Barbell Upright Row

Hold a barbell with an overhand grip, hands slightly narrower than shoulder-width apart. Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart. Lift the barbell towards your chin, leading with your elbows. Keep the barbell close to your body and maintain a straight posture. Pause briefly at the top and then lower the barbell back down in a controlled manner. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

How to perform the Barbell Upright Row

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Barbell Upright Row using your barbell.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your deltoids.
  3. Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.

Coaching cues

  • Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
  • Drive force through your deltoids rather than momentum.
  • Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much weight and losing positional control.
  • Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
  • Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.

Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.

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Variations of Barbell Upright Row

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