Tate Press
Tate Press is an intermediate isolation dumbbell exercise that mainly works your triceps, with help from your chest and shoulders.


How to do the tate press
- Lie down on a flat bench with a dumbbell in each hand on top of your thighs. The palms of your hand will be facing each other.
- By using your thighs to help you get the dumbbells up, clean the dumbbells one arm at a time so that you can hold them in front of you at shoulder width. Note: when holding the dumbbells in front of you, make sure your arms are wider than shoulder width apart from each other using a pronated (palms forward) grip. Allow your elbows to point out. This is your starting position.
- Keeping the upper arms stationary, slowly move the dumbbells in and down in a semi circular motion until they touch the upper chest while inhaling. Keep full control of the dumbbells at all times and do not move the upper arms nor rest the dumbbells on the chest.
- As you breathe out, move the dumbbells up using your triceps and the same semi-circular motion but in reverse. Attempt to keep the dumbbells together as they move up. Lock your arms in the contracted position, hold for a second and then start coming down again slowly again. Tip: It should take at least twice as long to go down than to come up.
- Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions of your training program.
Muscles worked
Sets and reps
Do 3 sets of 10-15 reps with 60-90 seconds of rest, using a weight you can control through the full range. Add reps first, then weight.
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Start your free trialTate Press alternatives
Exercises that train the same main muscle, including options with other equipment.
Triceps PushdownCable · Beginner
Skull CrusherBarbell · Beginner
Overhead Triceps ExtensionDumbbell · Beginner
Body Tricep PressBodyweight · Beginner
Machine Triceps ExtensionMachine · Beginner
Band Skull CrusherBand · BeginnerFAQ
What muscles does the tate press work?
It mainly works your triceps; your chest and shoulders assist.
How many sets and reps of tate press should I do?
Do 3 sets of 10-15 reps with 60-90 seconds of rest, using a weight you can control through the full range. Add reps first, then weight.
Is the tate press good for beginners?
It suits lifters with some experience. Beginners can start with a lighter weight or one of the alternatives below.