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Incline Dumbbell Press

Incline Dumbbell Press is a beginner compound dumbbell exercise that mainly works your chest, with help from your shoulders and triceps.

💪 Chest🏋️ Dumbbell📈 Beginner🔗 Compound🎯 3-5 sets of 5-10 reps
Incline Dumbbell Press: starting position
Starting position
Incline Dumbbell Press: end position
End position

How to do the incline dumbbell press

  1. Lie back on an incline bench with a dumbbell in each hand atop your thighs. The palms of your hands will be facing each other.
  2. Then, using your thighs to help push the dumbbells up, lift the dumbbells one at a time so that you can hold them at shoulder width.
  3. Once you have the dumbbells raised to shoulder width, rotate your wrists forward so that the palms of your hands are facing away from you. This will be your starting position.
  4. Be sure to keep full control of the dumbbells at all times. Then breathe out and push the dumbbells up with your chest.
  5. Lock your arms at the top, hold for a second, and then start slowly lowering the weight. Tip Ideally, lowering the weights should take about twice as long as raising them.
  6. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
  7. When you are done, place the dumbbells back on your thighs and then on the floor. This is the safest manner to release the dumbbells.

Muscles worked

Primary: ChestSecondary: ShouldersSecondary: Triceps

Sets and reps

For strength, do 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps with 2-3 minutes of rest. For muscle growth, 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps with 90 seconds of rest. Add a little weight when you hit the top of the range on every set.

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Incline Dumbbell Press alternatives

Exercises that train the same main muscle, including options with other equipment.

Bench PressBarbell · BeginnerChest PressMachine · BeginnerPush UpBodyweight · BeginnerDumbbell Bench PressDumbbell · BeginnerCable Chest PressCable · BeginnerSvend PressOther · Beginner

FAQ

What muscles does the incline dumbbell press work?

It mainly works your chest; your shoulders and triceps assist.

How many sets and reps of incline dumbbell press should I do?

For strength, do 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps with 2-3 minutes of rest. For muscle growth, 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps with 90 seconds of rest. Add a little weight when you hit the top of the range on every set.

Is the incline dumbbell press good for beginners?

Yes. It is a beginner-friendly movement: start light and focus on the form steps above.

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