5 Best Shoulder Exercises for Bigger, Defined Delts

Do your shoulders seem to lag behind the rest of your physique, no matter how hard you train? It’s frustrating when you’re putting in the work but aren’t seeing the broad, defined delts that make a physique stand out. Weak or underdeveloped shoulders can leave your upper body looking unbalanced, impacting everything from your posture to your overall strength.

Many lifters make the mistake of focusing too much on heavy pressing movements while neglecting proper form, isolation, and volume, leading to slow shoulder growth. But the good news is that with the right exercises and training techniques, you can build those wide, powerful shoulders that give your body a commanding look.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through effective exercises that target all three heads of the deltoid muscle, helping you achieve impressive results.

Top Shoulder Exercises for Bigger, Defined Delts

Shoulder exercises focus on developing three key heads of the deltoid muscle: the front, side, and rear delts. To create that broad-shouldered, defined look, the emphasis should be placed on side delts, but all three parts are essential for complete shoulder development. Let’s check out the best exercises for growing bigger, defined delts.

1. Side Lateral Raise for Side Delts

One of the best exercises to cap off your shoulders and enhance width is the side lateral raise. This movement isolates the side delts, making it a go-to exercise for shoulder width and definition.

Key Tips:

• Use lighter weights to focus on form and tension. Going too heavy will shift the work to your traps rather than your side delts.
• Keep the movement controlled, and focus on the stretch at the bottom of the movement.
• A handy tip is to use DMoose Ankle Straps during cable side lateral raises. Strapping the cable to your upper arm, instead of holding it with your hands, removes wrist strain and allows you to focus solely on the side delts.

Related Article: Dumbbell Lateral Raise

2. Incline Side Lateral Raise

Another excellent side delt exercise is the incline side lateral raise, a variation that ensures tension remains on the muscle throughout the entire movement. This old-school technique, made popular by Arnold Schwarzenegger, maximizes the range of motion for shoulder growth.

Key Tips:

• Use lighter weights for this exercise, cutting your usual dumbbell weight in half to avoid engaging the traps.
• Position yourself on a 45-degree incline bench and move slowly to keep constant tension on the side delts.

Related Article: Incline Dumbbell Side Lateral Raise

3. Rear Delt Fly for Balanced Delts

Neglecting your rear delts can cause an imbalance and affect your shoulder’s overall appearance. Developing the rear delts is crucial for creating a rounded look, and it also improves posture and shoulder stability.

Key Tips:

• For rear delt work, you can use the DMoose Ab Straps to secure yourself during exercises like rear delt flys, allowing you to focus on contracting the muscle properly.
• Try both machine-based and free-weight variations (like the dumbbell rear delt fly) to ensure you're hitting the muscle from different angles.

Related Article: Seated Rear Dumbbell Lateral Raise

4. Reverse Fly for Rear Delts

The reverse fly is another excellent rear delt movement. This exercise helps isolate the rear delts, improving shoulder stability and appearance. You can perform this with dumbbells or on a pec deck machine.

Key Tips:

• Use a lightweight to moderate weight to ensure you maintain proper form and prevent your traps from taking over.
• Keep your arms slightly bent and avoid using momentum to lift the weight.

Related Article: Bent-Over Dumbbell Reverse Fly

5. Pre-Exhausting Front Delts

Many people tend to overtrain their front delts, especially if they perform heavy pressing movements during chest workouts. Instead of lifting heavy weights for front delts, focus on pre-exhaustion techniques, like front raises, which target the front of your shoulders without risking injury.

Key Tips:

• Use lighter weights and go for higher reps to tire the muscle before incorporating any heavier lifts.
• You can also try using the DMoose 5mm Weightlifting Belt to maintain core stability and ensure your focus remains on your delts, not your lower back, during shoulder presses.

Related Article: Seated Dumbbell Front Raise

Enhancing Your Shoulder Workouts with DMoose Gear

For effective shoulder training, it’s crucial to maintain proper form and reduce strain on secondary muscles like the wrists and traps. Here are a few DMoose products that can support your shoulder workout routine:

• DMoose Ankle Straps: Perfect for side lateral raises using cables, ensuring your wrist isn’t strained and the tension stays on your delts.
• DMoose Lifting Straps: Help maintain grip strength during heavy shoulder presses or rows without exhausting your forearms.
• DMoose Wrist Wraps: Ideal for keeping your wrists stabilized during heavy overhead presses.
• DMoose Barbell Squat Pad: Though primarily for squats, it’s also useful during barbell overhead press movements to reduce discomfort.

Conclusion

Building strong, defined shoulders requires attention to all three heads of the delts, with a particular focus on the side delts for width. Incorporating a mix of isolation exercises like side lateral raises, rear delt flys, and incline lateral raises can help you optimize your shoulder workouts and ensure you achieve that coveted “cannonball” look.

Make sure to add these movements into your routine and train with high volume for the best results. And remember, it’s not about lifting the heaviest weights but about targeting the muscle and maximizing tension for growth.

Relevant DMoose Blogs to Check Out:

• Deltoid Destruction: Shoulder Workout with High Volume and Intensity
• 4-Week Shoulder Workout
• 6 Best Shoulder Isolation Exercises for Men to Get Bigger Deltoids
• How to Strengthen Your Shoulders and Get the Muscles You Want
• 5 Kettlebell Shoulder Workouts That Build Shoulder Strength & Stability