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Dumbbell One Arm Bench Fly
A single-arm dumbbell fly on a flat bench that isolates one pec at a time and adds a core anti-rotation demand.
ChestDumbbellHorizontal adduction
Primary
Pectoralis major
Secondary
Anterior deltoidCore stabilizers
Equipment
Dumbbell
Pattern
Horizontal adduction
Setup
- 01Lie flat on a bench holding one dumbbell.
- 02Press the bell up over the chest, palm facing inward.
- 03Place the free hand on the hip or bench for balance.
- 04Set the feet flat and brace the trunk.
Execution
- 01Lower the arm out to the side in a wide arc.
- 02Keep a slight, fixed bend in the elbow.
- 03Stop when the arm is level with the chest.
- 04Sweep the bell back up over the chest.
Checkpoints
- -The elbow bend stays constant through the whole arc.
- -Hips and shoulders stay square on the bench.
- -The arm lowers to chest level, not below.
- -The dumbbell finishes above the chest, not the face.
Common mistakes
- -Twisting the torso toward the working arm.
- -Bending the elbow more at the bottom to cheat the load.
- -Dropping the arm too deep and straining the shoulder.
- -Pressing the weight up instead of sweeping it.
Programming notes
- -Use 2 to 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps per arm.
- -Slow 3-second lowering maximizes the stretch on the pec.
- -Use lighter loads than a two-arm fly to control rotation.
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