Exercise Comparison
Bench Dips vs Tricep Dumbbell Kickback




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Muscle Analysis
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Instructions
Bench Dips
For this exercise you will need to place a bench behind your back. With the bench perpendicular to your body, and while looking away from it, hold on to the bench on its edge with the hands fully extended, separated at shoulder width. The legs will be extended forward, bent at the waist and perpendicular to your torso. This will be your starting position.
Slowly lower your body as you inhale by bending at the elbows until you lower yourself far enough to where there is an angle slightly smaller than 90 degrees between the upper arm and the forearm. Tip: Keep the elbows as close as possible throughout the movement. Forearms should always be pointing down.
Using your triceps to bring your torso up again, lift yourself back to the starting position.
Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Tricep Dumbbell Kickback
Start with a dumbbell in each hand and your palms facing your torso. Keep your back straight with a slight bend in the knees and bend forward at the waist. Your torso should be almost parallel to the floor. Make sure to keep your head up. Your upper arms should be close to your torso and parallel to the floor. Your forearms should be pointed towards the floor as you hold the weights. There should be a 90-degree angle formed between your forearm and upper arm. This is your starting position.
Now, while keeping your upper arms stationary, exhale and use your triceps to lift the weights until the arm is fully extended. Focus on moving the forearm.
After a brief pause at the top contraction, inhale and slowly lower the dumbbells back down to the starting position.
Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
Verdict
Both exercises target the triceps. Bench Dips is a beginner exercise using bodyweight, while Tricep Dumbbell Kickback is beginner and uses dumbbell. Choose Bench Dips if you have access to bodyweight, or Tricep Dumbbell Kickback if you prefer dumbbell. Bench Dips is a compound movement working multiple joints, making it better for overall strength. Tricep Dumbbell Kickback isolates the target muscle for focused development.