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Exercises › Shoulders › See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press)

See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press)

See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) is an intermediate compound dumbbell exercise that mainly works your shoulders, with help from your abs and triceps.

💪 Shoulders🏋️ Dumbbell📈 Intermediate🔗 Compound🎯 3-5 sets of 5-10 reps
See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press): starting position
Starting position
See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press): end position
End position

How to do the see-saw press (alternating side press)

  1. Grab a dumbbell with each hand and stand up erect.
  2. Clean (lift) the dumbbells to the chest/shoulder level and then rotate your wrists so that your palms are facing towards you as if you were getting ready to perform an Arnold Press. This will be your starting position.
  3. Now start extending your left arm overhead as you rotate the wrist so that the palm of your hand faces forward as you go up. Your elbows should come out also as you lift the weight. Simultaneously, you will also be bending from your hip to your opposite side. Tip: If you perform the exercise correctly, is should look as if you are trying to reach for something overhead on the right hand side of your body, but with your left arm. Breathe out as you perform this movement.
  4. Once you reach the top position breathe in. Then, with the weight fully extended overhead and you bent over to your right hand side, begin the movement to the left side.
  5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Muscles worked

Primary: ShouldersSecondary: AbsSecondary: 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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See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) alternatives

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

Face PullCable · IntermediateOverhead PressBarbell · BeginnerCuban PressDumbbell · IntermediateLeverage Shoulder PressMachine · BeginnerBattling RopesOther · BeginnerHandstand Push-UpsBodyweight · Expert

FAQ

What muscles does the see-saw press (alternating side press) work?

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

How many sets and reps of see-saw press (alternating side 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 see-saw press (alternating side press) good for beginners?

It suits lifters with some experience. Beginners can start with a lighter weight or one of the alternatives below.

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