T Nation 25th Anniversary Giveaway - Enter Now
Categories: Bigger Stronger Leaner

Tip: Build Wide Shoulders With This Superset

Partial/Isolation Superset

Like all supersets, this method involves doing two exercises performed back-to-back with minimal rest. But here, the first exercise is a major lift done with a partial range of motion and the second is an isolation exercise.

How you do your partial reps is important. You need to keep the target muscles under tension for a long enough period of time, so perform the partial reps in a "no-acceleration" style. Here's what it looks like for delts:

Partial-Rep Shoulder Press + Lateral Raise

Try to maintain the same fairly slow speed during the whole range of motion, focusing on keeping the tension on the target muscle. It should take you about the same time to complete one partial rep as it would a full rep. Do 8-10 reps on both the partials and the isolation exercise.

Not Just for Delts

This same training method can also be used for:

  • Pecs: Do the bottom-half of the bench press for partials, then do the cable cross-over for isolation.
  • Quads: Upper half of squat, then leg extension
  • Hamstrings: Middle portion of a Romanian deadlift (from below the knees to mid thigh), then leg curl
  • Lats: Second half (contracted position) of a lat pulldown, then straight-arm pulldown
  • Biceps: First half of a chin-up or lat pulldown, then barbell curl

Recent Posts

  • Stuff We Make

Mag-10

2 years ago
  • Bigger Stronger Leaner

Question of Strength 65

Ask Me Anything I receive great questions in my T Nation Community Coaching Lab. If…

2 years ago
  • Bigger Stronger Leaner

Question of Strength 64

Ask Me Anything I get a lot of great questions in my T Nation Community…

2 years ago
  • Bigger Stronger Leaner

Your Warm-Up Is Killing Your Workout... and Gains

An Exaggerated Warm-Up Isn't Helpful I don't know when the lengthy warm-up became a thing,…

2 years ago
  • Bigger Stronger Leaner

Assess Your Metabolic State, Dominate Your Workout

Training and Your Metabolic State When I think "workout," I think of speeds. Your metabolic…

2 years ago