For triceps growth

Dumbbell Skull Crusher vs Rope Pushdown

For triceps growth, rope pushdown rates well ahead on our research criteria: easier to progress, more of the work on the triceps.

Dumbbell skull crusher gives more stretch.

Both are good choices that train the triceps the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.

#12

of 20

Dumbbell Skull Crusher

Research score

Target tension

Strong

Excellent

Loaded stretch

Strong

Fair

Progression

Good

Excellent

Low cost

Strong

Excellent

See the full triceps ranking

What these mean

Target tension.: Whether the muscle you’re training is what gives out first, not your grip, balance or other muscles.
Loaded stretch.: How hard the muscle works while stretched. Training it there is linked to more growth.
Progression.: How easily you can keep adding weight in small steps over months and years.
Low cost.: How easy it is on your joints and recovery, and how quickly you can learn it.

The research score comes from these, scored by hand from the studies. Lifter scores appear once an exercise has 10 ratings. How scores work

When each one fits

Good reasons to choose dumbbell skull crusher

You train at home
You want more load on the triceps while they’re stretched

Good reasons to choose rope pushdown

You want to keep adding weight in small steps
You want the triceps to do the work, not other muscles
You want something easier on your joints

Dumbbell Skull Crusher

Rope Pushdown

You need

Dumbbells, bench

Cable station

Skill

Easy to learn

Type

Isolation

Why they rank where they do

Dumbbell Skull Crusher. Dumbbells let each arm find a comfortable path with a decent long-head stretch. Awkward to load heavy.

Rope Pushdown. Simple and joint-friendly, but the long head never gets stretched.

Questions

Which is better for triceps growth, dumbbell skull crusher or rope pushdown?

For triceps growth, rope pushdown rates well ahead on our research criteria: easier to progress, more of the work on the triceps. Dumbbell skull crusher gives more stretch. Both are good choices that train the triceps the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.

Is dumbbell skull crusher or rope pushdown easier to learn?

About the same: both are easy to learn.

Can you do dumbbell skull crusher or rope pushdown at home?

Dumbbell skull crusher needs dumbbells and a bench, so a home gym covers it. Rope pushdown needs a cable station, so for most people it’s a gym exercise.

Which is easier on the joints, dumbbell skull crusher or rope pushdown?

Rope pushdown: it rates Excellent for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric, against Strong for dumbbell skull crusher.

More comparisons

Dumbbell Skull Crusher Rope Pushdown All triceps exercises

Dumbbell Skull Crusher vs Rope Pushdown

For triceps growth, rope pushdown rates well ahead on our research criteria: easier to progress, more of the work on the triceps.

Dumbbell skull crusher gives more stretch.

Both are good choices that train the triceps the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.

What these mean

Target tension.: Whether the muscle you’re training is what gives out first, not your grip, balance or other muscles.
Loaded stretch.: How hard the muscle works while stretched. Training it there is linked to more growth.
Progression.: How easily you can keep adding weight in small steps over months and years.
Low cost.: How easy it is on your joints and recovery, and how quickly you can learn it.

The research score comes from these, scored by hand from the studies. Lifter scores appear once an exercise has 10 ratings. How scores work

When each one fits

Good reasons to choose dumbbell skull crusher

You train at home
You want more load on the triceps while they’re stretched

Good reasons to choose rope pushdown

You want to keep adding weight in small steps
You want the triceps to do the work, not other muscles
You want something easier on your joints

Dumbbell Skull Crusher

Rope Pushdown

You need

Dumbbells, bench

Cable station

Skill

Easy to learn

Type

Isolation

Why they rank where they do

Dumbbell Skull Crusher. Dumbbells let each arm find a comfortable path with a decent long-head stretch. Awkward to load heavy.

Rope Pushdown. Simple and joint-friendly, but the long head never gets stretched.

Questions

Which is better for triceps growth, dumbbell skull crusher or rope pushdown?

Is dumbbell skull crusher or rope pushdown easier to learn?

About the same: both are easy to learn.

Can you do dumbbell skull crusher or rope pushdown at home?

Dumbbell skull crusher needs dumbbells and a bench, so a home gym covers it. Rope pushdown needs a cable station, so for most people it’s a gym exercise.

Which is easier on the joints, dumbbell skull crusher or rope pushdown?

Rope pushdown: it rates Excellent for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric, against Strong for dumbbell skull crusher.