All Exercises

Dumbbell Standing French Press

Strengthen your triceps with the Dumbbell Standing French Press. Lift a dumbbell overhead, then slowly lower it behind your head for peak muscle

Intermediate
Isolation
Push
1 min per set2 min rest

Description

An exercise targeting the triceps by lifting a dumbbell overhead and slowly lowering it behind the head.

How to Do Dumbbell Standing French Press

  1. 1
    Setup

    Stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding one dumbbell with both hands, cupping one end of the dumbbell with your palms.

  2. 2
    Setup

    Engage your core, keep your chest up, and press the dumbbell directly overhead until your arms are fully extended and perpendicular to the floor.

  3. 3

    Keeping your elbows pointing forward and close to your head, slowly lower the dumbbell by bending your elbows, allowing the weight to descend behind your head.

  4. 4

    Lower until your forearms are parallel to the floor or you feel a deep stretch in your triceps, ensuring your upper arms remain stationary.

  5. 5

    Extend your elbows to press the dumbbell back to the starting overhead position, focusing on squeezing your triceps at the top.

Tips

  • Maintain a tight core throughout the movement to prevent your lower back from arching and to stabilize your torso.
  • Keep your elbows tucked in and pointing forward; avoid letting them flare out to the sides, which reduces triceps activation.
  • Control the eccentric (lowering) phase of the movement, taking about 2-3 seconds to lower the dumbbell to maximize muscle tension.
  • Breathe in as you lower the dumbbell and exhale as you press it back overhead, coordinating your breath with the effort.

Common Mistakes

  • ×Allowing elbows to flare out significantly reduces triceps isolation; keep your elbows tucked close to your head throughout the movement.
  • ×Arching your lower back to lift heavier weight can cause injury; brace your core and keep your spine neutral, using only your triceps to move the weight.
  • ×Not achieving a full range of motion limits triceps development; lower the dumbbell as far as comfortably possible behind your head, then fully extend your arms.

Variations

Related Exercises

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