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Speed for this exercise

Bent-Over Dumbbell Reverse Fly

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3sets
12-15reps
60srest
~3.7kcal/min

How to do it

Muscles worked

Secondary
Upper BackATraps

Secondary muscles help but are not the main target

See the full tier list · Shoulders

Feel it right

Where you should feel it, the one cue to remember, and quick fixes when you feel it somewhere else.

You should feel it inShoulders

Back of the shoulders and between the shoulder blades.

Key cue (the coach says it during the set)“Pull the arms wide, pinch the shoulder blades, pause.”

Tempo · Pull 1 s · hold 1 · return 2 s

Choosing the load: Pick a weight you finish with 1–2 good reps left. 4+ left = too light; form breaks = too heavy.

Feel it somewhere else? Fix it like this

  • Feel it in Neck / upper trapsShrugging. Keep the shoulders down and pull out wide, not up.
  • Feel it in Lower backThe bent-over position strains the back. Hinge with a flat back and brace, or lie chest-down on an incline bench.
  • Feel it in Front of armsBending the arms and rowing. Keep a fixed slight elbow bend and move from the shoulders.
  • Barely felt itToo light or too fast. Lower for 3 seconds, pause 1 second at the stretch, and pick a load that leaves only 1–2 reps in the tank.
  • Joint painSharp or joint pain is a stop sign: end this set, lower the weight, shorten the range — if it repeats, switch to an easier variation.

During a workout we ask after the first set where you felt it and give the fix right away — and remember it for next time.

Tips

  • Hinge at the hips with a flat back — never round your spine.
  • Think about reaching your hands out wide to the walls rather than pinching your shoulder blades together.
  • Keep your neck neutral by looking at the floor slightly ahead of you.
  • Go light — the rear delts are small and respond best to strict, controlled reps.

Common mistakes

  • Raising your torso as you lift, turning the move into a swing.
  • Bending the elbows more and more until it becomes a row.

Breathing

Exhale as you raise your arms, inhale as you lower.

Equipment needed

Recommended by goal

Build muscle3–4 sets × 8–12 reps · rest 60–90 s
Strength4–5 sets × 4–6 reps · rest 2–3 min
Endurance2–3 sets × 15–20 reps · rest 30–45 s

Variations of this move

Alternatives for the same muscle