Floor Press (Dumbbell)

A shoulder-friendly chest pressing exercise performed lying on the floor to limit range of motion and emphasize triceps strength. Ideally suited for building lockout power or training around shoulder discomfort.

Exercise movement reviewed by:Marie Braga, PT, DPT, CSCS
How Iridium Programs This

Iridium programs this reduced-range movement when sub-muscle fatigue tracking indicates your anterior deltoids need relief from deep stretching. The algorithm counts this work toward your Middle Chest and Triceps volume landmarks, allowing you to meet volume requirements without the higher recovery cost associated with full-range pressing.

Form Cues

Do
  • Lie flat with knees bent and feet planted firmly on the floor
  • Tuck your elbows to a 45-degree angle relative to your torso
  • Pause completely when your triceps lightly contact the ground
  • Explode the weight up to full arm extension
  • Keep your shoulder blades retracted against the floor
Don't
  • Don't bounce your elbows off the floor to gain momentum
  • Don't flare your elbows out 90 degrees wide
  • Don't let the dumbbells crash together at the top
  • Don't arch your lower back aggressively
  • Don't lift your head off the ground during the press

Common Mistakes

  • Bouncing arms off the floor
  • Flaring elbows too wide
  • Rushing the lowering phase
  • lifting the hips off the floor
  • Shortening the lockout at the top

Muscles Worked

This exercise primarily targets the pectoralis major and the triceps brachii, with a heavy emphasis on the triceps due to the reduced range of motion. It also engages the anterior deltoids for stability while significantly reducing the strain on the shoulder capsule compared to standard bench pressing.

Primary

Middle Chest

Secondary

Triceps Lateral HeadTriceps Medial HeadAnterior DeltoidForearms

Get Personalized Coaching for Floor Press (Dumbbell)

Don't guess your way through weights or workouts. Download Iridium for automatic, AI-powered coaching that adapts to your recovery and goals.