A flexible exercise that can help women who want to tone their upper bodies is the dumbbell bench press. You can target different muscles and get better overall results by adjusting the bench to different angles, like 30 or 45 degrees.
Every angle has a distinct effect of its own. Positive inclinations target the muscles in the upper chest more than negative inclinations, which target the muscles in the lower chest. The dumbbell press is an excellent method for building muscle and toning your body, regardless of whether you use a standard bench position or a reverse slope.
It’s also simple to include this exercise in any workout regimen. You can accomplish a balanced, toned body by performing a variety of presses with just a bench and a pair of dumbbells.
- Dumbbell bench press for women: training goal
- How to use the angle of the bench correctly
- Incline bench press at an angle of 30 degrees
- Bench press at an angle of 40 degrees
- Close-grip bench press
- Press technique for burning fat
- Press technique for increasing muscle mass
- Technique for burning fat and increasing the mass of the pectoral muscles
- Dumbbell breeding
- Bench press with a narrow parallel grip
- Dumbbell bench press with supination and pronation
- Alternate dumbbell bench press
- Dumbbell bench press for girls on a horizontal bench
- Dumbbell bench press with a reverse, negative downward slope
- Dumbbell press on a bench with a positive incline
- Tips from professionals: how to increase the effectiveness of training
- Video on the topic
- Incline Bench Press with Dumbbells
- Incline Bench Press with Dumbbells
- 30-Degree Dumbbell Press
- Exercise Technique: Dumbbell Bench Raises at an Angle of 30 Degrees
Dumbbell bench press for women: training goal
The foundation of the fundamental bodybuilding exercises is the dumbbell bench press. It is available in any gym that has standard dumbbells and a bench with an incline adjustment. To achieve results, the most important thing is to use the right technique.
The following muscles are used when pressing dumbbells on a bench:
- pectoralis major – it raises and brings the elbows together;
- pectoralis minor spreads the shoulder blades;
- deltoid muscle provides movement of the upper part of the arms;
- triceps brachii helps straighten the elbow.
The stabilizing muscles are just as important as the working muscles. While they control the activity of the primary muscles, these muscles do not directly assist in lifting dumbbells.
The muscles that provide stability are:
- the shoulder joint, the muscles that rotate the shoulder;
- the lower part of the trapezius muscle;
- the latissimus dorsi.
The first goal of practice exercises is to strengthen the pectoral muscles and improve their performance. These muscles don’t get much use in daily life, especially for girls, so they lose tone. It’s critical to become proficient in the dumbbell bench press technique if you want your body to have beautiful proportions.
With consistent training two to three times a week, the results show after one to two months. Some exercises involving the bench press can be performed at home if you don’t have time to visit the gym.
Essential elements that impact the augmentation of the training’s impact are:
- sleep mode – it is important for muscle recovery after heavy physical exertion;
- proper nutrition – it is important not to starve, but to eat 5-6 times a day, but exclude fast carbohydrates and trans fats.
It will be much harder to get results if these guidelines are not followed.
How to use the angle of the bench correctly
Bench presses are typically performed in a horizontal position. Because of the underestimation of the impact of exercising on them, incline benches are frequently empty.
Girls don’t seem to benefit from dumbbell bench presses, especially when done at an angle. However, the incline of the bench makes it easier to engage the rest and work out the pectoral muscles.
When doing dumbbell presses, there are various choices for bench inclination:
- Negative. It is also called "reverse or head down". This type of incline is used to work out the expressive lower part of the pectoral muscles. It is especially useful for girls, since it allows you to tighten the chest and décolleté line. Also, when performing the exercise with a negative incline, the results in the regular bench press improve. The correct technique allows you to remove significant stress from the shoulder joint.
- Positive. This angle of inclination engages the upper pectoralis major muscles, improves their balance and shape. Moreover, the bench press with a positive incline involves the pectoralis minor, triceps and anterior deltoid, which allows you to strengthen several muscle groups at the same time.
For deep work of the muscle group, it is important to alternate between the classic bench press in a horizontal position and the dumbbell press on an inclined bench. The results will grow more slowly and the pectoral muscle will have a slightly flat shape if you perform the press solely on a horizontal bench. Additionally, since both the positive and negative angles can be changed, a lot relies on the degree of inclination.
Incline bench press at an angle of 30 degrees
The anterior delta, triceps, and chest are worked during a bench press at a 30° angle on an incline.
The execution principle:
- In the initial position, you need to lie on a bench, tightly pressing the lower back and buttocks to it. The feet stand tightly on the floor.
- On inspiration, the shell falls until the forearms are parallel to the floor.
- On the exhale, the projectile rises to its original position.
It is crucial to follow a few guidelines: do not bend your lower back to avoid a dumbbell collision at the highest point. Girls should perform 10–15 repetitions if the projectile weighs between 4 and 6 kg.
Bench press at an angle of 40 degrees
Compared to the previous exercise, the bench press for girls that involves lying on a bench at a 40° angle works the shoulder joints more. Should you find it necessary to develop the muscles in your shoulders and chest, you should raise the bench’s slope.
The bench press and the execution principle line up at a 30° angle. Setting the bench at an angle greater than 40° is not advised because only the shoulders will be worked in this situation.
Close-grip bench press
The triceps and triceps brachii are the primary muscles used in a close-grip bench press.
Method of execution:
- In the initial position, you need to lie on your back, your lower back is pressed to the bench. Hands are positioned on the barbell narrower than shoulder width.
- As you inhale, the barbell is lowered to the chest, the elbows cannot be moved far from the body.
- As you exhale, the projectile returns to its original position.
To get the greatest outcome, it’s critical to:
- not to straighten your elbows completely at the highest point;
- lowering the barbell to the chest should be twice as slow as lifting it to the starting position;
- elbows move along the body.
Press technique for burning fat
Dumbbell bench presses are a great way for girls to lower their body fat percentage. Several requirements are added when the execution technique is maintained.
The principal ones are:
- Nature of training. To reduce fatty tissue, you can use the pumping style or circuit training. Pumping involves pressing light dumbbells for the maximum number of repetitions (from 12 to 25). During circuit training, dumbbell presses are performed in several variations, but the exercises follow one after another, without a break. At the end of the cycle, rest is no more than 3 minutes.
- Proper nutrition. Without observing the ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates 30/10/60, subcutaneous fat will not decrease.
The press method of fat burning involves a significant energy expenditure that the body uses up from stored fat.
Press technique for increasing muscle mass
Experienced athletes frequently use dumbbell or barbell presses to increase their muscle mass. It is necessary to adhere to the generally accepted rules in order for the exercise to accomplish its goal.
The primary guidelines consist of:
- The number of repetitions is minimized, while the weight of the projectile is set as possible;
- increasing the number of approaches from 7 to 10;
- greater amplitude of movements, the arms must cover a greater distance, then the muscles will be in maximum tension;
- the speed of movements should be low.
The involved muscle fibers break and start to grow when all the rules are followed.
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Technique for burning fat and increasing the mass of the pectoral muscles
Many people want to reduce their weight without sacrificing their muscular mass or physical attractiveness.
You can achieve this by using these easy pointers:
- The bench press technique should combine both multi-repetition exercises and working with heavy weights. Such a load allows you to increase the mass of the pectoral muscles, while reducing the fat layer, since a large number of repetitions are performed due to carbohydrates, and a small number – due to proteins.
- Strength exercises should be supplemented with aerobic exercises – walking, running, jumping rope.
- Basic strength exercises for various muscle groups should not be excluded, they are the ones that help burn fat throughout the body.
Gaining muscle mass does not always translate into gaining a lot more weight. It is possible to combine weight loss and muscle gain with the appropriate technique.
Dumbbell breeding
How to carry out:
- In the initial position, you need to lie down on a bench and press your lower back, arms with the equipment bent at the elbows;
- The dumbbells are spread out to the sides, while the angle in the elbow joint decreases on inhalation;
- On exhalation, the arms with the equipment return to their original position.
It’s crucial to spread your elbows to the sides during the exercise without bending them excessively. Additionally, you should keep an eye on your lower back’s position.
Bench press with a narrow parallel grip
The muscles in the chest, back, and triceps are worked when pressing dumbbells with a narrow parallel grip.
How to carry out the exercise:
- in the initial position, the athlete lies down on the bench and presses his lower back tightly, hands with the projectile are turned with palms towards each other at a width of already shoulders;
- on inhalation, the arms are lowered until an angle of 90° with the forearm is formed;
- on exhalation, the dumbbells are pushed out by the pectoral muscles, the arms return to the initial position.
Dumbbell bench press with supination and pronation
You can reap the full benefits of the dumbbell exercise by performing a dumbbell bench press with supination and pronation.
Exercise command:
- When performing the bench press with supination, the initial position is maintained as with a regular bench press on a horizontal bench. When raising the arms on inhalation, it is necessary to turn the palms towards each other. The rotation is performed not due to the wrist, but with the help of the elbow joint.
- When pressing dumbbells with pronation, everything is done the other way around: in the starting position, the palms are facing each other, and at the top point they are facing forward.
You must straighten your chest and bring your shoulder blades together for optimal results.
By varying the bench angle, the dumbbell bench press is an adaptable workout for girls that works various areas of the chest. While reverse slope and negative angles focus more on the lower chest, performing the press at 30 and 45 degrees helps emphasize the upper chest. This workout variation is a great addition to any fitness routine because it tones and strengthens the chest muscles as well as improving overall upper body strength.
Alternate dumbbell bench press
You can do this kind of press on a level bench or an inclined bench. You can fully work out your left and right chest regions independently with this exercise.
How to carry out the task:
- for the starting position, you need to lie on the bench and move your arms to the sides at an angle of 90 °, elbows facing the floor;
- as you inhale, raise your right arm;
- as you exhale, lower your right arm to its starting position;
- as you inhale again, do the same with your left arm;
- as you exhale, return both arms to their original position.
Dumbbell bench press for girls on a horizontal bench
A flat bench dumbbell bench press is a great exercise for developing the strength and quality of your chest muscles.
How to carry out the task:
- in the starting position, you need to lie down on the bench, firmly fixing the lower back, arms with the projectile are spread out to the sides at a right angle, elbows are directed to the floor;
- on inhalation, a pushing movement is performed and the dumbbells are brought together, but do not collide;
- on exhalation, it is necessary to return to the original position.
Dumbbell bench press with a reverse, negative downward slope
Bench presses using dumbbells that have a negative slope are also known as downward or reverse slope bench presses. This kind of press targets the triceps and lower chest.
Technique of operation:
- for the initial position, the bench is lowered down, it is necessary to lie down so that the head is lower than the body, legs are placed under the fixing rollers, hands hold dumbbells at shoulder width;
- on inhalation, dumbbells are lowered to the lower part of the chest, elbows should not be moved far from the body;
- on exhalation, the arms return the projectile to shoulder width.
Girls can benefit greatly from dumbbell bench presses with a negative slope because they help to form beautiful forms, give the chest elasticity, and tighten.
Dumbbell press on a bench with a positive incline
The positive incline dumbbell bench press exercise presupposes that the body is elevated at a specific angle. An inclined bench typically has an angle of 30 to 40°. Setting a bigger angle is pointless because the weight will be entirely transferred from the chest to the shoulders.
For those who have performed a traditional bench press before, the dumbbell bench press with a positive incline is appropriate. You can strengthen your triceps, deltoids, and chest muscles by working out on a positive incline.
How to carry out:
- In the starting position, you need to lie down on a bench with an incline, legs pressed to the floor, hands holding dumbbells at shoulder width;
- as you inhale, the dumbbells are lowered below the chest line, elbows should not be moved far from the body;
- as you exhale, the arms are lowered again to shoulder width.
Tips from professionals: how to increase the effectiveness of training
Several seasoned athletes have observed that proper adherence to the fundamental, widely accepted guidelines for training directly affects how effective a workout is.
The following are the rules:
- Technique of execution. If the exercise is performed with technical errors, the result will be zero, since the muscles will not be properly involved in the work. This is not only useless, but also unsafe. With incorrect technique, injuries and damage to joints are possible. In order to provide the correct technique, it is advisable to use the services of a professional trainer at the initial stage.
- Regularity of training. It is important to follow the gym visit regime, since long breaks reduce the result to a minimum and you have to start all over again.
- Recovery. Excessive constant stress for the body is just as harmful as inactivity. Training should end with recovery, that is, at least 8 hours of sleep. It is important to take breaks of no more than 3 days between workouts. Once every six months, it is recommended to take a two-week rest. For recovery, it is also important to eat right, include more protein and fiber in the diet, which contribute to the growth of muscle mass.
- Keeping an exercise diary. This technique promotes self-control and tracking of your workout progress. You can use the diary to record your workout calendar, strength indicators, duration of the workout, and weight.
Girls can increase their body’s percentage of muscle and develop strength and endurance by performing bench presses with dumbbells. Also, depending on the technique used, the press encourages either muscle gain or weight loss.
Incline Bench Press (30°) | Targets upper chest muscles, great for enhancing definition in the upper body. |
Incline Bench Press (45°) | Emphasizes upper chest and shoulders, providing balanced strength development. |
Reverse Slope Bench Press | Works lower chest and stabilizing muscles, ideal for overall chest improvement. |
Negative Slope Bench Press | Focuses on lower chest, effective for increasing chest mass. |
Positive Slope Bench Press | Helps build the upper chest and shoulders, improving upper body strength. |
Bench Press (Flat) | Works the overall chest, great for balanced chest muscle development. |
Dumbbell bench presses at different angles are a great exercise for women who want to strengthen and tone their upper bodies. A more effective and well-rounded workout can be achieved by utilizing reverse or negative slopes and adjusting the bench to 30 or 45 degrees, which targets different muscle groups.
You can work your muscles from a variety of angles when you combine positive and negative angles, which improves overall muscle development. Maintaining the challenge of your workouts and preventing plateaus requires this variation.
Exercises like the dumbbell bench press at various angles are accessible and adaptable for all skill levels. It supports a well-rounded fitness regimen while assisting in strength development.