10 Best Dumbbell Scott Press Alternatives for Shoulder Hypertrophy

The Dumbbell Scott Press is done standing with dumbbells. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Anti-gravity Press, the Barbell Shoulder Press and the Barbell Standing Close Grip Military Press.

Dumbbell Scott PressWatch the Dumbbell Scott Press

Each substitute is scored on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. Read how we rank alternatives

How to Do the Dumbbell Scott Press

The steps for the Dumbbell Scott Press itself, so you can judge how close each substitute below really is.

Delts, with triceps, chest · Dumbbell · Intermediate · Compound

  1. Sit on a bench with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing forward.
  2. Raise the dumbbells to shoulder height, with your elbows bent and palms facing forward.
  3. Press the dumbbells upward until your arms are fully extended.
  4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbells back to the starting position.
  5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

The 10 Best Dumbbell Scott Press Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Dumbbell Scott Press on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Cards with a "How to perform it" link open to show the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

Each link re-ranks the list below for the kit it names. Pick one to hide the substitutes you cannot set up.

  1. Anti-gravity Press

    1. Anti-gravity Press

    99% match

    Delts · Intermediate · Compound

    A good swap when you have a barbell to work with, and it still works the delts.

    • Barbell
    How to perform it
    1. Place a bar on the ground behind the head of an incline bench.
    2. Lay on the bench face down. With a pronated grip, pick the barbell up from the floor. Flex the elbows, performing a reverse curl to bring the bar near your chest. This will be your starting position.
    3. To begin, press the barbell out in front of your head by extending your elbows. Keep your arms parallel to the ground throughout the movement.
    4. Return to the starting position and repeat to complete the set.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as the Dumbbell Scott Press
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Dumbbell Scott Press

Dumbbell Scott Press FAQ

What muscles does Dumbbell Scott Press work?

The Dumbbell Scott Press primarily targets the anterior and lateral deltoids, with the triceps acting as secondary extensors and the upper chest assisting at the start of the press. Scapular stabilizers engage to control upward rotation; cue: press in a vertical plane to bias the delts over the chest.

Can I build muscle without doing Dumbbell Scott Press?

Yes, you can build shoulder mass using other vertical presses, landmine variations, and targeted lateral raises while applying progressive overload and sufficient volume. Use tempo control and full but pain-free range of motion, and cue: maintain scapular retraction and a neutral spine to ensure proper delt activation.

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