Exercise guide · Intermediate · Compound

Dumbbell Incline Press on Exercise Ball: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The dumbbell incline press on exercise ball is a chest exercise that also engages the shoulders and triceps. Performing this movement on an exercise ball increases the demand for balance and core stability compared to a traditional incline press on a bench.

Primary muscles
Chest
Secondary muscles
Shoulders , Triceps
Equipment
Dumbbell and Stability Ball
Level · type
Intermediate · Compound
Demonstration of the dumbbell incline press on exercise ball
Front view: muscles worked by the dumbbell incline press on exercise ball. Primary: chest. Secondary: shoulders and triceps.
Back view: muscles worked by the dumbbell incline press on exercise ball. Primary: chest. Secondary: shoulders and triceps.
Primary Secondary

How to do the dumbbell incline press on exercise ball

  1. Step 1: Sit on an exercise ball with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing forward.
  2. Step 2: Slowly walk your feet forward, rolling your body down the ball until your head, neck, and upper back are supported on the ball.
  3. Step 3: Hold the dumbbells at shoulder level, elbows bent and pointing out to the sides.
  4. Step 4: Press the dumbbells upward, extending your arms fully.
  5. Step 5: Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbells back to the starting position.
  6. Step 6: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the dumbbell incline press on exercise ball 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.

Dumbbell Incline Press on Exercise Ball 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.