Exercise guide · Intermediate · Compound

Kettlebell Alternating Press: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The kettlebell alternating press is a shoulder exercise where you press one kettlebell overhead at a time, alternating arms. This movement targets the deltoids and also engages the triceps and core for stability.

Primary muscles
Shoulders
Secondary muscles
Triceps , Abs , Obliques
Equipment
Kettlebell
Level · type
Intermediate · Compound
Demonstration of the kettlebell alternating press
Front view: muscles worked by the kettlebell alternating press. Primary: shoulders. Secondary: triceps, abs and obliques.
Back view: muscles worked by the kettlebell alternating press. Primary: shoulders. Secondary: triceps, abs and obliques.
Primary Secondary

How to do the kettlebell alternating press

  1. Step 1: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a kettlebell in each hand at shoulder height.
  2. Step 2: Press one kettlebell overhead, fully extending your arm.
  3. Step 3: Lower the kettlebell back to shoulder height.
  4. Step 4: Repeat with the other arm.
  5. Step 5: Continue alternating arms for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the kettlebell alternating press 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.

Kettlebell Alternating Press alternatives

More exercises that train the shoulders as their main target:

More shoulders 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.