Incline Bench Press with dumbbells
Dumbbell pressing on the incline bench is an excellent exercise for specifically strengthening the upper chest muscles. The slightly inclined position of the bench places more emphasis on the upper part of the pectoral major, while the shoulders and triceps also actively contribute. This exercise is a variation of the classic flat bench press and is an ideal addition to achieve balanced chest muscle development. Compared to incline pressing with a barbell, using dumbbells allows for a greater range of motion and promotes symmetrical muscle growth, as each side has to work independently.
Necessary equipment
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Incline Bench Press with dumbbells - the correct execution
- Start lying on an incline bench
- Hold the dumbbells next to your chest with bent arms
- Your arms are spread about 45 degrees from your body
- Pull your shoulder blades back (retraction depression)
- Stretch your arms and press the dumbbells vertically upwards
- Return the dumbbells to your chest in a controlled manner
- See in the last video how to get into the start position
- If you feel unconfident, find a partner to support you during the exercise.
- The training weight for this exercise is the weight of a single dumbbell. Therefore, train with two dumbbells that weigh the indicated weight
The exercise Incline Bench Press is intended to be used as a hypertrophy exercise.
Which muscles are trained by Incline Bench Press?
Primary trained muscles for Incline Bench Press
Chest - The pectoralis major muscle is the large muscle on your chest. It helps you bring your arm towards your body and rotate it inward.
Secondary trained muscles for Incline Bench Press
Triceps - The triceps brachii muscle is located at the back of your upper arm. It extends your arm at the elbow and also helps move the arm backward.
Front Delts - The front part of the deltoid muscle, also known as the anterior shoulder, is located at the front of the shoulder. It is primarily involved in the forward movement of the arm, such as lifting the arm forward. It also assists in the internal rotation of the arm. This muscle is engaged in activities that involve lifting objects in front of the body or pushing forward.
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Alternative variants of Incline Bench Press with dumbbells:
Incline Bench Press with a barbell
After incline dumbbell pressing, which targets the upper chest, incline barbell pressing offers a similar focus. This exercise also strengthens the upper chest but provides a different load profile, as both arms work in sync, allowing for a more stable and controlled movement due to the barbell.
Necessary equipment
Incline Bench Press with a barbell - the correct execution
- Start lying on the incline bench
- Grab the barbell at least shoulder-width apart
- Pull the shoulder blades backwards (retraction, depression)
- Stabilize your shoulder blades by bending the barbell upwards
- Lift the barbell out of the horizontal bar and hold it over your chest with arms extended
- Bend your elbows and lower the barbell under your sternum
- Your arms are spread about 45 degrees from your body
- Go as low as the barbell touches your chest
- Press the barbell up until your arms are maximally extended
- The training weight for this exercise is the sum of the barbell's own weight and the additional weight plates
Similar exercises to Incline Bench Press
Explosive Push Ups
Explosive push-ups are a dynamic variation of the classic push-up and are particularly suitable for athletes looking to improve their explosiveness. During the exercise, the body is pushed upwards so powerfully during the upward movement that the hands briefly leave the ground. This primarily trains the chest, triceps, and front shoulders, while also increasing speed strength and explosiveness.
Push Ups on the rings
Ring push ups are an excellent exercise for the chest muscles. Since the rings move freely in space, the chest can be stretched and contracted more effectively during the push up. In other words, we have a greater range of motion compared to regular push ups on the floor. Additionally, we have observed that many people who experience shoulder pain with push ups on the floor can perform push ups on the rings without pain.
Kneeling Push Ups
Kneeling push-ups are a simplified version of classic push-ups, where the knees stay on the ground to reduce intensity. This exercise strengthens the chest, triceps, and shoulders and is especially suitable for beginners or as a gentle reintroduction after an injury.
In addition, kneeling push-ups are an excellent preparatory exercise for regular push-ups: anyone able to do more than 20 clean reps can progress to the next level, negative push-ups. This helps build a solid foundation for gradually transitioning to classic push-ups.
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