In a wide grip, where are the hands placed on the bar?

When using a wide grip, the hands are typically placed further apart on the bar, which allows for greater activation of the chest muscles during exercises like the bench press. This grip position helps target the pectoral muscles more effectively by changing the angle of the lift and the way force is distributed through the arms and shoulders.

Choosing a grip that is "as close to the weight plates as possible" does not accurately describe a wide grip. Instead, the hands should be spaced out considerably to maximize the benefits associated with wide-grip exercises. A properly executed wide grip keeps the hands further from the weights, which emphasizes muscle engagement throughout the movement.

In contrast, a close grip would involve placing the hands closer together on the bar, while a shoulder-width grip refers to hands spaced directly at the shoulder width. Equidistancing from the weight plates typically implies positioning the hands in a more central location, which does not characterize a wide grip.