Incline Push-Up Close-Grip

Also called close grip incline push up, incline diamond push up and elevated close push up.

Works

Triceps, plus chest and shoulders

Equipment

Bodyweight

Level

Beginner

Type

Compound

How to do it

Setup. Stand facing a Smith machine bar or sturdy elevated platform at an appropriate height.

1. Place your hands next to one another on the bar.
2. Position your feet back from the bar with arms and body straight. This will be your starting position.
3. Keeping your body straight, lower your chest to the bar by bending the arms.
4. Return to the starting position by extending the elbows, pressing yourself back up.

Cues

• Hands together on the bar.
• Body in one line.
• Elbows tight to the sides.
• Chest to the bar, press back.

Common mistakes

• Hips sagging.
• Elbows flaring wide.

Where to start

A starting point, not a law. Pick a weight you could lift two or three more times than the top of the range. Tempo is seconds down, pause, up. When every set hits the top of the range, add a little weight.

Go easy, or pick an alternative, if you have sore wrists. Pain that's sharp or gets worse set to set means stop.

Harder

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