Open Exercise

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Catalogue

Dumbbell Close-Grip Bench Press

oec:dumbbell-close-grip-bench-press

A compound horizontal press performed on a flat bench with a pair of dumbbells held together in a neutral grip to target the triceps and inner chest.

Generated by gemini-3.8-flash from the sources below. No person has checked this record. Don't rely on it for safety.

Also called: Dumbbell Squeeze Press, Crush Grip Dumbbell Press, Close-Grip Dumbbell Press, Dumbbell close grip bench press

How to do it

Setup

  1. Sit on the edge of a flat bench with a dumbbell resting upright on each thigh.
  2. Lie back smoothly onto the bench, using your knees to assist the dumbbells up over your chest.
  3. Plant your feet firmly on the floor and retract your shoulder blades into the bench.
  4. Position the dumbbells side-by-side with a neutral grip (palms facing each other), lightly pressing them together directly over your sternum.

Movement

  1. Lower the dumbbells under control toward your lower chest or sternum, keeping them pressed together and allowing your elbows to track closely alongside your torso.
  2. Touch the dumbbells lightly to your chest without bouncing or losing tension.
  3. Press the dumbbells back up along the same path by extending your elbows and squeezing your chest, maintaining contact between the dumbbells throughout the ascent.
  4. Lock out your elbows at the top without allowing your shoulders to protract off the bench.

Breathing

Inhale as you lower the dumbbells toward your chest; exhale forcefully as you press them back to lockout.

Cues

  • Crush the dumbbells together
  • Keep elbows tucked to your ribs
  • Drive your feet through the floor

Common faults

Flaring elbows out wide away from the torso.
Keep your elbows tucked at roughly 30 to 45 degrees relative to your torso to prioritize the triceps and protect the shoulders.
Letting the dumbbells drift apart during the movement.
Maintain constant, deliberate inward pressure pressing the two dumbbells together through the entire repetition.
Bouncing the dumbbells off the sternum.
Control the eccentric descent and reverse direction gently at the bottom under active muscular control.

Safety

  • Ensure dumbbells are firmly held so they do not slip or drop onto your chest or face.
  • When finished, bring the dumbbells to your thighs and use momentum to rock forward into a seated position.

Muscles

  • Triceps brachii prime mover
  • Pectoralis major, sternal head prime mover
  • Front deltoid prime mover
  • Pectoralis major, clavicular head synergist
  • Rotator cuff stabilizer

Joints

  • Elbow: Extension, Flexion
  • Shoulder: Flexion, Horizontal adduction
  • Shoulder blade: Isometric stabilization

Details

Movement
Horizontal push
Modality
Hypertrophy, Strength
Mechanics
compound
Force
push
Laterality
bilateral
Kinetic chain
open
Level
beginner
Equipment
Dumbbell; Flat bench or Adjustable bench
Record
Repetitions and Load
Load
external, per implement

Related

Sources

This record: CC-BY-SA-4.0.

Data

dumbbell-close-grip-bench-press.json