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Exercise guide

See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press)

How to do the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

CompoundDumbbellIntermediatePush
Primary muscles

Shoulders

Secondary

Abs, Triceps

Equipment

Dumbbell

Step by step

How to do the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press)

  1. 1

    Grab a dumbbell with each hand and stand up erect.

  2. 2

    Clean (lift) the dumbbells to the chest/shoulder level and then rotate your wrists so that your palms are facing towards you as if you were getting ready to perform an Arnold Press. This will be your starting position.

  3. 3

    Now start extending your left arm overhead as you rotate the wrist so that the palm of your hand faces forward as you go up. Your elbows should come out also as you lift the weight. Simultaneously, you will also be bending from your hip to your opposite side. Tip: If you perform the exercise correctly, is should look as if you are trying to reach for something overhead on the right hand side of your body, but with your left arm. Breathe out as you perform this movement.

  4. 4

    Once you reach the top position breathe in. Then, with the weight fully extended overhead and you bent over to your right hand side, begin the movement to the left side.

  5. 5

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap, so your shoulders volume is visible at a glance, and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More shoulders exercises

FAQ

See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press): common questions

What muscles does the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) work?

The See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) primarily works the Shoulders. It also recruits the Abs and Triceps as supporting muscles.

Is the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) suitable for beginners?

The See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) is an intermediate-level exercise. It's best once you've built a base of general strength and movement control, beginners can work up to it.

What equipment do I need for the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press)?

To do the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) you'll need a dumbbell.

Is the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) a compound or isolation exercise?

The See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) is a compound exercise, it moves multiple joints and works several muscle groups at once, which makes it efficient for building overall strength.

How do I do the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) with correct form?

Grab a dumbbell with each hand and stand up erect. Follow the full step-by-step above for the complete movement.

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