Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press vs Criss Cross Arms Lift

Maximizing Your Chest Workout Plan

Contents

Criss Cross Arm Lift is the easier place to start — difficulty 1 of 5 vs 5. Compare Chest form cues and when to progress.

Customize Your Chest Workout: Explore the Benefits of Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press and Criss Cross Arms Lift for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press vs Criss Cross Arms Lift : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press more often — 605 sessions compared to 423 for Criss Cross Arms Lift.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press and Criss Cross Arms Lift differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press and Criss Cross Arms Lift Differ

What differsClose Grip Dumbbell Bench PressCriss Cross Arms Lift
Muscles workedchest, triceps, and front delts
Equipmenta dumbbellbodyweight only
Difficulty5 of 51 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users605 sessions423 sessions

Related comparisons

Not sure whether Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press or Criss Cross Arms Lift fits your goal? Get a personalized plan

How to Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press

Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press gif

Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press muscles worked: Chest

Form

  1. 1. Keep your elbows close to your torso and slowly lower the dumbbells towards your chest.
  2. 2. When the dumbbells are near your chest, pause for a moment and feel the tension in your chest and triceps.
  3. 3. Using the strength of your chest and triceps, push the dumbbells back up to return to the starting position.
  4. 4. Do not fully extend your elbows; keep them slightly bent to maintain tension.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Keep your hands in a fixed position to prevent the dumbbell from shaking.
  2. 2. Keep your wrists straight to avoid bending.
  3. 3. Fix your back and hips to the bench to prevent excessive lifting of the back.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press methods?Exercise Guide

How to Criss Cross Arms Lift

Criss Cross Arms Lift gif

Criss Cross Arms Lift muscles worked: Chest

Form

  1. 1. Cross your arms in front of your chest.
  2. 2. Raise your arms to the side.
  3. 3. Slowly return to the original position.

Coach's Comment

  1. Straighten your arms.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Criss Cross Arms Lift, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Criss Cross Arms Lift Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Criss Cross Arms Lift methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Chest, Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press or Criss Cross Arms Lift?

Neither is clearly ahead — Planfit users log both at a similar rate. They both train Chest, so the choice comes down to the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

Do Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press and Criss Cross Arms Lift work the same muscles?

Not quite. Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press loads chest, triceps, and front delts, and Criss Cross Arms Lift loads .

What equipment do Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press and Criss Cross Arms Lift need?

Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press needs a dumbbell, and Criss Cross Arms Lift needs bodyweight only.

Which is easier to start with?

Criss Cross Arms Lift is the easier place to start. Move to Close Grip Dumbbell Bench Press once your form holds up.

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