Shrugs/laterals all thats needed for massive shoulders!!!

[punch]

Think of it logically. Your front delts get hit hard when performing bench, especially incline. So much so that doing front raises in my opinion are a waste, unless you are severely lacking in that area. SO....Whats left, TRAPS/SIDE DELTS and REAR DELTS..

After chest I do the following:

4 sets Lateral raises. 3 seated and the last w/ one side leaning on an incline bench

4 sets bent over raises. keeping arms SLIGHTLY bent and squeezing to the point where you attempt to touch your blades together.

4 sets uprights. bringing wieght to mouth level. ( Shrugs are done on back day).

I throw in presses 2 times per month at the most for change, but it is not primary.

Your muscles are 3 dimensional, train them as such.

 

[Fatty4You]

There is this one trainer at my gym who never does direct Arm or Shoulder work. He feels that most upper body exercises hit arms and shoulders pretty hard, so by bother "overtraining" them with direct work.

His arms are decent. I mean he certainly looks like he lifts a lot. But I dont think they are anything special. Like, i dont look at his shoulders/arms and think "Wow, i should be doing what he does."

-Fatty

 

[punch]

I am a very big proponent of direct muscle work. For example you can NOT get huge biceps doing back only even though there is indirect stimulation.

Shoulders are the same, it is difficult to rely simply on other upper body movements. Nothing is worse than looking at someone from the side and their frontal profile is profound but they fade when looking towards the back, case and point bent over lateral raises are KEY.

The point is that Shoulder presses are NOT an absolute must in developing massive shoulders.

 

[rjl296]

i disagree
i have done very little direct shoulder work since doing wsb ( at least less than previously) my delts went from my best bp - to just another bp. and obviously im doing alot more back and chest work

 

[punch]

Again, Lateral raises( side and bent over ) w/ uprights. Hit those hard and intense and your shoulders will grow. This is assuming your hitting your chest intensly. The only movement I take out of the equation is shoulder presses.

Lets revers it, how many BB's do you know of that do NOT do Laterals/ Shrugs/ Uprights but rely only on shoulder presses?

 

[Thaibox]

Personally, my delts respond best to very heavy presses

 

[argent]

My front delts originally responded to heavy presses. Since then 2 things have happened: my front delts overpower the other 2 heads, and I have RC problems. I now do no front delt work whatsoever and simply do side and rear.

 

[punch]

so no shoulder presses argent???

 

[SofaGeorge]

I've heard this crap so many times... and NEVER from someone with great shoulders.

Many people make a gospel of saying you don't need to work your front delts. They are right - you don't - if you are satisfied with mediocre front delts.

I've also heard the diatribe that you don't need to do presses. It's true - you don't - if you are okay with having mediocre delts.

I've also heard that shrugs are all you need for lats - that's true - if you don't want great lats.

Getting great shoulders requires a mix of presses and raises... front and rear delt work can't be ignored.

Getting good lats also takes variety.

 

[bignate73]

im of a more basic mindset.

incline/flat benches will tax my front delts.
rows/pulldowns will get the rear.

seated/standing overhead presses will hit the shoulder complex.

raises tend to be fluff exercises that people use to try to"shape" or put a burn in their shoulders. granted there are ways to use this for growth, but do you think there is more room for progressive overload on a press or a lateral raise, safely?

as a side note, i had great shoulders initially from a mixed style of training. having dropped the lateral work.....my shoulders have rounded out more.

think of it this way...a gymnast does how many shoulder presses in a day? they have phenomenal upper body physiques.

but its up to the individual to make the decision on what they think will work best for them.