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Kettlebell Seated Press
A seated single-kettlebell overhead press that isolates the shoulder by removing leg drive while the offset bell trains shoulder stability.
ShouldersKettlebellVertical press
GoLightWeight mediakettlebell-seated-press
Demonstration coming soon
Primary
Anterior deltoidsMedial deltoids
Secondary
TricepsUpper trapeziusSerratus anteriorCore
Equipment
Kettlebell
Pattern
Vertical press
Setup
- 01Sit on a bench or the floor with the torso tall and braced.
- 02Clean one kettlebell to the rack position with the bell resting on the back of the forearm.
- 03Keep the wrist straight and the elbow tucked in front of the ribs.
- 04Plant the free hand on the thigh or hold it out for balance.
Execution
- 01Brace the trunk and press the kettlebell straight overhead.
- 02Rotate the palm slightly forward as the arm extends so the bell finishes over the shoulder joint.
- 03Lock the elbow with the biceps close to the ear.
- 04Lower under control back to the rack position before the next rep.
Checkpoints
- -Wrist stays neutral, never bent back under the bell.
- -Torso stays upright without leaning away from the working arm.
- -The bell finishes stacked over the shoulder and hip.
- -Ribs stay down through the whole press.
Common mistakes
- -Arching the lower back to finish the press.
- -Letting the elbow flare wide out of the rack.
- -Pressing the bell forward instead of straight up.
- -Gripping so loosely the bell flops on the forearm.
Programming notes
- -Use 3 to 4 sets of 5 to 8 reps per arm for strength.
- -Use 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps per arm for hypertrophy and stability work.
- -Alternate arms each set or complete all reps on the weaker side first.
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