posted June 16, 2000 06:07 PM            

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Hows everyone doin? Ok this is my first time on this site...and its a hell of a lot better then FLEX's is. Anyways, heres my question: I have narrow shoulders and I want to add a lot more width to them. Whats the best exercise for this? I have heard that doing lateral raises with cables was the best way? But then again Ive also heard that dumbbells were better. What does everyone else think?

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posted June 16, 2000 06:45 PM            

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Wide grip deadlifts and wide grip chins will help widen your scapula.

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posted June 16, 2000 06:51 PM            

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First off, welcome to this board. Lateral raises will add some size to you delts. I have always used dumb-bells for movements like that. Cables are ok but I feel I get a better workout with free weights. To add mass to you shoulders use more compound movments as previously mentioned.

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posted June 17, 2000 03:37 PM            

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I start off with behind the neck presses and the dumb bell lat. then do real slow and strict cables lat.

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posted June 17, 2000 04:51 PM         

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personally, i'm a big fan of the military press (dumbbell or barbell).

i like to do a couple heavy sets of that, followed by some heavy side lateral raises (i prefer dumbbells).

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posted June 19, 2000 03:17 PM            

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what is a chin...an upright row?? next i dont recooment doing behisd the neck pulldown because it puts your neck in an unnatural position...it will hurt more people..even if you do them right..if you ask a triaer most of them will not recommend..dont get me wrong its a great mass builder but still with it in front of your face...i gotta run ill be back here later and finihs..

happy trainintg

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posted June 19, 2000 03:27 PM            

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Steelheart your telling me that doing those exercises will widen the scapula?, it's a bone.

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posted June 20, 2000 05:40 AM         

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Welcome to the site, i hope you find it informative and get involved where you can.
As for your question,stick to the big basic's when our training your other bodyparts-squats,deadlifts,chins,shrugs,dips,pullovers,and bench press.All these lifts will help improve your general posture and structure and help stimulate overall upperbody growth.Stretch between all your sets and incorporate deep breathing when you can.

A lot of people associate a wide grip during excersises with wide shoulders, thats just not true.By using a wide grip during chins or pulldowns you actually use less of a range of motion and you lose out.Use a comfortable shoulder with grip and work through a full range of motion.

Specifically for shoulders i do presses and side lateral raises with dumbells.I prefer the freedom of movement with dumbells but you could use barbell and cables if you prefer.Good luck.

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posted June 20, 2000 10:56 AM         

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One thing that is important when it comes to shoulders is don't overdo them. Your shoulders come into play a lot during chest and back workouts. I would suggest doing less sets for your shouldersthan other body parts and maybe train them less often. Personally from all the pressing from my chest workouts and my shoulder workouts, my front delts overshadow my arms and my medial and rear delts. I'm laying off the shoulder presses for awhile and doing some laterals and perhaps some upright rows after my chest workout for awhile. I'll let you know how it works. But to answer your question I would try d.b. laterals simply because free weights are better than machines and you can quote me on that.

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LIFT HARD OR DON'T LIFT!

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