How to Build “PERFECT” Shoulders (DUMBBELLS ONLY!) – ATHLEAN-X™

by YouTube Team

Learning how to build “perfect” shoulders with dumbbells only will require two things. The first is a knowledge of how the shoulder muscles work and the best way to train them with dumbbells to make them grow bigger and wider. The second, an understanding that even close to perfect is going to take your shoulders from where they are now to an amazing place within weeks or months if you stick to the advice shown in this video.

When it comes to building big, wide shoulders it starts with an understanding that warming them up is imperative. The shoulder joint is one of the most often injured in the body because it also happens to have some of the greatest mobility. Luckily, the dumbbell allows us to hit our shoulders with three easy exercises that can be done as part of a circuit. The halo, sword raise and cauldron make the perfect shoulder mobility exercises for getting them loose and ready to train.

The second thing you want to make sure you do is remember to train the front delts. Too many people will tell you that as long as you’re doing a bench press you don’t have to train the front delts directly. This isn’t true if you are looking for perfect shoulders. Be sure to hit them with dumbbell front raises and pressouts to name a few for maximum shoulder hypertrophy.

Next, you want to be sure you remember to apply overloaded stretch to the delts when possible. The shoulders, more than any other muscle group, don’t often get the eccentric stretch during shoulder exercises. You can incorporate this directly with the cross body lateral raise and the incline front delt raises into your shoulder workout.

When it comes to building bigger shoulders, you must remember to not just perform your overhead press exercises heavy. All dumbbell shoulder exercises, especially the lateral raises, should at some point include some heavy work. Perform a heavy front delt raise, middle delt raise, and even rear delt exercise to be sure you provide the necessary overload for muscle growth.

Of course, heavy weight alone is not enough to build perfect shoulders. Light dumbbells will also come in incredibly handy when you are looking to increase shoulder size and width. Be sure to include slow motion raises as well as upper range of motion variations to keep the muscle tension high to spark new growth.

Next, you likely know how much I like face pulls for building up the rear delts and muscles of the upper back and shoulders. Well, if you don’t have access to a band or cable to perform them that doesn’t mean that you are out of options. The Urlacher is one of the best dumbbell shoulder exercises for building up the rear delts and upper back. It is the dumbbell version of a facepull. Be sure to include it when you are looking to create the perfect shoulders.

When it comes to overhead shoulder presses, a lot of us will stick to just a barbell to perform them or a bilateral pressing of two dumbbells. This is a mistake if you want to build big shoulders. Try putting one of the dumbbells down at some point and press with just one. This will allow you to press with 10-20 percent more weight because your core doesn’t have to stabilize the combined load from both arms being pressed overhead. Take this new strength gain back into the bilateral press and you will have increased your strength in the long run and ultimately your overall muscle growth.

Finally, dumbbell shoulder exercises like a run the rack drop set are great for building big shoulders. Dumbbells give you the option to quickly change weights rather than having to strip plates off a bar making it the perfect option for overload and training through failure when doing a shoulder workout.

If you are looking for a step by step plan to build more than just your shoulders, be sure to head to athleanx.com and check out the program selector below. This will give you the exact program that matches your specific goals and will help you build a ripped, athletic body in no time.

It is possible to build bigger front, middle and rear delts without needing a lot of gym equipment. In fact, you can learn how to build perfect shoulders – dumbbells only on a daily basis with any of our step by step plans.

For more videos on how to build bigger shoulders and the perfect shoulder workout, be sure to subscribe to our channel via the link below and remember to turn on your notifications so you never miss a new video when it’s published.

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35 comments

ATHLEAN-X™ December 13, 2020 - 6:00 pm

NOTIFICATION SQUAD GIVEAWAY – It’s back!! Alright guys, I’m giving away a complete 30 Day Workout program to 100 lucky clickers within the first hour this video is published! Remember, this is NOT THE FIRST 100, but those randomly selected within the first hour the video is published. Click the link to see if you’ve won. No strings attached! 
https://giveaway.athleanx.com/ytg/perfect-shoulder-dumbbells

If you don’t win, no worries, you’re not going away empty handed. Just be sure you have your notifications turned on so you can get to my next video quickly and try again. Good luck and thanks for being a loyal subscriber…

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Tyler Buckley September 10, 2021 - 4:39 am

Was Jeff in that video? I just remember Jesse.

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Jarrod Stowe September 11, 2021 - 2:37 am

Jesse gas never stopped looking weak.

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Cem yardım September 11, 2021 - 6:15 pm

Amazing workout!

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Individual September 12, 2021 - 5:51 pm

I know it is difficult to make a diagnose if you don't see the person! I had a shoulder injury, i have pain around my collarbone!!

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jurnee21485 September 12, 2021 - 5:58 pm

I did the fuck1n urlacher with no weights 2 times and I felt the life changing effects! Jefferson Barksdale Muthafuckin Cavalier! Love you bro

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Gary R September 12, 2021 - 9:23 pm

Jeff, Would you mind telling me where I can get a Tricep Rope like the one you have in this video? Thanks!

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Kashif Ali September 13, 2021 - 5:10 am

Jeff, what’s your body fat percentage? If you don’t mind my asking. Thanks

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Roy September 14, 2021 - 3:34 pm

That throwaway joke just Jesse hitting Jeff with no impact and Jeff asking if there a fly in here 🤣🤣🤣

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Mewton September 18, 2021 - 6:01 am

Johnny sins and jordi 😂😂

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Gregory paget September 22, 2021 - 3:36 pm

Would you get rid of that nerd?

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Николай Yakovlev September 23, 2021 - 5:50 am

Спасибо вам Джеф

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Crowsinger September 23, 2021 - 9:07 am

After the first set of exercises I thought "Damn, it was good". Then he said "Go heavier now". I started saying "Oh, fuck" after each exercise. Then he said "Go slow", and then I started humming random stuff without thinking, as if my thoughts glitched. I expect my shoulders to start singing "My way" after the dropsets. Wish me luck.

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PEACEABLE RELAXATION October 4, 2021 - 2:11 am

Well done bro keep up your good work

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Andrei Leon October 18, 2021 - 9:36 am

Boom. Tetris for Jeff.

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kuro October 20, 2021 - 3:07 am

2:38 Front Raises
3:00 Leaning Side Lateral
5:10 Scarecrow Row
7:42 Urlacher

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Freebandz Ju October 20, 2021 - 3:38 am

I need a biceps version of this

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Nico Melia October 25, 2021 - 7:52 am

I've trained with dumbbells for only 15 years. WHen I walk into a gym im like what is this fancy machinem toss me those bells. The other guys always have a hard time believing my mass from only using bumbbells. Yes it takes me almots twice askong to work out as others, though I kept it simple, and it works and it will never fail. Its also safe, Im in control of the weight, it does not control me. No 400lb bar falling on me lol

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nick prohasky November 1, 2021 - 12:40 pm

As long as u don't have to do flies I'm in.

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don mckay November 17, 2021 - 8:30 am

pulled my back years ago, love these vids cause their not uncomfortable to the back area. feeling good doin effective save work outs. explanations are so useful, teach my kids proper work outs.

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Tal Adiv November 21, 2021 - 10:33 pm

Jeff reminds me of Obama…

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Kanika Gupta November 26, 2021 - 1:36 pm

Urlacher 7:45

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James Rinaldo November 30, 2021 - 12:21 am

Never saw this combo done before, this is awesome! Always coming up with fresh ideas!

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Michael adams December 7, 2021 - 2:02 am

I only use athlean x workout program rate my transformation 🥺🥺🥺

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Harrison Baty December 7, 2021 - 3:31 am

I just jumped from a shoulder video from 2016 that you did and the jump in video quality is incredible! Keep up the great content!

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beans December 8, 2021 - 2:16 am

Jeff must be a good actor. All these years of pretending to feel pain. Mimicking us mortals.

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Berbecu Dacian December 10, 2021 - 2:00 am

I was peacefully taking in information until hulk dropped in 7:20 :))))) hahahaha

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Tyler Bigham December 10, 2021 - 5:45 am

Wish I would have seen this before 3 shoulder surgeries. Coaches didn’t teach lifting fundamentals back in the 90s

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Yorgun1'i December 14, 2021 - 4:45 pm

Katılıyorum

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The Rock aka ada December 17, 2021 - 10:50 pm

🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ his Full of bs

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Here I Stand December 21, 2021 - 9:19 am

Gotta be the the biggest weirdest looking ears of any con man I've seen. How does this ugly, odd looking con scam so many

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Siju December 22, 2021 - 9:43 am

Jesse is funny.

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Peter Raab December 28, 2021 - 9:08 pm

I'm tired just from watching Jeff work out

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Chris Mendez December 31, 2021 - 2:17 pm

“This is why doing dumbbell is hurting your gains and here is why”

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Andrés Prieto January 1, 2022 - 9:54 pm

2:38 Front Raises

3:00 Leaning Side Lateral

5:10 Scarecrow Row

7:42 Urlacher

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