10 Best Chest Dip On Straight Bar Alternatives for Home & Gym

The Chest Dip On Straight Bar is done hanging. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Push And Pull Bodyweight, the Drop Push Up and the Modified Hindu Push-up.

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

Original Exercise: Chest Dip On Straight Bar

Primary muscle
Pectorals
Equipment
Bodyweight
Difficulty
Intermediate
Type
Compound

Secondary muscles: Triceps, Shoulders

How to perform Chest Dip On Straight Bar
  1. Grab the parallel bars with your palms facing down and your arms fully extended.
  2. Bend your knees and cross your ankles.
  3. Lower your body by bending your arms until your shoulders are below your elbows.
  4. Push yourself back up to the starting position by straightening your arms.
  5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
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Ranked Chest Dip On Straight Bar Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Chest Dip On Straight Bar 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.

    • Pectorals
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Start in a high plank position with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
    2. Lower your chest towards the ground, keeping your elbows close to your body.
    3. Once your chest is just above the ground, quickly drop your knees to the ground.
    4. Push yourself back up to the starting position by extending your arms.
    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: pectorals, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Body position: lying face down, not hanging
    • Pectorals
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    The same equipment, done standing instead.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Start in a push-up position with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and your feet hip-width apart.
    2. Lower your body towards the ground, bending your elbows and keeping your core engaged.
    3. As you lower your body, shift your weight back and lift your hips up towards the ceiling, creating an inverted V shape with your body.
    4. Continue to lower your body until your chest is just above the ground, then reverse the movement, pushing your hips back down and extending 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: pectorals, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Body position: standing, not hanging
    • Pectorals
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Start in a push-up position with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and your feet together.
    2. Engage your core and lift your hips up towards the ceiling, forming an inverted V shape with your body.
    3. Lower your upper body towards the ground by bending your elbows, keeping them close to your body.
    4. As you lower down, shift your weight forward and transition into a cobra pose by straightening your arms and lifting your chest up.
    5. Reverse the movement by bending your elbows and lowering your chest back down towards the ground.
    6. Push through your hands to return to the inverted V position.
    7. Continue the movement by lowering your hips back down towards the ground, returning to the starting push-up position.
    8. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Body position: lying face down, not hanging
    • Pectorals
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Compound

    Pick this when you want an easier version that still works the pectorals.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Start in a plank position with your forearms on the ground and elbows directly below your shoulders.
    2. Engage your core and keep your body in a straight line from head to toe.
    3. Lower your chest towards the ground by bending your elbows, keeping them close to your body.
    4. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push yourself back up to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Body position: lying face down, not hanging
  1. Drop Push

    6. Drop Push

    91% match
    • Pectorals
    • Other
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    A straight swap when you want to keep working the pectorals.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Position low boxes or other platforms 2-3 feet apart.
    2. Move to a pushup position between them, supporting yourself by placing your hands on the boxes.
    3. With good posture, drop from the platforms by pressing up and moving your hands to shoulder width, cushioning your landing by absorbing the impact through the arm.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Body position: lying face down, not hanging
    • Pectorals
    • Stability-ball
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    A good swap when you have a stability ball to work with, and it still works the pectorals.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Place the bosu ball on the ground with the flat side facing up.
    2. Position yourself in a push-up position with your hands on the outer edges of the bosu ball.
    3. Engage your core and lower your body down towards the bosu ball by bending your elbows.
    4. Push yourself back up to the starting position by extending your arms.
    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: pectorals, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Body position: lying face down, not hanging
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
  2. 8. Push-up

    90% match
    • Pectorals
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Start in a high plank position with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and your feet together.
    2. Engage your core and lower your body towards the ground by bending your elbows, keeping your body in a straight line.
    3. Pause for a moment when your chest is just above the ground, 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: pectorals, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Body position: lying face down, not hanging
    • Pectorals
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Start in a high plank position with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and your body in a straight line from head to heels.
    2. Lower your body towards the ground by bending your elbows, keeping them close to your sides.
    3. Once your chest is just above the ground, push through your hands to extend your arms and lift your upper body up.
    4. At the top of the movement, protract your shoulder blades by pushing your upper back towards the ceiling.
    5. Pause for a moment, then reverse the movement by retracting your shoulder blades and lowering your body back down to the starting position.
    6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Body position: lying face down, not hanging
    • Pectorals
    • Stability-ball
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Place the bosu ball on the ground with the flat side facing up.
    2. Position yourself in a push-up position with your hands on the outer edges of the bosu ball.
    3. Engage your core and lower your body down towards the bosu ball by bending your elbows.
    4. Push yourself back up to the starting position by extending your arms.
    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: pectorals, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Chest Dip On Straight Bar
    • Body position: lying face down, not hanging
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Chest Dip On Straight Bar

Chest Dip On Straight Bar FAQ

What muscles does Chest Dip On Straight Bar work?

The movement targets the pectoralis major through horizontal adduction and shoulder flexion, while the anterior deltoid and triceps assist. Keeping a forward torso angle increases pectoral activation, whereas an upright posture shifts more load to the triceps.

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