Dumbbell Close-Grip Press

What is the Dumbbell Close-Grip Press?

The dumbbell close-grip press is a triceps-focused pressing compound done lying on a bench with two dumbbells held together, palms facing in. Pressing the dumbbells as one unit with a neutral grip keeps the elbows tucked and biases the triceps, while the free dumbbells are friendlier to the wrists and shoulders than a fixed close-grip barbell.

Muscles worked

Primary: Triceps

The triceps does most of the work extending the elbows to lock out the dumbbells; the neutral grip and tucked elbows make elbow extension the dominant action.

Secondary: Chest, Shoulders

The chest assists in driving the dumbbells off the chest, and the front shoulders help stabilise, though less than in a wide-grip press.

How to perform the Dumbbell Close-Grip Press

1. Lie on a flat bench holding a dumbbell in each hand and press them together over the chest with a neutral grip, palms facing each other.
2. Squeeze the dumbbells together throughout the set; that inward pressure keeps the elbows tucked and the pecs working.
3. Keep the elbows tucked close to the ribs rather than flared, which is what makes this a triceps-biased press.
4. Lower the dumbbells together to the lower chest under control, keeping them pressed against each other.
5. Feel the stretch at the bottom with the elbows tucked, then press the dumbbells back up while still squeezing them together.
6. Lock out over the chest without letting the dumbbells separate or the elbows drift outward.

Suggested working range: 8–12 reps. Default progression: double progression.

Mechanics

A bilateral horizontal press with the dumbbells held together in a neutral grip: both the shoulder and elbow move under load, so it’s a compound, but keeping the elbows tucked makes the triceps the dominant driver rather than the chest.

Form cues

• •Press two dumbbells together, palms facing each other, and keep them touching.
• •Tuck the elbows toward the body as you lower rather than flaring them wide.
• •Lower to the lower chest, then drive up by extending the elbows to lock out.
• •Keep the shoulder blades retracted and the dumbbells stacked over the elbows.

Common mistakes

• •Letting the dumbbells separate during the press instead of squeezing them together.
• •Flaring the elbows wide, which turns it into a regular press and loses the triceps bias.
• •Cutting the descent short and never reaching the loaded stretch at the chest.
• •Letting the dumbbells drift apart at lockout, which lets the elbows flare and the triceps off the hook.

Variations & alternatives

• •Barbell close-grip bench press, a fixed-bar version for heavier loading.
• •Dumbbell skull crusher, a lying triceps isolation with dumbbells.
• •JM press, a hybrid close-grip and skull-crusher triceps press.
• •Dip, a bodyweight triceps compound alternative.

Tricep Pushdown

Triceps · Cable

Overhead Tricep Extension

Triceps · Dumbbell

Skull Crusher

Triceps · Barbell

Tricep Dip

Triceps · Bodyweight

Close-Grip Bench Press

Triceps · Barbell

Programming: sets, reps & when to use it

Program the dumbbell close-grip press in the library’s 8–12 rep range as a triceps-focused compound after your main pressing. The neutral grip is joint-friendly, so it suits pressing the triceps heavily without the wrist strain of a close-grip barbell. Keep the dumbbells together and the elbows tucked; progress the load over time.

Frequently asked questions