How to Do Hammer Grip Incline DB Bench Press
Start and end of one clean rep of Hammer Grip Incline DB Bench Press.
Quick facts
| Primary muscle | Chest |
|---|---|
| Secondary muscles | Shoulders, Triceps |
| Equipment | Dumbbell |
| Category | Strength |
How to perform Hammer Grip Incline DB Bench Press
- Lie back on an incline bench with a dumbbell on each hand on top of your thighs. The palms of your hand will be facing each other.
- By using your thighs to help you get the dumbbells up, clean the dumbbells one arm at a time so that you can hold them at shoulder width.
- Once at shoulder width, keep the palms of your hands with a neutral grip (palms facing each other). Keep your elbows flared out with the upper arms in line with the shoulders (perpendicular to the torso) and the elbows bent creating a 90-degree angle between the upper arm and the forearm. This will be your starting position.
- Now bring down the weights slowly to your side as you breathe in. Keep full control of the dumbbells at all times.
- As you breathe out, push the dumbbells up using your pectoral muscles. Lock your arms in the contracted position, hold for a second and then start coming down slowly. Tip: It should take at least twice as long to go down than to come up.
- Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
- When you are done, place the dumbbells back in your thighs and then on the floor. This is the safest manner to dispose of the dumbbells.
Muscles worked
- Chest (primary): pushes the arms forward and across the body — your horizontal pressing power.
- Shoulders (secondary): raises and rotates the arms and drives everything overhead.
- Triceps (secondary): straightens the elbow to lock out every press and pushdown.
Sets & reps by goal
| Goal | Sets × reps | Load | Rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | 3–5 × 3–5 | Heavy (~85%+) | 2–3 min |
| Hypertrophy | 3–4 × 8–12 | Moderate (~65–75%) | 60–90 s |
| Endurance | 2–3 × 15–20 | Lighter (~50–60%) | 30–45 s |
Pick the row that matches your goal. If you're newer, anchor in the hypertrophy range while you groove the form.
Form tips
- Set the shoulder blades down and back and keep them pinned there so the chest, not the front of the shoulders, does the pressing.
- Each side works on its own, so match the depth and speed of both arms and don't let the stronger side take over.
- Treat every rep the same — a repeatable setup and bar path is what lets you add weight safely over time.
- Stop a rep or two short of failure on most sets to keep form clean and recover faster.
Common mistakes
- Flaring the elbows straight out to the sides, which puts the shoulder joint in a weak, vulnerable spot.
- Letting the dumbbells drift apart or clang together at the top instead of controlling the path.
- Chasing weight jumps before the current load feels solid on every rep.
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does Hammer Grip Incline DB Bench Press work?
Hammer Grip Incline DB Bench Press mainly works the chest, with the shoulders, triceps helping as secondary movers.
What equipment do I need for Hammer Grip Incline DB Bench Press?
Hammer Grip Incline DB Bench Press needs a pair of dumbbells.
How many sets and reps should I do for Hammer Grip Incline DB Bench Press?
It depends on your goal: about 3–5 sets of 3–5 heavy reps for strength, 3–4 sets of 8–12 for muscle growth, or 2–3 sets of 15–20 for endurance. Pick the row that matches your goal. If you're newer, anchor in the hypertrophy range while you groove the form.
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