Wiki/Exercises/Incline Dumbbell Press

Incline Dumbbell Press

chestdumbbell
Anatomical illustration of the pectoralis major muscle of the chest
Anatomical illustration of the pectoralis major muscle of the chest. Illustration by DrJanaOfficial, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Primary muscle

chest

Equipment

dumbbell

Secondary muscles

shoulders, triceps

How to perform

Set the bench to roughly 30 degrees. Steeper than that and it becomes a shoulder press. Sit with the dumbbells on your thighs, then kick them up as you lie back. Start with the dumbbells at chest level, elbows slightly tucked. Press up and slightly inwards without clashing the dumbbells at the top. Lower under control until you feel a stretch across the upper chest. Common mistakes: setting the incline too steep, and pressing the dumbbells together at the top which removes tension.

Technique video

The Fastest Way To Blow Up Your Upper Chest (4 Science-Based Steps) + Sample Program by Jeff Nippard, on YouTube. Embedded with no tracking cookies until you press play.