How to Do Medicine Ball Chest Pass
Start and end of one clean rep of Medicine Ball Chest Pass.
Quick facts
| Primary muscle | Chest |
|---|---|
| Secondary muscles | Shoulders, Triceps |
| Equipment | Bodyweight |
| Category | Plyometrics |
How to perform Medicine Ball Chest Pass
- You will need a partner for this exercise. Lacking one, this movement can be performed against a wall.
- Begin facing your partner holding the medicine ball at your torso with both hands.
- Pull the ball to your chest, and reverse the motion by extending through the elbows. For sports applications, you can take a step as you throw.
- Your partner should catch the ball, and throw it back to you.
- Receive the throw with both hands at chest height.
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 |
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.
- Land softly through the whole foot with bent knees to absorb the force, and reset fully between reps.
- Control the lowering phase — a 2–3 second descent builds more than dropping the weight.
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.
- Landing stiff-legged or with locked knees, which spikes the load on the joints.
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does Medicine Ball Chest Pass work?
Medicine Ball Chest Pass mainly works the chest, with the shoulders, triceps helping as secondary movers.
What equipment do I need for Medicine Ball Chest Pass?
None — Medicine Ball Chest Pass is a bodyweight movement, so you only need your bodyweight and a little space.
How many sets and reps should I do for Medicine Ball Chest Pass?
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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