Basketball Conditioning: How to Do the Shoulder Dumbbell Press Exercise

Basketball conditioning is very important tool used by a number of players to help increase their strength when they are away from the court. One muscle group in particular that players like to target is there shoulder muscles to give them more power for their shots. A simple exercise that targets these very muscles is known as the shoulder dumbbell press exercise. In order to perform the shoulder dumbbell press, you will need only a pair of dumbbells and a weight bench that allows you to sit upright. As with any exercise, make sure that you are using the correct amount of weight, because if you use too much you may injure yourself, and if you use to little, then you will not have a very effective workout.

The first thing that you need to do in order to do the shoulder dumbbell press exercise is get your bench set up properly. Look for an adjustable bench so that you can set it up so that the back is perpendicular to the seat. You are going to be sitting up straight during the course of the exercise, so the bench will help support you and help you keep your balance.

The next thing that you need to understand in order to properly do the shoulder dumbbell press exercise for your basketball conditioning is the form that you will be using. Sit down on the seat of the bench so that your back is supported by the backrest. Grab a dumbbell in each hand and prepare to do the exercise. What you are going to be doing is holding the weights up so that your elbows are bent and the weights are roughly to the side of your head. Push the weights upwards until your arms are nearly straight up. Slowly bring them back down and return to the original starting position. Try not to lock your elbows at any point, but rather allow them to remain slightly bent. Continue to use this motion until your finish up the number of sets and reps that you had planned to include in your basketball conditioning.

Sources:

Sports Fitness Advisor
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