Shoulders · Bodyweight
Standing Top Clap Back Clap
How to do the standing top clap back clap, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- time
- Movement
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart. Reach both arms straight overhead and clap your hands at the top, then sweep them down and behind you to clap behind your back, opening the chest and shoulders through the full range.
- 1A stretch across the chest as the arms move behind you
- 2Shoulders moving freely through a full overhead range
- 3The upper back opening as the hands meet behind you
Common mistakes
- Arching the lower back to force the arms overhead
- Rushing the swing instead of moving smoothly
- Shrugging the shoulders up at the top clap
Muscles worked
The standing top clap back clap works the upper traps, mid traps, front delts, side delts, and rear delts.
- Upper TrapsSupport
- Mid TrapsSupport
- Front DeltsSupport
- Side DeltsSupport
- Rear DeltsSupport
- Upper ChestMinor
- Mid ChestMinor
- LatsMinor
- Lower TrapsMinor
- External RotatorsMinor
Kovo programs the standing top clap back clap 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.