and you can do them anywhere.

Dips require some equipment and can be done either on a bench or a dip stand.

The dumbbell bench press is one of the most popular chest building exercises.

Starting Position: Begin by lying on a flat bench with your arms straight and the dumbbells over your chest.

Form: Inhale and slowly lower the dumbbells towards your chest. Pause for a brief second at the bottom and then exhale and press up to the starting position.

Tips: Do your best to keep your wrists perpendicular to the floor. Do your best to avoid letting your wrists bend towards your head, in towards your body or away from your body.

Move in a smooth and controlled pace.

The incline dumbbell press is a great chest building exercise.

Starting Position: Begin by lying on the bench. Hold the dumbbells straight over your chest with your elbows slightly bent and your palms facing away from you.

Form: Inhale as you lower. Pause for a brief second at the bottom, and exhale as you press back up to the starting position.

Tips: Do your best to keep your wrists in a neutral position, and move in a controlled manner.

The best angles for incline presses are between 15 degrees and 45 degrees.

The higher the angle the more the emphasis shifts from the pecs and chest to the shoulders.

Comparing the Dumbbell Bench Press to the Barbell Bench Press

Both the barbell bench pressand the dumbbell bench press are great chest exercises.

The major differences are stability and range of motion. The barbell is much more stable than the dumbbells, so you will generally be able to lift a significantly higher weight using the barbell. The barbell bench press is the gold standard when it comes to chest exercises.

However, with dumbbells you can move through a greater range of motion and also work on developing stability and coordination in the shoulders.

Both exercises are great for building the chest. They both have advantages, so include both of them in your chest workout routines.

The Barbell Bench Press is often considered the king of upper body exercises. It's a great exercise to build muscle and strength in the chest and upper body.

Starting Position: Begin by lying on a flat bench with your arms straight and the dumbbells over your chest.

Form: Inhale and slowly lower the dumbbells towards your chest. Pause for a brief second at the bottom and then exhale and press up to the starting position.

Tips: Do your best to keep your wrists perpendicular to the floor. Do your best to avoid letting your wrists bend towards your head, in towards your body or away from your body.

Move in a smooth and controlled pace.

The Incline Bench Press is a good upper chest exercise that also helps build muscle and strength in the shoulders and triceps.

Starting Position: Begin by lying on a bench. Use a grip that is slightly wider than shoulder width.

Form: Inhale and slowly lower the bar towards your chest. Pause for a brief second after the bar touches your chest and then exhale and extend your arms to the starting position.

Tips: If you are a beginner, I suggest using a spotter just in case you experience unexpected fatigue.

The incline chest press is best done between a 15 and 45 degree angle. If the angle of the bench goes past 45, most of the emphasis is on the shoulders and less is on the chest.

Use a comfortable range of motion. The more range of motion to more muscle work, but in addition more range of motion means more pressure on your joints.