Setup and loading
Palms facing your body.
How to do the bent-over dumbbell row step by step
- Hinge until your torso is nearly parallel to the floor, holding a dumbbell in each hand.
- Pull the dumbbells toward your waist.
- Squeeze your shoulder blades and lower.
Form cues
- Neutral spine
- Head in line
Common mistakes
- Raising your torso to lift
Sets and reps for your goal
Hypertrophy
3-4 x 8-12 · rest 60-90 s3-4 sets of 6-12 reps (up to 15-20 on isolation exercises) at 65-80% of your max. Rest 1 to 2 minutes.
Get close to failure (0-3 reps in reserve) and control the lowering for 2-3 seconds. Accumulate 10-20 sets per muscle per week.
Max Strength
4-5 x 3-6 · rest 2-3 min3-6 sets of 1-6 reps at 80-90% of your max (1RM). Rest 2 to 5 minutes.
Leave 1-3 reps in reserve. If your technique breaks down, lower the weight: strength is built with good reps.
A guide for healthy adults. Adjust the load to your level and see a professional if you have an injury.
Check your form
Film yourself from the side or ask someone to watch, then tick what you get right.
Sports it suits
Gear for this exercise
- Adjustable dumbbellsSave space and replace a whole dumbbell rack at home.
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