Standing Dumbbell Straight-Arm Front Delt Raise Above Head

What it is

This exercise isolates the front of your shoulders, specifically targeting your anterior deltoids. You will lift dumbbells from your thighs in an arc up to an overhead position. This movement helps build strength and definition in the front of your shoulder muscles.

Technique tips

• Maintain a very slight bend in your elbows; do not fully lock them.
• Keep your core engaged to prevent your lower back from arching.
• Control the upward and downward phases of the lift.
• Exhale as you lift the dumbbells overhead and inhale as you lower them.
• Focus on using your front shoulder muscles to initiate the movement.

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.