Shoulders · Bodyweight
Standing Overhead Claps
How to do the standing overhead claps, 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
- VerticalPush
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand tall with your arms out to your sides at shoulder height. Sweep both arms up overhead and clap your hands together at the top, then lower them back down to shoulder height with control. Keep the movement smooth and your core braced throughout.
- 1Side delts and shoulders raising your arms up overhead
- 2Full stretch overhead as your hands meet to clap
- 3Tall posture with your ribs down and core braced
Common mistakes
- Shrugging your shoulders up toward your ears
- Arching your lower back to swing the arms up
- Using momentum instead of controlling the lower
Muscles worked
The standing overhead claps mainly works the side delts and front delts, with the upper traps and lower traps assisting.
- Side DeltsPrimary
- Front DeltsPrimary
- Upper TrapsSupport
- Lower TrapsSupport
- Upper ChestMinor
- Mid TrapsMinor
- Upper AbsMinor
- Lower AbsMinor
- Rear DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the standing overhead claps 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.