You've probably attempted every triceps exercise imaginable, from the close-grip push-up to the between-the-bench dips.

While pressdowns are as common a practice to the bodybuilder as lying is to a politician, take this honest approach to building larger, meatier triceps. Widen the grip.

Many trainers will instantly grab a rope or a V-grip bar when preparing to perform cable pressdowns. Next time you prepare to partake in this exercise, however, opt for a larger straight bar, one that you can take a wider grip with. The wider grip you take in your pressdowns will force the involvement of the entire triceps muscle, allowing you to use heavier weights which translates into increased mass and power.

However, it is important to position your body accordingly to optimize the strength and power utilized during the range of motion. Keep your torso completely upright, one foot forward, the other slightly behind you. Your knees should have a slight bend in them. Also, do not lean forward because this will withdraw some from the tension of the triceps.

With your elbows firmly pressed against your sides, take a grip of 12-15 inches on the bar. Begin with your elbows at an angle slightly less than 90 degrees, at a point where the bar is directly in front of your chest. Slowly push the bar downward, squeezing the triceps muscles, until you've reached the point of contraction. Hold for a two-count and return to the starting position.

While you will experience a greater burn in your inner triceps than usual, the exercise is actually working the entire triceps. Try to keep your sets in the 10-12 rep range.