10 Best Pike-to-cobra Push-up Alternatives for Chest Strength

The Pike-to-cobra Push-up is done lying face down. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Drop Push Up, the Push And Pull Bodyweight and the Push-up (Bosu Ball).

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

Original Exercise: Pike-to-cobra Push-up

Pike-to-cobra Push-upPlay demonstration
Primary muscle
Pectorals
Equipment
Bodyweight
Difficulty
Intermediate
Type
Compound

Secondary muscles: Core, Shoulders, Triceps

How to perform Pike-to-cobra Push-up
  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.
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Ranked Pike-to-cobra Push-up Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Pike-to-cobra Push-up 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. Best match
    Drop Push UpPlay demonstration

    1. Drop Push Up

    99% match
    • Pectorals
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    It uses the same equipment and still works the pectorals.

    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
    • Movement: flat horizontal press, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
  2. Push And Pull BodyweightPlay demonstration

    2. Push And Pull Bodyweight

    99% match
    • 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 body in a straight line.
    2. Lower your chest towards the ground by bending your elbows, keeping your body straight.
    3. Push through your palms to extend your arms and return to the starting position.
    4. From the push-up position, pull your chest towards the ground by bending your elbows, keeping your body straight.
    5. Push through your palms to extend your arms and return 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 Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
  3. Push-up (Bosu Ball)Play demonstration

    3. Push-up (Bosu Ball)

    98% match
    • 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
    • Movement: flat horizontal press, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
  4. Push-ups With Feet On An Exercise Ball

    4. Push-ups With Feet On An Exercise Ball

    98% match
    • Pectorals
    • Stability-ball
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Lie on the floor face down and place your hands about 36 inches apart from each other holding your torso up at arms length.
    2. Place your toes on top of an exercise ball. This will allow your body to be elevated.
    3. Lower yourself until your chest almost touches the floor as you inhale.
    4. Using your pectoral muscles, press your upper body back up to the starting position and squeeze your chest. Breathe out as you perform this step.
    5. After a second 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
    • Movement: flat horizontal press, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
  5. Push-up On Lower ArmsPlay demonstration

    5. Push-up On Lower Arms

    98% match
    • 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
    • Movement: flat horizontal press, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
  6. Drop Push

    6. Drop Push

    98% 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 Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
  7. Push Up On Bosu BallPlay demonstration

    7. Push Up On Bosu Ball

    98% match
    • 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
    • Movement: flat horizontal press, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
  8. Push-up (On Stability Ball)Play demonstration

    8. Push-up (On Stability Ball)

    98% match
    • Pectorals
    • Stability-ball
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Place the stability ball on the ground and position yourself facing down with your hands on the ball, shoulder-width apart.
    2. Extend your legs straight out behind you, balancing on your toes.
    3. Engage your core and lower your chest towards the ball by bending your elbows, keeping your body in a straight line.
    4. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push yourself back up to the starting position by straightening 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
    • Movement: flat horizontal press, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
  9. Push-upPlay demonstration

    9. Push-up

    98% 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
    • Movement: flat horizontal press, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
  10. Push-up PlusPlay demonstration

    10. Push-up Plus

    98% 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 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
    • Movement: flat horizontal press, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up
    • Body position: lying face down, the same as the Pike-to-cobra Push-up

Pike-to-cobra Push-up FAQ

What muscles does Pike-to-cobra Push-up work?

It primarily targets the pectoralis major (sternal and clavicular heads) with assistance from the anterior deltoid and triceps for elbow extension. The serratus anterior and thoracic extensors are engaged because of the scapular protraction and upper-back extension. Cue: emphasize horizontal adduction by squeezing the chest at lockout.

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