I love this exercise.
I hope you will too.
You can see Ryan loving it if you follow this link:
Why do this exercise?
Many reasons!
First reason….serious gains!
Other reasons include the neutral grip (palms towards each other) makes the exercises safer for shoulders which struggle to reach a good overhead position without being in pain.
The second reason is that this exercise combines two different exercises into one. One is a high incline neutral grip press the second is a hex press which is where you push the dumbbells together throughout the movement to create a really big squeeze on the ol’ pectoral muscles.
Traditionally you have to go lighter when you do a hex press so combining these two movements means you can go just as heavy as when you do the high incline press and then when it comes to the squeeze and lowering the weight it allows you to go heavier for this portion of the movement meaning you work the chest and upper back much harder than when just doing the hex press alone.
When you are forced to squeeze the dumbbells together you get great activation of the lats and the upper back which is excellent if you are weak in these areas.
Another great part of this exercise is when you bring the weights apart at the bottom of the rep your rear deltoids and middle back have to work very hard meaning this exercise ticks yet another beneficial box.
Give it a try and let me know what you think!
By Chris Kershaw
Chris is a Personal Trainer, Strength Coach, Writer and man of small stature and reader of The Discworld Series with a decade in the industry. He trains everyone from beginners to high level athletes. His favourite clients are people getting into the gym for the first time because they can make the biggest changes in their life.
Chris Kershaw Strength 