Exercise guide · Beginner · Compound

Lever Overhand Triceps Dip: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The lever overhand triceps dip is a machine-based exercise targeting the triceps, with secondary emphasis on the chest and shoulders. It involves lowering and raising the body using a leverage machine, which provides stability and controlled resistance.

Primary muscles
Triceps
Secondary muscles
Chest , Shoulders
Equipment
Leverage Machine
Level · type
Beginner · Compound
Demonstration of the lever overhand triceps dip
Front view: muscles worked by the lever overhand triceps dip. Primary: triceps. Secondary: chest and shoulders.
Back view: muscles worked by the lever overhand triceps dip. Primary: triceps. Secondary: chest and shoulders.
Primary Secondary

How to do the lever overhand triceps dip

  1. Step 1: Adjust the machine to the appropriate height and secure your body in position.
  2. Step 2: Grasp the handles with an overhand grip and position your body so that your arms are fully extended.
  3. Step 3: Lower your body by bending your elbows, keeping your upper arms close to your sides.
  4. Step 4: Continue lowering until your upper arms are parallel to the floor.
  5. Step 5: Pause for a moment, then push yourself back up to the starting position by extending your elbows.
  6. Step 6: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the lever overhand triceps dip 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.

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