Smith Machine Shrug vs One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press
Maximizing Your Shoulder Workout Plan
Contents
One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press is the easier place to start — difficulty 4 of 5 vs 5. Compare Shoulder form cues and when to progress.
Customize Your Shoulder Workout: Explore the Benefits of Smith Machine Shrug and One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Smith Machine Shrug vs One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press more often — 417 sessions compared to 228 for Smith Machine Shrug.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Smith Machine Shrug and One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Smith Machine Shrug and One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press Differ
| What differs | Smith Machine Shrug | One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | traps | front delts, side delts, and triceps |
| Equipment | a machine | a dumbbell |
| One side at a time | No | Yes |
| Difficulty | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 228 sessions | 417 sessions |
How to Smith Machine Shrug
Smith Machine Shrug muscles worked: Shoulder
Form
- 1. Please shrug your shoulders and lift the barbell.
- 2. Slowly return to the starting position.
Coach's Comment
- 1. When lowering the barbell, it should be done slowly rather than just dropping it.
- 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!
How to One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press
One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press muscles worked: Shoulder
Form
- 1. Please lift the dumbbells vertically.
- 2. Please lift them without bringing the dumbbells together, just as they are.
- 3. Slowly return to the starting position.
Coach's Comment
- If you have pain or sound in your shoulder, please position your elbow in front of your body instead of beside it.
If you want to know a detailed guide to One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Shoulder, Smith Machine Shrug or One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press?
Neither is clearly ahead — Planfit users log both at a similar rate. They both train Shoulder, so the choice comes down to the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Smith Machine Shrug and One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press work the same muscles?
Not quite. Smith Machine Shrug loads traps, and One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press loads front delts, side delts, and triceps.
What equipment do Smith Machine Shrug and One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press need?
Smith Machine Shrug needs a machine, and One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press needs a dumbbell.
Which is easier to start with?
One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press is the easier place to start. Move to Smith Machine Shrug once your form holds up.
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