TETSUBattling Ropes vs Ez Barbell Anti Gravity Press
The Battling Ropes and the Ez Barbell Anti Gravity Press both train the delts as their primary muscle. The Battling Ropes use a rope while the Ez Barbell Anti Gravity Press uses an ez bar. Here is how they compare and when to pick each.
Side-by-side comparison
| Battling Ropes | Ez Barbell Anti Gravity Press | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary muscle | delts | delts |
| Body part | shoulders | shoulders |
| Supporting muscles | forearms and core | triceps and chest |
| Equipment | rope | ez bar |
| Steps in our guide | 5 | 4 |
How each one starts
Battling Ropes — first steps
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
- Hold one end of the rope in each hand, with your palms facing each other.
Ez Barbell Anti Gravity Press — first steps
- Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and holding the ez barbell with an overhand grip.
- Raise the barbell to shoulder height, keeping your elbows slightly bent and your palms facing forward.
Full step-by-step guides are linked below.
Which should you choose?
The Ez Barbell Anti Gravity Press angles your grip to take stress off the wrists and elbows. If your gym has both options, neither is a wrong choice: pick the one that feels strongest through a full range, and swap after 6 to 8 weeks to keep the delts adapting.
Full form guides
Common questions
Are the Battling Ropes better than the Ez Barbell Anti Gravity Press?
Neither is universally better — both train the delts as the primary mover. The Battling Ropes has its own strengths, while the Ez Barbell Anti Gravity Press angles your grip to take stress off the wrists and elbows. Choose based on your equipment and which movement you can progress consistently.
Can I do both the Battling Ropes and the Ez Barbell Anti Gravity Press in the same program?
Yes, but usually not in the same session — they overlap heavily on the delts. A common setup is one as your main movement and the other on a second training day, or alternating them block by block.
Do the Battling Ropes and the Ez Barbell Anti Gravity Press work the same muscles?
The primary muscle is the same: the delts. Supporting muscles differ slightly — forearms and core for the Battling Ropes versus triceps and chest for the Ez Barbell Anti Gravity Press.
Track it in Tetsu
Tetsu tracks both movements separately, keeps your PRs per exercise, and tells you which one is actually progressing. Free to start.