See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press)

How to do the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press)

1. Grab a dumbbell with each hand and stand up erect.
2. Clean (lift) the dumbbells to the chest/shoulder level and then rotate your wrists so that your palms are facing towards you as if you were getting ready to perform an Arnold Press. This will be your starting position.
3. Now start extending your left arm overhead as you rotate the wrist so that the palm of your hand faces forward as you go up. Your elbows should come out also as you lift the weight. Simultaneously, you will also be bending from your hip to your opposite side. Tip: If you perform the exercise correctly, is should look as if you are trying to reach for something overhead on the right hand side of your body, but with your left arm. Breathe out as you perform this movement.
4. Once you reach the top position breathe in. Then, with the weight fully extended overhead and you bent over to your right hand side, begin the movement to the left side.
5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Muscles worked

Role	Muscles
Primary	shoulders
Secondary	abs, triceps
Equipment	dumbbell
Difficulty	intermediate
Type	compound

No dumbbell? Train the same muscles with these

Ordered by how likely you are to own the 6 options.

Handstand Push-Ups Bodyweight Shoulder Press - With Bands Resistance Bands Kettlebell Turkish Get-Up (Lunge style) Kettlebell Kettlebell Turkish Get-Up (Squat style) Kettlebell Alternating Kettlebell Press Kettlebell Double Kettlebell Jerk Kettlebell

Easier than the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press)

Same movement pattern, lower entry difficulty — work up from here.

Alternating Cable Shoulder Press beginner · Cable Machine Anti-Gravity Press beginner · Barbell Bradford/Rocky Presses beginner · Barbell

Harder than the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press)

Push Press expert · Barbell Circus Bell expert · Other Equipment Clean and Jerk expert · Barbell

Superset the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) with

Opposing middle back work — alternate sets without extra rest.

Middle Back Shrug middle back Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row middle back Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row With Palms In middle back Dumbbell Incline Row middle back

Common questions

What muscles does the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) work?

The See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) primarily works the shoulders, with the abs and triceps as secondary movers. Clean and Press, Kettlebell Turkish Get-Up (Lunge style), and Kettlebell Turkish Get-Up (Squat style) train the same muscle, across 9 equipment types.

What equipment do you need for the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press)?

Dumbbells. Without dumbbells, Handstand Push-Ups, Shoulder Press - With Bands, and Kettlebell Turkish Get-Up (Lunge style) train the same muscle, and 10 of the catalogue's options for this muscle need no equipment.

Is the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) suitable for beginners?

It is rated intermediate. Start with Alternating Cable Shoulder Press, Anti-Gravity Press, and Bradford/Rocky Presses and work up.

Where should the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) go in a workout?

Early — the See-Saw Press (Alternating Side Press) is compound, working 3 muscle groups, so run it first or second while you are fresh, then superset Middle Back Shrug and Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row later.

Similar exercises

Clean and Press Barbell Kettlebell Turkish Get-Up (Lunge style) Kettlebell Kettlebell Turkish Get-Up (Squat style) Kettlebell Landmine Linear Jammer Barbell Alternating Cable Shoulder Press Cable Machine Alternating Kettlebell Press Kettlebell