Shoulder Exercises: The Top 10

A pair of colossal shoulders by doing the right shoulder exercises separates a decent physique from one that’s unquestionably dominant. In addition to widening your frame and allowing you to take up more physical space, broader shoulders make your waistline appear leaner which, needless to say, is always a plus. The best part? Bigger, stronger shoulders with these shoulder exercises will drastically improve Bench Press performance and, let’s be serious…who doesn’t want a bigger bench?

>>> Superman Workout: Get Shoulders Like the Man of Steel

>>> Bane Workout: Shoulders [The Dark Knight Rises]

>>> Best Shoulder Exercises: Top 10

To aid you in the process of building a respectable set of shoulders, below I (Jordan Syatt) briefly outline two of the most commonly made shoulder training mistakes when it comes to shoulder exercises:

Forgoing Isolation Exercises

The fitness industry is teeming with dogmatic beliefs, perhaps the most popular being “all isolation exercises are useless.” While I support the use and emphasis of large, compound movements, it’s important to understand that isolation exercises also have a time and a place within a well designed training regimen. Considering the shoulder has three heads (anterior, lateral, and posterior) it’s difficult to hit each muscle group solely using compound lifts.  As such, when training for improved shoulder strength, size, and health don’t forget to include some targeted isolation exercises.

Not Feeling the Muscle Contract

It may sound like bro-science but many of the world’s greatest physique competitors have spoken about the importance of the “mind-muscle connection.” Rather than simply going through the motions, focus on feeling the shoulders contract throughout the entire range of motion. Force the shoulders to produce movement during the concentric portion and resist movement during the eccentric portion. Feel the muscles work each and every second of every single repetition of each of these shoulder exercises.

The Top Shoulder Exercises for Maximum Results

Below I’ve provided a list of my top 10 shoulder exercises for muscular development. I’d note, there are hundreds upon hundreds of variations designed for these shoulder exercises, each of which has a time and place within a well designed training program. That being said, these are my personal favorite shoulder exercises which have produced astounding results time, and time again.