Dumbbell Skullcrusher
Push · triceps · intermediate
Start
FinishHow to do it
Lying on a bench with the dumbbells locked out over the chest, bend only at the elbows to lower them beside the ears, then extend back to lockout.
Muscles worked
Primary: triceps · Also works: forearms
Equipment
Dumbbells, Full gym
Common mistakes
- Letting the elbows drift wide, which shifts load off the triceps and onto the joint
- Swinging the upper arms back and forth to help the weight up
- Adding weight faster than the elbows tolerate, which is how this lift causes tendon pain
Variations
- Neutral-grip dumbbell skullcrusher
- Incline dumbbell skullcrusher
Can't do this one? Swap it for
Take care: ABROFIT automatically removes this movement for anyone who has flagged a elbow problem. If that's you, use one of the swaps above and speak to a physio before loading it.
Related exercises
- Bench Triceps Diptriceps
- Diamond Push-Uptriceps
- Close-Grip Push-Uptriceps
- Incline Close-Grip Push-Uptriceps
- Bodyweight Skullcrushertriceps
- Wall Triceps Extensiontriceps
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