Exercise library
Dumbbell Shoulder Press
Shoulders · Vertical push
Vertical pushCompound
A standing or seated overhead press with dumbbells, the workhorse shoulder exercise for most lifters.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Tracking
- Measured in reps
Muscles worked
ShouldersTricepsCore
Equipment
Dumbbell
How to do it
- Hold a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height with your palms facing forward.
- Stand or sit tall, brace your core and tuck your ribs down.
- Press the dumbbells overhead until your arms are straight and the weights are over your shoulders.
- Lower under control back to shoulder height.
Coaching cues
- Do not lean back to start the press, keep your ribs stacked over your hips.
- Let the dumbbells drift slightly together at the top rather than banging them.