shoulders workout length

[focoman]

My training partner and I have had an ongoing debate for a few months so I decided I would bring it to elite, and settle it once and for all.

My partner, who always wants to do like 20 sets or more for shoulder day. This usually includes

overhead db press
overhead straight bar press (sometimes)
upright rows
front raises or side raises
rotator cuff exercises
shrugs


Now I always thought we should try to keep the sets to like 12-15 for shoulders, and that his workout was overdoing it. I try to go really crazy with the overhead presses, and choose 2 other exercises each week. He seems to think that shoulders are too important, and more is better. What do you guys think?

 

[Thaibox]

I would at least ditch the rotator cuff stuff

 

[Haz]

I've done both high volume and low for shoulders. I didn't notice much of a difference between the two methods. Now, I just do overhead press, side and rear laterals for about 9-12 sets total. That should be enough cause our shoulders get alot of indirect work from chest and back exercises.

 

[b fold the truth]

The rotator cuff exercises are the most important ones on that list. Don't get rid of them...you need those.

You could probably get the same results from a 5x5 program of barbell presses and maybe a set or three of laterals.

B True

 

[the People's Champ]

yeah. do those rotator exercises first. it will bring out some flexibility throughout the workout. and it doesn't hurt afterwards either. ditching these, you might as well not do shoulders if you are going to go heavy

 

[Thaibox]

Okay, two bros I respect have said the exact opposite as me. So, I've gotta ask why? I've always loved to train shoulders, and I just see rotator exercises as a waste of training time. Aren't I basically training the weak spots by doing militaries, laterals, etc?

I'm clearly missing something here.

 

[Love Bone]

I usually start with presses to hammer the shoulder then go with two sets of upright row, two sets of cable side laterals, two sets of front laterals and three sets of shrugs. This hits the entire shoulder and goes deeper. Twelve sets and I have acheived a deep workout.

 

[NateDogg]

Okay, two bros I respect have said the exact opposite as me. So, I've gotta ask why? I've always loved to train shoulders, and I just see rotator exercises as a waste of training time. Aren't I basically training the weak spots by doing militaries, laterals, etc?

I'm clearly missing something here.

The rotator cuff itself is not trained, at least directly, by doing "normal" shoulder exercises. As elementary as it sounds, the 5 tiny muscles of the rotator cuff need to be trained by doing what they do...rotating the arm at the shoulder joint. This is why pitchers have very strong rotator cuffs, or short careers.

ND