Seated Dumbbell Press

What it is

This is a foundational upper body strength exercise that targets your shoulder muscles. You will press dumbbells overhead from a seated position, primarily engaging your deltoids. It is a compound movement that also effectively works your triceps. This exercise helps build overall pushing power and muscular endurance.

Technique tips

• Use your thighs to help clean the dumbbells to shoulder height.
• Ensure your palms face forward in the starting position.
• Exhale forcefully as you press the dumbbells directly overhead.
• Lightly touch the dumbbells together at the top of the press.
• Control the weight's descent as you slowly lower it.
• Keep your back supported and your core engaged.

How to track your progress

Log the weight and reps of each set. Straddly turns every set into an estimated one-rep max, so a heavier single and a strong set of eight both count as progress, and it flags a personal record the moment you beat your best.