Shoulders · Kettlebell
Kettlebell Clean and Press
How to do the kettlebell clean and press, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Kettlebell
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- VerticalPush
- Mechanic
- Compound
How to do it
Stand with a kettlebell on the floor between your feet. Hinge and pull it up, rotating your hand around the handle to rack it at shoulder level with your elbow tucked under. Brace your core, then press the kettlebell overhead to full lockout and lower it back to the rack.
- 1Feel your hips and legs driving the kettlebell up into the rack position
- 2Engage your core and use a slight leg dip to assist the overhead press
- 3Lock out with your arm fully extended and shoulder packed
Common mistakes
- Avoid letting the kettlebell flip over and bang your wrist; guide it
- around
- Don't overarch your back at lockout; keep your spine neutral
- Avoid pressing purely with your arm; dip and drive through your legs
Muscles worked
The kettlebell clean and press mainly works the triceps, with the front delts, forearms, upper chest, upper traps, upper abs, and side delts assisting.
- TricepsPrimary
- Front DeltsSupport
- ForearmsSupport
- Upper ChestSupport
- Upper TrapsSupport
- Upper AbsSupport
- Side DeltsSupport
- Lower TrapsMinor
- Lower AbsMinor
Kovo programs the kettlebell clean and 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.