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Partial ROM Handstand Push Up Progressions

Muscles worked

  • Front Shoulder
  • Serratus
  • Tricep
  • Upper Chest
  • Upper Traps

Form Cues

  • Start in a stable freestanding handstand with hands shoulder-width apart

  • Spread fingers wide and actively grip the floor for balance

  • Lower only to the target depth for your current progression level

  • Keep elbows tucked at roughly 45 degrees, not flared wide

  • Press back up to full lockout, opening the shoulders completely at the top

  • Pause briefly at the top to rebalance before the next rep

  • Maintain a straight body line - squeeze glutes and abs throughout

  • Use finger pressure for balance corrections between reps

  • Progress to deeper ROM only when the current range is fully controlled

Progressions

  1. 01

    Freestanding Shoulder Shrugs

    • Start in a stable freestanding handstand with arms locked out

    • Push the floor away, fully elevating (shrugging) the shoulders

    • Depress the shoulders slightly by relaxing the shoulder elevation

    • Push back up by actively shrugging and pressing through the shoulders

    • The movement is very small (4-10 cm) and comes from the shoulders

    • Maintain a straight body line - squeeze glutes and abs

    • Use finger pressure to maintain balance between reps

    • Aim for small, controlled, rhythmic movements

  2. 02

    Micro-ROM Handstand Push Up

    • Kick up into a solid freestanding handstand

    • Lower your body by bending the elbows approximately 15 degrees

    • Lean the shoulders slightly forward as you lower

    • Press back up to full lockout, opening the shoulders completely

    • Maintain a straight body line - squeeze glutes and abs

    • Keep elbows tucked at roughly 45 degrees, not flared

    • Use finger pressure to maintain balance through the small range

    • Focus on quality reps with perfect balance before increasing ROM

  3. 03

    Half-ROM Handstand Push Up

    • Kick up into a stable freestanding handstand

    • Lean the shoulders forward and lower until elbows bend to about 45-60 degrees

    • The head stays well above the floor in this partial range

    • Press back up to full lockout, extending and opening the shoulders completely

    • Keep elbows tucked at roughly 45 degrees, not flared wide

    • Maintain a straight body line throughout - squeeze glutes and abs

    • Use finger pressure to maintain balance through each rep

    • Focus on smooth, controlled movement in both directions

Common mistakes

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Every exercise here adapts to your goals, equipment and schedule inside the app.