How I Grew Wider Shoulders FAST (5 Science-Based Tips)

Wider shoulders are one of the most important parts of a well developed physique. But most people struggle with how to get wide shoulders - myself included. A few months ago I challenged myself to see just how much I could grow my shoulders if I used the right shoulder exercises (such as lateral raises) and the right training plan. I'll be honest, my shoulders have never looked better. Here's exactly what I did.

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The first tweak has to do with exercise selection. While the front delts and rear delts are helpful to build overall shoulder mass, the key to getting wider, broader shoulders from the front and back view is to grow the side delts. And what came out on top when we tested 17 shoulder exercises to see which ones best activated the 3 different regions of the shoulder in a past video? Lateral raises. But I didn’t just do your typical lateral raise. You see, there’s been a lot of new research on “muscle stretch” and how it can help you build muscle faster. The problem with your typical dumbbell lateral raise is they’re hardest at the top when the shoulder is fully contracted. The opposite of what we’re looking for. So my “secret” weapon was the behind the body cable lateral raises. I stand in front and slightly to the side so my delt is fully stretched and challenged the most when in this position.

Next up, training volume. Generally, research suggests it takes muscles around 36-48 hours to fully recover. This would mean if you wanted to maximize growth, you could train the same muscle up to a max of about 3 or 4 times a week. So what did I do to get wider shoulders? While I definitely could have bumped it up to 3 times a week, twice a week fit my workout routine better and still worked incredibly well because of the other tweaks you’ll learn about. As for actual volume? On one day, I’d do 4 sets of the dumbbell lateral raise either standing or on a bench, and then a few days later I’d train them with another 4 sets but using the cable lateral raise mentioned earlier.

The next tip to get bigger shoulders has to do with weight. The further away a weight is from the joint that is moving it, the heavier it will feel. This is what makes even a really lightweight feel extremely heavy during lateral raises. For me personally as soon as I try to go above 35 lb dumbbells I start to cheat way too much. To avoid this, I took advantage of the fact that research suggests you can use a light weight and do up to 30 reps with it before it becomes too light and less effective for growth. To apply this, I’d stick with the same weight and only once I could do at least 15-20 reps with good, controlled form on all of my sets would I then jump up by 5 lbs and repeat the process. But guys, it’s crucial you don’t rush this process.

Next tip on how to get wider shoulders: intensity. Honestly, this is the tweak I think made the biggest difference. A study shows that for the side delts to reach full muscle activation during lateral raises, subjects had to push to at least within around 3-5 reps short of complete failure. And to maximize growth, plenty of research suggests each of your sets need to be taken to at least within 3 reps of complete failure. Problem is, I guarantee that during your lateral raises many of you are stopping well short of this. Trust me, even if you think you’re done and even when your shoulders are burning, you’ve still got more.

The last piece of advice, while not strictly related to your shoulder workout training, is the most important. It has to do with my diet. A recent meta-analysis suggests that a calorie surplus is likely necessary to maximize growth. For those following me on Instagram (instagram.com/jeremyethier ), you know I’ve been bulking for almost a year now. I’m not gonna lie, it’s been mentally tough seeing more fat gain over the months. But I’ve noticed a big difference in my muscle size. And, once I diet to lose the excess fat, I guarantee that my shoulder gains will become even more noticeable. So if you truly want to make noticeable new muscle gains, make sure you’re eating enough. But guys don’t forget to grow your front delts and rear delts as well. These are key to balance out your shoulders and give them that 3D look!