10 Alternatives to Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback

The Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback is done standing with dumbbells. Ranked closest by our scoring: the One Arm Dip, the Triceps Dip (Between Benches) and the Triceps Dips Floor.

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

Original Exercise: Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback

Primary muscle
Triceps
Equipment
Dumbbell
Difficulty
Intermediate
Type
Isolation

Secondary muscles: Shoulders

How to perform Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback
  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand.
  2. Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips, keeping your back straight.
  3. Extend your arms straight back, keeping your elbows close to your body.
  4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbells back to the starting position.
  5. Repeat with the other arm, alternating sides with each repetition.
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Ranked Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback 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.

    • Triceps
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on a bench with your hands gripping the edge of the bench, fingers pointing forward.
    2. Slide your butt off the bench, supporting your weight with your hands.
    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 yourself 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, the same as the Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback
    • Triceps
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on the edge of a chair or bench with your hands next to your hips, fingers pointing forward.
    2. Slide your butt off the front of the chair with your legs extended in front of you.
    3. Straighten your arms, keeping a little bend in your elbows to keep tension on your triceps and off your elbow joints.
    4. Slowly bend your elbows to lower your body toward the floor until your elbows are at about a 90-degree angle.
    5. Once you reach the bottom of the movement, press down into the chair to straighten your elbows, returning to the starting position.
    6. 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: triceps, the same as the Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: seated, not standing
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback
    • 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, fingers pointing forward.
    2. Slide your butt off the bench, supporting your weight with your hands.
    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 yourself 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, the same as the Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: hanging, not standing
  1. Body Tricep Press
    • Triceps
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Position a bar in a rack at chest height.
    2. Standing, take a shoulder width grip on the bar and step a yard or two back, feet together and arms extended so that you are leaning on the bar. This will be your starting position.
    3. Begin by flexing the elbow, lowering yourself towards the bar.
    4. Pause, and then reverse the motion by extending the elbows.
    5. Progress from bodyweight by adding chains over your shoulders.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: triceps, the same as the Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: lying face down, not standing
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback
    • Triceps
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Start by lying on your side with your legs extended and stacked on top of each other.
    2. Place your bottom hand on the ground directly under your shoulder, fingers pointing forward.
    3. Press through your bottom hand to lift your body off the ground, keeping your legs straight and your core engaged.
    4. Extend your top arm straight up towards the ceiling, creating a straight line from your head to your heels.
    5. Lower your body back down to the starting position with control.
    6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch sides.

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

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: triceps, the same as the Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Triceps
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Isolation
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
    2. Extend your arms straight out in front of you, parallel to the ground.
    3. Bend your elbows and lower your body towards the ground, keeping your upper arms close to your sides.
    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 10 to 15 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: triceps, the same as the Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: kneeling, not standing
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback
    • Triceps
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Sit on the edge of a bench with your hands gripping the edge, fingers pointing forward.
    2. Walk your feet forward, sliding your butt off the bench, and straighten your arms.
    3. Bend your elbows and lower your body towards the ground, keeping your back close to the bench.
    4. Push through your palms to straighten your arms and 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: triceps, the same as the Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: seated, not standing
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback
    • Triceps
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • 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 butt off the bench and straighten your legs in front of you, 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 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: triceps, the same as the Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: seated, not standing
  2. Close-grip Push-up Off Of A Dumbbell
    • Triceps
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie on the floor and place your hands on an upright dumbbell. Supporting your weight on your toes and hands, keep your torso rigid and your elbows in with your arms straight. This will be your starting position.
    2. Lower your body, allowing the elbows to flex while you inhale. Keep your body straight, not allowing your hips to rise or sag.
    3. Press yourself back up to the starting position by extending the elbows. Breathe out as you perform this step.
    4. After a pause at the contracted position, 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, the same as the Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: lying face down, not standing

Why You Might Need a Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback Alternative

You may substitute the kickback because of wrist or shoulder pain, limited dumbbell load, lack of balance, or a need for heavier progressive overload. Alternatives let you change loading patterns and range of motion to alter muscle activation, for example, pushdowns keep constant tension while skull crushers load the long head through a longer ROM. Use cues like keeping the upper arm stationary and hinging only at the elbow to preserve isolation. Choose alternatives that reduce painful positions (avoid deep shoulder flexion if you have impingement) or allow heavier bilateral loading when unilateral balance or grip limits progress.

Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback FAQ

What muscles does Dumbbell Standing Alternating Tricep Kickback work?

It primarily targets the triceps brachii, emphasizing elbow extension with load on the lateral and long heads depending on arm angle. Biomechanically it isolates elbow extension; cue: keep your upper arm parallel to the torso and extend only at the elbow to maximize triceps activation.

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Similarity scores compare exercise metadata such as movement pattern, muscles, equipment and body position. They are not a safety rating or a check that you own the equipment. Learn about our methodology