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Exercise guide

Bent-Arm Dumbbell Pullover

How to do the Bent-Arm Dumbbell Pullover with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

CompoundDumbbellIntermediatePush
Primary muscles

Chest

Secondary

Lats, Shoulders, Triceps

Equipment

Dumbbell

Step by step

How to do the Bent-Arm Dumbbell Pullover

  1. 1

    Place a dumbbell standing up on a flat bench.

  2. 2

    Ensuring that the dumbbell stays securely placed at the top of the bench, lie perpendicular to the bench (torso across it as in forming a cross) with only your shoulders lying on the surface. Hips should be below the bench and legs bent with feet firmly on the floor. The head will be off the bench as well.

  3. 3

    Grasp the dumbbell with both hands and hold it straight over your chest with a bend in your arms. Both palms should be pressing against the underside one of the sides of the dumbbell. This will be your starting position. Caution: Always ensure that the dumbbell used for this exercise is secure. Using a dumbbell with loose plates can result in the dumbbell falling apart and falling on your face.

  4. 4

    While keeping your arms locked in the bent arm position, lower the weight slowly in an arc behind your head while breathing in until you feel a stretch on the chest.

  5. 5

    At that point, bring the dumbbell back to the starting position using the arc through which the weight was lowered and exhale as you perform this movement.

  6. 6

    Hold the weight on the initial position for a second and repeat the motion for the prescribed number of repetitions.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Bent-Arm Dumbbell Pullover set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap — so your chest volume is visible at a glance — and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More chest exercises

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