Power Partials

What it is

This exercise builds strength and definition in your shoulders. You lift dumbbells laterally from your sides up to shoulder height, then lower them with control. It effectively isolates the shoulder muscles for targeted development.

Technique tips

• Keep your torso upright and stationary.
• Maintain straight arms throughout the movement.
• Lift the weights to about shoulder level.
• Exhale as you lift, inhale as you lower the dumbbells.
• Elevate your little finger slightly above your thumb.
• Focus on the shoulder contraction at the peak.

How to track your progress

Log the weight and reps of each set. Straddly turns every set into an estimated one-rep max, so a heavier single and a strong set of eight both count as progress, and it flags a personal record the moment you beat your best.