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Strength·Shoulders

Rear Delt Flye

Rear Delt FlyeRear Delt Flye
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At a glance

Equipment
Pair of light dumbbells
Suggested reps
3 sets of 12–20 reps

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Common mistakes

  • You squeeze the shoulder blades together and turn the flye into a row, letting the mid-back steal the rep from the rear delts.

  • You stand up out of the hinge as the set fatigues, changing the angle so the weight swings instead of lifts.

  • You use momentum from a torso bounce to fling the dumbbells up.

  • You bend the elbows progressively more, shortening the lever until it becomes a bent-over press.

What to focus on

  • Keep the shoulder blades apart and think of pushing the dumbbells out wide, not pinching them back.

  • Go lighter than pride wants; the rear delts are small and respond to clean, controlled arcs.

  • Pause for a beat at the top and lower on a slow count to keep tension where you want it.

Related strength moves

Sources & further reading

  1. 1.The reverse-flye / horizontal abduction recruits the posterior deltoid significantly more than rows or lat pulldowns J. Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness (2015), EMG study