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Dumbbell fly

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Muscles worked

High load
Chest
Low load
Delts · Front

Primary muscles

Secondary muscles

How to do it

Lie on a flat bench with a dumbbell in each hand over the chest and a soft elbow bend that stays fixed throughout. Open the arms in a wide arc until you feel a stretch across the chest, then bring them back together over the sternum along the same path. Use light weight — this is a stretch movement, and turning it into a press with heavy bells is what tears pecs.

Form cues

  • Soft elbow, fixed angle throughout
  • Light weight — this is a stretch movement

Safety

Talk to a professional before this exercise if you have any of the following:

Shoulder

This is general exercise reference, not medical advice. Stop and consult a qualified professional if an exercise causes pain, and never work through joint pain.