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Dumbbell Shoulder Press
beginnerPush · Shoulders, triceps · Dumbbells, bench (optional)
A shoulder builder that allows a more natural pressing path than a barbell.
How to do it
- Hold a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height, palms facing forward.
- Brace your core and press the dumbbells overhead until your arms are extended.
- Bring them together slightly at the top without clanking them.
- Lower under control back to shoulder height.
Coaching tips
- Avoid arching your lower back to gain range of motion.
- Keep your wrists stacked over your elbows throughout.
- Exhale on the press, inhale on the way down.
Common mistakes
- Flaring the elbows out excessively at the bottom.
- Using leg drive to turn it into a push press unintentionally.
- Pressing the dumbbells forward instead of straight up.