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Exercise guide

Dumbbell One-Arm Shoulder Press

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

CompoundDumbbellIntermediatePush
Primary muscles

Shoulders

Secondary

Triceps

Equipment

Dumbbell

Step by step

How to do the Dumbbell One-Arm Shoulder Press

  1. 1

    Grab a dumbbell and either sit on a military press bench or a utility bench that has a back support on it as you place the dumbbells upright on top of your thighs or stand up straight.

  2. 2

    Clean the dumbbell up to bring it to shoulder height. The other hand can be kept fully extended to the side, by the waist or grabbing a fixed surface.

  3. 3

    Rotate the wrist so that the palm of your hand is facing forward. This is your starting position.

  4. 4

    As you exhale, push the dumbbell up until your arm is fully extended.

  5. 5

    After a second pause, slowly come down back to the starting position as you inhale.

  6. 6

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions and then switch arms.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

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

Related

More shoulders exercises

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