Exercise guide · Advanced · Compound

Clap Push Up: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The clap push up is a plyometric bodyweight exercise that targets the pectorals, triceps, and shoulders. It involves an explosive push off the ground, clapping the hands in mid-air, and landing back in the push-up position. This movement requires significant upper body strength, power, and coordination.

Primary muscles
Chest
Secondary muscles
Shoulders , Triceps
Equipment
Body Weight
Level · type
Advanced · Compound
Demonstration of the clap push up
Front view: muscles worked by the clap push up. Primary: chest. Secondary: shoulders and triceps.
Back view: muscles worked by the clap push up. Primary: chest. Secondary: shoulders and triceps.
Primary Secondary

How to do the clap push up

  1. Step 1: Start in a high plank position with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
  2. Step 2: Lower your body towards the ground by bending your elbows, keeping your core engaged.
  3. Step 3: Push through your palms explosively to propel your body off the ground.
  4. Step 4: While in mid-air, clap your hands together before landing back in the starting position.
  5. Step 5: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the clap push up by training goal
Goal Sets Reps Rest Effort
Strength 3–5 3–6 3–5 min 1–3 reps in reserve
Muscle growth 3–4 6–12 2–3 min 1–2 reps in reserve
Muscular endurance 2–3 12–20 1–2 min 1–3 reps in reserve

Ranges follow the ACSM position stand on progression in resistance training. Muscle grows across a wide range of loads when sets end close to failure (Schoenfeld et al., 2017), longer rests between heavy sets support strength and size (Schoenfeld et al., 2016), and stopping a rep or two short of failure works about as well as training to failure (Grgic et al., 2022). Estimate your working weights with the strength calculators.

Clap Push Up alternatives

More exercises that train the chest as their main target:

More chest exercises

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Sources

  1. American College of Sports Medicine. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):687-708.
  2. Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Strength and hypertrophy adaptations between low- vs. high-load resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(12):3508-3523.
  3. Schoenfeld BJ, Pope ZK, Benik FM, et al. Longer interset rest periods enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res. 2016;30(7):1805-1812.
  4. Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Orazem J, Sabol F. Effects of resistance training performed to repetition failure or non-failure on muscular strength and hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2022;11(2):202-211.

Step-by-step instructions and demonstration media are from the ExerciseDB exercise dataset.

This guide is general fitness information, not medical advice. Stop if an exercise causes pain and speak to a doctor or physiotherapist about injuries or health conditions before starting a new programme.