← Exercise Index

Seated Lateral Raises

Coached by Justin

Also called: Side Lateral Raises · Seated Side Laterals

Primary
shoulders
Equipment
dumbbell
Mechanic
isolation
Force
push
Category
strength

Bodybuilding (shoulders).

Execution

Pick a weight where 15 reps is positive failure on the first set. Five sets of 12–15, minimal rest, hold a minimum of 12 every set, same weight throughout. The side delt is overwhelmingly a sarcoplasmic muscle — it answers to blood volume, not load. The goal is soreness in the side delt.

The cue that matters

Lead with the elbow, pour it out at the top — soreness, not weight.

Common mistake

Going heavy and swinging; see the ~70 lb rule — past what you can *control*, you've turned a delt exercise into a trap movement.

Power Bodybuilding Bro Split — Day 3 (Shoulders).