10 Best Bent Press Alternatives for Shoulder Strength

The Bent Press is done standing with a kettlebell. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Left Hook. Boxing, the Handstand Push-up and Handstand Push-ups.

Updated Ranked by our 12-factor similarity model How it works

Original Exercise: Bent Press

Bent Press
Primary muscle
Delts
Equipment
Kettlebell
Difficulty
Advanced
Type
Compound

Secondary muscles: Glutes, Hamstrings, Lower Back, Quadriceps, Shoulders, Triceps

How to perform Bent Press
  1. Clean a kettlebell to your shoulder. Clean the kettlebell to your shoulders by extending through the legs and hips as you raise the kettlebell towards your shoulder. The wrist should rotate as you do so. This will be your starting position.
  2. Begin my leaning to the side opposite the kettlebell, continuing until you are able to touch the ground with your free hand, keeping your eyes on the kettlebell. As you do so, press the weight vertically be extending through the elbow, keeping your arm perpendicular to the ground.
  3. Return to an upright position, with the kettlebell above your head. Return the kettlebell to the shoulder and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
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Ranked Bent Press Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Bent Press on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Open "How to perform this exercise" on a card for the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

  1. Ring DipsPlay demonstration

    1. Ring Dips

    52% match
    • Triceps
    • Bodyweight
    • Advanced
    • Compound

    A looser match: it works the triceps rather than the delts.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Start by hanging from the rings with your arms fully extended and your body straight.
    2. Lower your body by bending your elbows until your shoulders are below your elbows.
    3. Push yourself back up to the starting position by straightening your arms.
    4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 to 5 sets of 5 to 8 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: triceps, not delts
    • Equipment: a suspension trainer, not free weights
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Bent Press
  2. Best match
    Left Hook. BoxingPlay demonstration

    2. Left Hook. Boxing

    50% match
    • Delts
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    Use this when you have nothing to train with, because it works the delts with bodyweight alone.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
    2. Keep your left hand up to protect your face and your right hand by your chin.
    3. Rotate your hips and pivot on your left foot as you extend your left arm forward in a punching motion.
    4. Twist your torso and engage your core muscles to generate power in the punch.
    5. Snap your arm back to the starting position and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Bent Press
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Bent Press
  3. Reverse DipPlay demonstration

    3. Reverse Dip

    50% match
    • Triceps
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Position yourself between two parallel bars with your arms fully extended and your body straight.
    2. Lower your body by bending your elbows until your upper arms are parallel to the ground.
    3. Pause for a moment, then push yourself back up to the starting position by straightening your arms.
    4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: triceps, not delts
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Bent Press
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Bent Press
  4. Elbow DipsPlay demonstration

    4. Elbow Dips

    49% match
    • Triceps
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on the edge of a bench or chair with your hands gripping the edge next to your hips.
    2. Slide your hips forward off the bench and straighten your legs, keeping your heels on the ground.
    3. Bend your elbows and lower your body towards the ground, keeping your back close to the bench.
    4. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push through your hands to straighten your arms and lift your body back up to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: triceps, not delts
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Bent Press
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Bent Press
  5. Handstand Push-upPlay demonstration

    5. Handstand Push-up

    49% match
    • Delts
    • Bodyweight
    • Advanced
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Find a wall and face away from it, standing a few feet away.
    2. Place your hands on the ground shoulder-width apart and kick your feet up against the wall, coming into a handstand position.
    3. Bend your elbows and lower your head towards the ground, keeping your body in a straight line.
    4. Push through your hands and extend your arms to return to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Bent Press
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: inverted, not standing
  6. Suspended Split SquatPlay demonstration

    6. Suspended Split Squat

    44% match
    • Quads
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    A looser match: it works the quads rather than the delts.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand facing away from a suspension trainer with your feet shoulder-width apart.
    2. Extend one leg forward and place the top of your foot in the foot cradle of the suspension trainer.
    3. Bend your standing leg and lower your body down into a lunge position, keeping your chest up and your knee in line with your toes.
    4. Push through your heel to return to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch legs.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: quads, not delts
    • Equipment: a suspension trainer, not free weights
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Bent Press
  7. Handstand Push-ups

    7. Handstand Push-ups

    44% match
    • Delts
    • Bodyweight
    • Advanced
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. With your back to the wall bend at the waist and place both hands on the floor at shoulder width.
    2. Kick yourself up against the wall with your arms straight. Your body should be upside down with the arms and legs fully extended. Keep your whole body as straight as possible. Tip: If doing this for the first time, have a spotter help you. Also, make sure that you keep facing the wall with your head, rather than looking down.
    3. Slowly lower yourself to the ground as you inhale until your head almost touches the floor. Tip: It is of utmost importance that you come down slow in order to avoid head injury.
    4. Push yourself back up slowly as you exhale until your elbows are nearly locked.
    5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Bent Press
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: inverted, not standing
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Bent Press
  8. Single Leg Squat (Pistol) MalePlay demonstration

    8. Single Leg Squat (Pistol) Male

    44% match
    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Advanced
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and arms extended in front of you.
    2. Lift your right foot off the ground and extend it forward.
    3. Slowly lower your body down by bending your left knee and pushing your hips back.
    4. Keep your chest up and your back straight as you lower yourself down.
    5. Lower until your left thigh is parallel to the ground, or as low as you can comfortably go.
    6. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push through your left heel to return to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch legs.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: glutes, not delts
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Bent Press
  9. One Leg SquatPlay demonstration

    9. One Leg Squat

    43% match
    • Glutes
    • Bodyweight
    • Advanced
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
    2. Extend one leg forward, keeping it off the ground.
    3. Bend your standing leg and lower your body down as if sitting back into a chair.
    4. Keep your chest up and your back straight.
    5. Push through your heel to return to the starting position.
    6. Repeat with the other leg.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: glutes, not delts
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Bent Press
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Bent Press
  10. Dips - Triceps Version

    10. Dips - Triceps Version

    43% match
    • Triceps
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. To get into the starting position, hold your body at arm's length with your arms nearly locked above the bars.
    2. Now, inhale and slowly lower yourself downward. Your torso should remain upright and your elbows should stay close to your body. This helps to better focus on tricep involvement. Lower yourself until there is a 90 degree angle formed between the upper arm and forearm.
    3. Then, exhale and push your torso back up using your triceps to bring your body back to the starting position.
    4. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: triceps, not delts
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: hanging, not standing

Why You Might Need a Bent Press Alternative

You may substitute the Bent Press because it requires high thoracic mobility, precise shoulder-scapular control and a kettlebell you might not have. Bent Press also places asymmetric load and torsion through the ribcage and lumbar spine; alternatives reduce rotation while still loading the anterior and lateral delts. For example, the single-arm kettlebell strict press keeps the torso upright so the deltoid does more work and the lats stabilize the shoulder. Landmine presses shift the force path and lower shear on the spine. Use technique cues such as keeping the scapula slightly protracted and driving through the elbow to emphasize deltoid activation and protect the rotator cuff.

Bent Press FAQ

What muscles does Bent Press work?

The Bent Press primarily targets the anterior and lateral deltoids while recruiting the triceps for lockout. It also engages the lats and obliques to brace and control the torso; cue: maintain scapular stability and feel the lateral delt through the concentric press.

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