Chest / Beginner / Isolation (single joint)

Dumbbell Fly

A lying fly with dumbbells that stretches and isolates the chest.

At a glance

Primary

Chest

Secondary

Front delts

Equipment

Dumbbells, Bench

Movement pattern

Fly / hug

Level

Beginner

Type

Chest, Isolation (single joint)

Loads the shoulder. Use a load you can control and skip it if it causes pain.

How to do it

1. Lie on a flat bench holding dumbbells above your chest with palms facing each other and elbows slightly bent.
2. Lower the dumbbells out to the sides in a wide arc until you feel a stretch in the chest.
3. Bring them back together over your chest along the same arc.
4. Repeat for the desired reps.

Tips

• Keep the elbow angle fixed.
• Do not lower past shoulder level.

Common mistakes

• ✗ Lowering heavy dumbbells far below the chest.

  Why it hurts: Long arms at full stretch put a big lever on the shoulder and pec tendon, a common way to tear it.

  ✓ Instead: Use light weights, keep a slight elbow bend and stop when the elbows are level with the torso.

• ✗ Bending the elbows more and more until it is a press.

  Why it hurts: The arm angle changes under load and the shoulder loses its stable position.

  ✓ Instead: Fix the elbow angle at the start and keep it through the whole rep.

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