Why Are Shoulders So Important?
A physique can't be complete without a set of massive shoulders. No matter how you slice it - having below-average deltoids will always throw off a physique and make it look less impressive than
it actually is. Big shoulders create width, shape, and symmetry; well-developed shoulders can drastically enhance a physique and transform its shape.
Bodybuilders often talk about how capped deltoids can give the illusion of them being wider than they actually are. Not to mention that this is what creates the famous v-taper that everyone
strives to obtain. Today, I'm going to share the best exercises for building huge deltoids.
Front Delts
Shoulder Press: The shoulder press can be performed with a set of dumbbells or with a barbell. It's an incredible mass builder that has no close competitor due to how great it manages to target the muscle fibers. Advanced lifters usually do them at the beginning of the workout and try go as heavy as possible while maintaining proper form.
Front Raise: This exercise perfectly complements the shoulder press as an accessory movement that builds size and shape. Arnold Schwarzenegger famously performed these during a segment from the movie Pumping Iron. The front raise is great at isolating the front head and putting constant tension on it.
Side Delts
Side Raises: There's no better exercise for the lateral portion of the deltoid than side raises. Even though a lot of people at the gym like to go very heavy on these - you'll get the most out of them by doing them relatively light for a lot of repetitions. The side head of the shoulder is very important because it's what gives you width.
Wide-Grip Upright Row: Most people do this exercise for traps with a narrow grip; doing it with a wide grip enables you to isolate the side head and stimulate it perfectly. Just like with side raises, you don't want to go to heavy as this will ensure a good contraction that utilizes all the muscle fibers.
Back Delts
Revere Peck Deck: A staple for most bodybuilders - the reverse peck deck is an isolation exercise that works the back delts perfectly. Because the shoulders are relatively small muscles, you don't need much weight to get them fired up. Doing this exercise avoids using any momentum which emphasizes the contraction that much better.
Rear Delt Fly: This exercise is a little bit more complicated to do and requires an advanced mind-muscle connection. The range of motion is very similar to that of the peck
deck but it's always good to get more volume in. A lot of people do this movement instead of the peck deck because they don't have the machine in their gym. Regardless, both are great for
building size.
Is that it?
There you have it, these are some of the best exercises for building good shoulders. In order to get the most of it, it's important to always use good form and be careful while performing these
movements. In bodybuilding, lifting the weight in a controlled manner will generate better results than doing the opposite with heavier weights.