Dumbbell press at an upward angle

The higher the angle, the more the shoulders are "activated." At 40-50 degrees, the load is split 50/50 between the chest and shoulders. Above that, the shoulder engagement increases. You can rotate the dumbbells at the bottom, and at the top, they should be brought together.

Overall, if you want to develop a powerful chest and shoulders, make sure to perform this exercise periodically.

Nuances and Mistakes

1. The optimal angle for targeting the upper portion of the chest muscles is 30-40 degrees. Setting the angle at 20 degrees is pointless, while 50 degrees or more will predominantly engage the shoulders.

2. If you want to achieve maximum stretch in the chest, fully rotate the dumbbells out to the sides at the bottom. This means the dumbbells should be parallel to each other and in line at the bottom. However, this variation places more strain on your ligaments, so keep that in mind.

3. If your assistants are handing you the dumbbells, they should do so with your arms extended. This makes it easier to perform the first repetition.

4. At the top, it's preferable to bring the dumbbells together. This will lead to a stronger contraction of your chest muscles.

5. You can take a pause only at the top, not at the bottom. Otherwise, you will complicate the exercise for yourself.

6. It’s advisable to lower the dumbbells to the level where they touch the edges of your shoulders. This means you shouldn't spread them too wide or lower them too far.