Shoulders · Dumbbell
Dumbbell Standing Close Grip Shoulder Press
How to do the dumbbell standing close grip shoulder press, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Dumbbell
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- VerticalPush
- Mechanic
- Compound
How to do it
Stand tall holding a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height with your palms facing each other and the dumbbells close together. Press the dumbbells straight overhead, keeping them close as your elbows stay in front of your body, then lower under control to shoulder level. Keep your ribs down and core braced.
- 1Your front delts driving the press with your triceps finishing the
- 2lockout
- 3The dumbbells staying close together through the whole press
- 4A tall, braced trunk with your elbows tracking in front
Common mistakes
- Overarching your lower back or flaring your ribs
- Letting the dumbbells drift wide apart
- Shrugging your shoulders up into the press
Muscles worked
The dumbbell standing close grip shoulder press mainly works the front delts and triceps, with the side delts, upper chest, upper traps, and upper abs assisting.
- Front DeltsPrimary
- TricepsPrimary
- Side DeltsSupport
- Upper ChestSupport
- Upper TrapsSupport
- Upper AbsSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- Lower BackMinor
- Lower TrapsMinor
- Lower AbsMinor
Kovo programs the dumbbell standing close grip shoulder press 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 shoulders exercises
- How to do the battle rope alternating waves
- How to do the arm circles
- How to do the arnold press
- How to do the resistance band front raise
- How to do the resistance band lateral raise
- How to do the resistance band overhead press
Last reviewed June 2026.