Dumbbell Upright Row vs Smith Machine Shrug

Maximizing Your Shoulder Workout Plan

Contents

Planfit users log Dumbbell Upright Row more often — 663 sessions vs 228. Compare Shoulder form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Customize Your Shoulder Workout: Explore the Benefits of Dumbbell Upright Row and Smith Machine Shrug for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Dumbbell Upright Row vs Smith Machine Shrug : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Dumbbell Upright Row more often — 663 sessions compared to 228 for Smith Machine Shrug.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Dumbbell Upright Row and Smith Machine Shrug differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Dumbbell Upright Row and Smith Machine Shrug Differ

What differsDumbbell Upright RowSmith Machine Shrug
Muscles workedside delts and trapstraps
Equipmenta dumbbella machine
Difficulty4 of 55 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users663 sessions228 sessions

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How to Dumbbell Upright Row

Dumbbell Upright Row gif

Dumbbell Upright Row muscles worked: Shoulder

Form

  1. 1. Lift the dumbbell to shoulder height while keeping it close to your body.
  2. 2. Slowly return to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. It's an exercise that can strain the shoulders, so if you hear sounds or feel pain in your shoulders, please substitute it with another exercise.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Dumbbell Upright Row, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Dumbbell Upright Row Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Dumbbell Upright Row methods?Exercise Guide

How to Smith Machine Shrug

Smith Machine Shrug gif

Smith Machine Shrug muscles worked: Shoulder

Form

  1. 1. Please shrug your shoulders and lift the barbell.
  2. 2. Slowly return to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. When lowering the barbell, it should be done slowly rather than just dropping it.
  2. 2. Please ensure that the neck does not extend excessively forward.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Smith Machine Shrug, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Smith Machine Shrug Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Smith Machine Shrug methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Shoulder, Dumbbell Upright Row or Smith Machine Shrug?

Planfit users log Dumbbell Upright Row more often — 663 sessions against 228 for Smith Machine Shrug. Both train Shoulder, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

Do Dumbbell Upright Row and Smith Machine Shrug work the same muscles?

Not quite. Dumbbell Upright Row loads side delts and traps, and Smith Machine Shrug loads traps.

What equipment do Dumbbell Upright Row and Smith Machine Shrug need?

Dumbbell Upright Row needs a dumbbell, and Smith Machine Shrug needs a machine.

Which is easier to start with?

Dumbbell Upright Row is the easier place to start. Move to Smith Machine Shrug once your form holds up.

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