Exercise Library / Chest

Dumbbell Bench Press

How to do the Dumbbell Bench Press with proper form, and the muscles it works.

Muscle group
Chest
Primary muscles
Chest
Secondary muscles
Shoulders and triceps
Equipment
Dumbbell
Type
Compound
Level
Beginner

Video: “How to Perform a Dumbbell Bench Press | Proper Form” by Macros Inc. on YouTube.

How to do the Dumbbell Bench Press

  1. Lie down on a flat bench with a dumbbell in each hand resting on top of your thighs. The palms of your hands will be facing each other.
  2. Then, using your thighs to help raise the dumbbells up, lift the dumbbells one at a time so that you can hold them in front of you at shoulder width.
  3. Once at shoulder width, rotate your wrists forward so that the palms of your hands are facing away from you. The dumbbells should be just to the sides of your chest, with your upper arm and forearm creating a 90 degree angle. Be sure to maintain full control of the dumbbells at all times. This will be your starting position.
  4. Then, as you breathe out, use your chest to push the dumbbells up. Lock your arms at the top of the lift and squeeze your chest, hold for a second and then begin coming down slowly. Tip: Ideally, lowering the weight should take about twice as long as raising it.
  5. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions of your training program.

Muscles worked

The Dumbbell Bench Press mainly works your chest, with help from your shoulders and triceps.

Dumbbell Bench Press start and finish positions

Dumbbell Bench Press: Starting position
Starting position
Dumbbell Bench Press: Ending position
Ending position

Track your Dumbbell Bench Press progress

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