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Exercise · chest

Incline Dumbbell Press

Targets the upper chest with a greater range of motion than the barbell version.

Primary muscle
chest
Equipment
dumbbell
Difficulty
beginner
Sets and reps
3-4 sets of 8-12 reps

How to perform

  1. 1Set the bench to a 30-45 degree incline and sit back with a dumbbell in each hand.
  2. 2Start with the dumbbells at chest level, elbows slightly below shoulder height.
  3. 3Press up and slightly inward until the dumbbells nearly touch at the top.
  4. 4Lower under control until you feel a stretch across the upper chest.

Common mistakes

×Setting the incline too steep, turning it into a shoulder press.
×Letting the dumbbells drift too far forward or back.
×Using momentum instead of controlled reps.

Muscles worked

Primary: chest. This movement also recruits the shoulders, triceps as supporting muscles.