How to Do Isometric Wipers
Start and end of one clean rep of Isometric Wipers.
Quick facts
| Primary muscle | Chest |
|---|---|
| Secondary muscles | Core, Shoulders, Triceps |
| Equipment | Bodyweight |
| Category | Strength |
How to perform Isometric Wipers
- Assume a push-up position, supporting your weight on your hands and toes while keeping your body straight. Your hands should be just outside of shoulder width. This will be your starting position.
- Begin by shifting your body weight as far to one side as possible, allowing the elbow on that side to flex as you lower your body.
- Reverse the motion by extending the flexed arm, pushing yourself up and then dropping to the other side.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Muscles worked
- Chest (primary): pushes the arms forward and across the body — your horizontal pressing power.
- Core (secondary): braces the trunk and resists twisting to protect the spine.
- 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 |
Bodyweight movement: once you own the top of a rep range, progress by slowing the tempo, pausing at the hardest point, or moving to a harder variation instead of adding load.
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.
- Own the largest range you can control with clean form before you chase extra reps.
- Treat every rep the same — a repeatable setup and bar path is what lets you add weight safely over time.
- Warm up the pattern with a couple of lighter, submaximal sets before your working sets.
Common mistakes
- Flaring the elbows straight out to the sides, which puts the shoulder joint in a weak, vulnerable spot.
- Cutting the range short to squeeze out extra reps instead of owning each full one.
- Chasing weight jumps before the current load feels solid on every rep.
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does Isometric Wipers work?
Isometric Wipers mainly works the chest, with the core, shoulders, triceps helping as secondary movers.
What equipment do I need for Isometric Wipers?
None — Isometric Wipers is a bodyweight movement, so you only need your bodyweight and a little space.
How many sets and reps should I do for Isometric Wipers?
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. Bodyweight movement: once you own the top of a rep range, progress by slowing the tempo, pausing at the hardest point, or moving to a harder variation instead of adding load.
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