Dumbbell Arnold Press

Sit on an exercise bench with back support, holding a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder level with palms facing towards you. Press the dumbbells overhead while rotating your palms forward. Return to the starting position and repeat.

How to perform the Dumbbell Arnold Press

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Dumbbell Arnold Press using your dumbbell.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your deltoids.
  3. Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.

Coaching cues

  • Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
  • Drive force through your deltoids rather than momentum.
  • Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much weight and losing positional control.
  • Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
  • Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.

Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.

Build a free routine

Stage exercises here, then sign up to save them as a real Fitly routine — synced to web and mobile.

View staged routine (0)

Variations of Dumbbell Arnold Press

Related exercises

0 exercises staged Save your routine — sign up free.