All Exercises

Dumbbell Flat Around the World

Engage your chest and shoulders with the Dumbbell Flat Around the World. Lie flat, arc dumbbells from hips to overhead, then reverse for a full range of

Intermediate
Compound
Push
1 min per set2 min rest

Description

A strength exercise where you lay flat on your back with a dumbbell in each hand, then move your arms in a wide arc until they meet above your chest.

How to Do Dumbbell Flat Around the World

  1. 1
    Setup

    Lie supine on a flat bench with your feet flat on the floor, holding a light dumbbell in each hand with a neutral grip (palms facing each other).

  2. 2
    Setup

    Extend your arms straight down towards your hips, keeping a slight bend in your elbows and the dumbbells just above the bench.

  3. 3

    Inhale and slowly sweep both dumbbells in a wide, controlled arc overhead, maintaining that slight elbow bend, until they meet directly above your chest.

  4. 4

    Exhale and reverse the motion, lowering the dumbbells back down in the same wide arc to the starting position near your hips.

  5. 5

    Maintain tension throughout the movement, focusing on a smooth, controlled arc rather than speed or momentum.

Tips

  • Focus on a continuous, smooth arcing motion, imagining you're drawing a large semi-circle with the dumbbells rather than lifting them straight up and down.
  • Keep a slight, consistent bend in your elbows throughout the entire movement to protect your shoulder joints and maximize pectoral engagement.
  • Lightly brace your core by pulling your navel towards your spine to prevent your lower back from arching off the bench, ensuring spinal stability.
  • Coordinate your breath by inhaling as you sweep the dumbbells overhead and exhaling as you lower them back to the starting position.

Common Mistakes

  • ×Using too heavy a weight leads to loss of control and potential shoulder strain; lighten the load to maintain proper form and a smooth, deliberate arc.
  • ×Bending elbows excessively transforms the exercise into a press, reducing the stretch and isolation on the chest; keep a consistent, slight bend in the elbows.
  • ×Arching the lower back compromises spinal stability and shifts tension away from the target muscles; actively engage your core to keep your lower back pressed into the bench.

Variations

Related Exercises

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