All Exercises

Lever Seated Hammer Grip Shoulder Press

Target your shoulders effectively with the Lever Seated Hammer Grip Shoulder Press.

Intermediate
Compound
Push
1 min per set2 min rest

Description

A compound exercise that targets your shoulders, performed while seated on a machine with a levered hammer grip.

How to Do Lever Seated Hammer Grip Shoulder Press

  1. 1
    Setup

    Adjust the seat so the handles are at shoulder height or slightly below when seated, ensuring your feet are flat on the floor for stability.

  2. 2
    Setup

    Grasp the hammer-grip handles with a neutral grip (palms facing each other), ensuring your wrists are aligned with your forearms.

  3. 3
    Setup

    Sit upright with your back firmly against the pad, chest up, and core engaged to maintain a stable spinal position.

  4. 4

    Exhale as you press the handles upward in a controlled motion until your arms are fully extended but not locked, feeling your deltoids contract.

  5. 5

    Inhale as you slowly lower the handles back down to the starting position, allowing your shoulders to stretch slightly at the bottom without resting the weight.

  6. 6

    Maintain constant tension on your shoulders throughout the movement, avoiding any sudden drops or jerks.

Tips

  • Focus on driving the weight directly overhead rather than forward, ensuring the primary work is done by your deltoids.
  • Keep your elbows slightly in front of your body during the press to better engage the anterior and medial deltoids and protect your shoulder joints.
  • Control the eccentric (lowering) phase of the movement for 2-3 seconds to maximize time under tension and promote muscle growth.
  • Engage your glutes and core throughout the exercise to prevent arching your lower back and maintain proper posture.

Common Mistakes

  • ×Arching the lower back excessively: Fix this by engaging your core and pressing your back firmly against the seat pad.
  • ×Locking out elbows at the top of the movement: Avoid this by stopping just short of full extension to maintain tension on the shoulders and prevent joint hyperextension.
  • ×Using momentum to lift the weight: Ensure a controlled movement by reducing the weight if necessary and focusing on shoulder muscle activation rather than swinging.

Variations

Related Exercises

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