Close Hands Wall Push-Up
Also known as: close hand wall push-up, narrow wall push-up
In SetGrip: Wall Push-Up (Close Hands)
- Primary musclePectorals
- EquipmentBodyweight
- DifficultyBeginner
- TypeCompound · Push
Standing at a wall with hands set narrow gives you the gentlest pressing variation in the family, loading only a small fraction of bodyweight. The close hand position tucks the elbows and shifts more work toward the triceps than the wide hands wall version, and walking your feet back is the built-in progression.
How to do the Close Hands Wall Push-Up
- Stand facing a wall, about arm's length away.
- Place your hands on the wall at shoulder height, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Step back a few feet, keeping your body straight and your feet hip-width apart.
- Bend your elbows and lower your chest towards the wall, keeping your body in a straight line.
- Push back up to the starting position, 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
Pectorals · Chest
The chest drives the arms together as you push, and it is loaded most in the bottom half of the rep when the elbows are bent.
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
Without bodyweight
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does the Close Hands Wall Push-Up work?
The Close Hands Wall Push-Up primarily works the pectorals. It also involves the triceps and delts, which assist the movement and stabilise the joints.
Is the Close Hands Wall Push-Up good for beginners?
Yes. The Close Hands Wall 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 Close Hands Wall Push-Up?
If you cannot do the Close Hands Wall Push-Up, try the Wide Hands Wall Push-Up, the Push-Up or the Drop Push-Up. Each of them trains the pectorals 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 Close Hands Wall 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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