Incline Close Grip Push-Up
In SetGrip: Close Grip Push-Up (Incline)
- Primary muscleTriceps
- EquipmentBodyweight
- DifficultyBeginner
- TypeCompound · Push
Raised hands plus tucked elbows gives beginners a triceps-focused press at a fraction of floor load, which is hard to find elsewhere without equipment. Work it in the same slot as your pressing accessories, and lower the surface height over time until the floor close grip push-up is within reach.
How to do the Incline Close Grip Push-Up
- Place your hands on an elevated surface, such as a bench or step, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Extend your legs behind you, resting on the balls of your feet, with your body forming a straight line from head to heels.
- Lower your chest towards the elevated surface by bending your elbows, keeping them close to your sides.
- Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push yourself back up to the starting position by straightening your arms.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Tip: Screw your hands into the floor as if turning the fingers outward to set the shoulders before each set.
Muscles worked
Primary
Triceps · Arms
The triceps finish the rep by locking the elbows, and they do more work the narrower your hands are.
Common mistakes
- Hips sagging or piked — the body should stay a straight line from head to heels; squeeze the glutes and brace the abs before each rep.
- Elbows flared to 90 degrees — flaring the arms out wide loads the shoulder joint; keep the elbows tucked to about 45 degrees from the torso.
- Cutting the bottom short — chest should come to within a fist of the floor; if that means fewer reps, do fewer reps.
- Head dropping first — the chin reaching for the floor makes it look like a rep when it is not; keep the head neutral and lead with the chest.
Sets, reps and where it fits
| Goal | Sets × reps | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 4–5 × 3–6 | 2–3 min |
| Muscle growth | 3–4 × 6–12 | 90–120 s |
| Endurance | 2–3 × 12–20 | 60 s |
Push-ups work as a warm-up before bench press, as a finisher after chest work or as the main push exercise when training with no equipment. Superset them with inverted rows or a band pull-apart for balance.
Variations and alternatives
Similar exercises
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does the Incline Close Grip Push-Up work?
The Incline Close Grip Push-Up primarily works the triceps. It also involves the pectorals and delts, which assist the movement and stabilise the joints.
Is the Incline Close Grip Push-Up good for beginners?
Yes. The Incline Close Grip Push-Up is rated beginner: it uses no equipment beyond your bodyweight and the movement is simple to learn. Start light, focus on the full range of motion and add load once every rep looks the same.
What can I do instead of the Incline Close Grip Push-Up?
If you cannot do the Incline Close Grip Push-Up, try the Dumbbell Close Grip Push-Up, the Banded Close Grip Push-Up or the Close Grip Push-Up. Each of them trains the triceps through a similar movement, so you can swap them in without changing the rest of the workout.
How many sets and reps should I do?
It depends on your goal. For the Incline Close Grip Push-Up, a sensible starting point is strength: 4–5 × 3–6 with 2–3 min rest; muscle growth: 3–4 × 6–12 with 90–120 s rest; endurance: 2–3 × 12–20 with 60 s rest. Put it early in the session while you are fresh, before isolation work for the same muscles.
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