LiftSets / Exercises / Upright Barbell Row
Upright Barbell Row
Works the shoulders. Helped by the traps.


Bright blue is the target muscle. Darker blue is helping. The app shows this as a moving demo.
Muscles worked
shoulderstraps
How many reps
| Goal | Reps per set |
|---|---|
| Strength | 3-6 |
| Muscle size | 6-10 |
| Endurance | 12-20+ |
Whatever the number, the set should end within a rep or two of the point where you could not do another with good form.
| Kit | barbell |
|---|---|
| Level | beginner |
What to think about
- Elbows lead, hands stay below them.
- Stop at chest height.
- Stop at any pinch in the front of the shoulder.
How to do it
- Grasp a barbell with an overhand grip that is slightly less than shoulder width. The bar should be resting on the top of your thighs with your arms extended and a slight bend in your elbows. Your back should also be straight. This will be your starting position.
- Now exhale and use the sides of your shoulders to lift the bar, raising your elbows up and to the side. Keep the bar close to your body as you raise it. Continue to lift the bar until it nearly touches your chin. Tip: Your elbows should drive the motion, and should always be higher than your forearms. Remember to keep your torso stationary and pause for a second at the top of the movement.
- Lower the bar back down slowly to the starting position. Inhale as you perform this portion of the movement.
- Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Other exercises for the shoulders
- Alternating Cable Shoulder Press
- Alternating Kettlebell Press
- Arnold Dumbbell Press
- Back Flyes - With Bands
- Band Pull Apart
- Barbell Shoulder Press
- Bent Over Dumbbell Rear Delt Raise With Head On Bench
- Cable Seated Lateral Raise
Track it in LiftSets
Log upright barbell row with last time's numbers in front of you, a rest timer on your lock screen and a graph of your progress.
Coming soon to the App Store