Arms · Bodyweight
Close Grip Push-up Against the Wall
How to do the close grip push-up against the wall, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Reps
- Movement
- HorizontalPush
- Mechanic
- Compound
How to do it
Stand facing a wall and place your hands on it close together, thumbs and index fingers nearly touching, at chest height. Step your feet back slightly, then bend your elbows to bring your chest toward the wall and press back out. Keep your elbows tucked close to your sides to load the triceps.
- 1Triceps driving you back away from the wall
- 2Elbows staying tucked in close to your ribs
- 3A straight line from head to heels as you press
Common mistakes
- Don't let your elbows flare out wide
- Avoid sagging or piking at the hips
- Don't shrug your shoulders up toward your ears
Muscles worked
The close grip push-up against the wall mainly works the triceps, with the mid chest, front delts, upper chest, and lower chest assisting.
- TricepsPrimary
- Mid ChestSupport
- Front DeltsSupport
- Upper ChestSupport
- Lower ChestSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- Upper AbsMinor
- Lower AbsMinor
- GlutesMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the close grip push-up against the wall for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More triceps exercises
- How to do the bent-over tricep extension
- How to do the crossbody tricep extension
- How to do the cable katana tricep extension
- How to do the cable single arm tricep extension
- How to do the kickback
- How to do the lying tricep extension
Last reviewed June 2026.