How to Do One Arm Floor Press
Start and end of one clean rep of One Arm Floor Press.
Quick facts
| Primary muscle | Triceps |
|---|---|
| Secondary muscles | Chest, Shoulders |
| Equipment | Barbell |
| Category | Strength |
How to perform One Arm Floor Press
- Lie down on a flat surface with your back pressing against the floor or an exercise mat. Make sure your knees are bent.
- Have a partner hand you the bar on one hand. When starting, your arm should be just about fully extended, similar to the starting position of a barbell bench press. However, this time your grip will be neutral (palms facing your torso).
- Make sure the hand you are not using to lift the weight is placed by your side.
- Begin the exercise by lowering the barbell until your elbow touches the ground. Make sure to breathe in as this is the eccentric (lowering part of the exercise).
- Then start lifting the barbell back up to the original starting position. Remember to breathe out during the concentric (lifting part of the exercise).
- Repeat until you have performed your recommended repetitions.
- Switch arms and repeat the movement.
Muscles worked
- Triceps (primary): straightens the elbow to lock out every press and pushdown.
- Chest (secondary): pushes the arms forward and across the body — your horizontal pressing power.
- Shoulders (secondary): raises and rotates the arms and drives everything overhead.
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
- Fix the elbows in place and let only the forearms move, keeping the load on the triceps.
- Keep the bar path close and stacked over your mid-foot; letting it drift forward wastes force and loads the lower back.
- 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
- Letting the elbows flare and drift forward so the shoulders quietly take over.
- Loading the bar heavier than your form allows and turning strict reps into a whole-body heave.
- Chasing weight jumps before the current load feels solid on every rep.
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does One Arm Floor Press work?
One Arm Floor Press mainly works the triceps, with the chest, shoulders helping as secondary movers.
What equipment do I need for One Arm Floor Press?
One Arm Floor Press needs a barbell and plates (plus a rack or bench where the movement calls for one).
How many sets and reps should I do for One Arm Floor 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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