7 Best Dumbbell Triceps Exercises for Mass & Strength
Building mass and strength in your triceps is essential for overall arm development. Incorporating dumbbell exercises into your workout routine can target this muscle group effectively, leading to impressive results. Here are the seven best dumbbell triceps exercises for mass and strength.
1. Dumbbell Skull Crushers
A classic exercise, dumbbell skull crushers target all three heads of the triceps. Lie down on a flat bench with a dumbbell in each hand, holding them above your chest with palms facing each other. Lower the weights toward your forehead by bending your elbows, then extend your arms back to the starting position.
2. Overhead Dumbbell Tricep Extension
This isolation exercise specifically targets the long head of the triceps. Seated or standing, hold a dumbbell overhead with both hands gripping one end of the weight. Extend your arms by straightening your elbows, raising the dumbbell above your head without moving your upper arms.
3. Dumbbell Kickbacks
Dumbbell kickbacks work wonders for isolation and contraction in the triceps. Bend at the waist while supporting your body with one arm on a bench or a sturdy surface. Hold a dumbbell with the other hand, keeping your elbow bent at 90 degrees. Extend your forearm backward until it’s parallel to the ground, feeling the strain in your triceps.
4. Dumbbell Close-Grip Bench Press
Shift focus from your chest to your triceps with this variation of a traditional bench press. Lie
down on a flat bench with a narrow grip on dumbbells close to your chest. Push upward by extending your arms while keeping elbows close to your body.
5. Incline Dumbbell Tricep Extension
This exercise targets all three heads of the triceps but emphasizes the long head even more because of the incline position. Sit on an incline bench holding dumbbells overhead. Bend your elbows, lowering the weights behind your head without moving your upper arms. Fully extend your arms back to the starting position.
6. Dumbbell Diamond Push-Ups
Reap the benefits of push-ups with a twist by placing more emphasis on your triceps. Get into a standard push-up position with your hands close together forming a diamond shape on the floor. Lower yourself down, keeping elbows close to your body until they brush against your ribs. Push back up for one complete rep.
7. Two-Arm Seated Dumbbell Tricep Extension
Sit on a flat bench, hold two dumbbells overhead with palms facing each other, and keep a slight bend in your elbows. Slowly lower the dumbbells behind your head by bending at the elbows without moving your upper arms, feeling the stretch in your triceps. Extend back to the starting position for one rep.
Incorporate these dumbbell triceps exercises into your workout routine to increase mass and strength in this crucial muscle group. Remember to prioritize proper form and adjust weights according to your fitness level for optimum results.