How to do the Dumbbell Single-arm Shoulder Press
Grab a dumbbell and either sit on a military press bench or a utility bench that has a back support on it as you place the dumbbells upright on top of your thighs or stand up straight.
Clean the dumbbell up to bring it to shoulder height. The other hand can be kept fully extended to the side, by the waist or grabbing a fixed surface.
Rotate the wrist so that the palm of your hand is facing forward. This is your starting position.
As you exhale, push the dumbbell up until your arm is fully extended.
After a second pause, slowly come down back to the starting position as you inhale.
Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions and then switch arms.
Sets and reps
| Goal | Sets | Reps | Rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle growth | 3–4 | 8–12 | 1.5 min |
| Muscular endurance | 2–3 | 15–20 | 1 min |
When you hit the top of the rep range on every set, add 2 kg (5 lb) next session and work back up.
Starting points from training research. Stop each set 1–3 reps short of failure.
Muscles worked
Alternatives
Same muscles, similar movement: swap in one of these if the Dumbbell Single-arm Shoulder Press doesn’t suit your gym or your joints.
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