Side-to-side Toe Touch (male)
Also known as: side-to-side toe touch
What Side-to-side Toe Touch (male) really gives you is a trunk that resists rather than folds, driven by pure bodyweight leverage.
How to do Side-to-side Toe Touch (male)
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms extended to the sides.
- Bend at the waist to the right, reaching your right hand towards your right foot while keeping your left hand extended to the side.
- Return to the starting position and then bend at the waist to the left, reaching your left hand towards your left foot while keeping your right hand extended to the side.
- Repeat the side-to-side bending motion for the desired number of repetitions.
Side-to-side Toe Touch (male) Sets and Reps by Goal
Strength
3 sets of 6-8 hard reps with 2 minutes of rest. Add reps first, then slow the lowering phase.
Hypertrophy
3 sets of 10-15 reps with 60-90 seconds of rest. Change leverage or elevation before you add load.
Endurance
2-3 sets of 20-25 reps with 45 seconds of rest. Hold the end position for a beat once reps come easily.
Common Side-to-side Toe Touch (male) Mistakes
Rushing reps so gravity does most of the work
Take two to three counts on the lowering phase of every rep.
Holding your breath through the hardest part of the rep
Exhale as you brace so the ribs stay down and pressure stays controlled.
Easier and Harder Than Side-to-side Toe Touch (male)
Swap Side-to-side Toe Touch (male) For
Side-to-side Toe Touch (male) — Frequently Asked Questions
How do you do the Side-to-side Toe Touch (male)?
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms extended to the sides. Bend at the waist to the right, reaching your right hand towards your right foot while keeping your left hand extended to the side. Return to the starting position and then bend at the waist to the left, reaching your left hand towards your left foot while keeping your right hand extended to the side. Use your bodyweight only and keep the movement controlled through the full range. The animated GIF above shows the complete rep at normal speed.
What muscles does the Side-to-side Toe Touch (male) work?
The Side-to-side Toe Touch (male) primarily targets the abs. It is classified as a core exercise and is performed with your bodyweight only.
How many sets and reps of the Side-to-side Toe Touch (male) should I do?
For muscle growth: 3 sets of 10-15 reps with 60-90 seconds of rest. Change leverage or elevation before you add load. Adjust the load rather than the rep target if form breaks down before the final rep.
Is the Side-to-side Toe Touch (male) good for beginners?
Yes. The Side-to-side Toe Touch (male) is a beginner-level movement, so it is a reasonable place to start. Keep the load light enough that you can control every rep and stop 2-3 reps short of failure while you learn the pattern.
What can I do instead of the Side-to-side Toe Touch (male)?
Try the Band Standing Crunch, Cable Seated Crunch or the Lever Seated Leg Raise Crunch. Each trains the abs with a similar movement pattern, so you can swap based on the equipment you have available.
Is the Side-to-side Toe Touch (male) the same as the side-to-side toe touch?
Yes. The Side-to-side Toe Touch (male) is also commonly called the side-to-side toe touch. Different gyms and training programs label it differently, but "side-to-side toe touch" refer to this same movement.
