The Best Shoulder Exercises for Broad, Round Delts
Nothing makes your frame look wider and more athletic than well-built shoulders. The key is training all three parts of the delt — not just pressing.
Hit all three heads
- Front delt: overhead press (barbell/dumbbell) — usually already well trained from pressing.
- Side delt: lateral raises — the key to width; most people under-train these.
- Rear delt: face pulls, reverse flyes — vital for posture and a 3D look.
How to build them
Anchor with a heavy overhead press, then add plenty of lateral raises (light, high-rep, controlled) for width and rear-delt work for balance. Shoulders recover well, so 2× a week works. Prioritise side delts if you want that broad look.
Want a wider frame? Lateral raises are the most under-done shoulder move — add volume there and your V-taper improves fast.
Quick answers
What is the best shoulder exercise?
The overhead press for overall mass, plus lateral raises for the width most people lack. Do both.
How often should I train shoulders?
Twice a week works well — delts recover quickly, especially the side and rear heads with lighter, higher-rep work.
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