How to Do Barbell Shrug: Step by Step
- Hold barbell at hip height
- Shrug shoulders straight up toward ears
- Squeeze and hold at top
- Lower with control
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Rolling shoulders — go straight up
- Using too much weight and bouncing
- Not holding at the top
Barbell Shrug Tips
- Start with bodyweight or light weight to master the form before progressing
- Focus on the mind-muscle connection — think about the target muscle working
- Control both the lifting and lowering phases for maximum muscle activation
- Use a tempo of 2 seconds up, 1 second pause, 2 seconds down for best results
Muscles Worked
trapsshouldersback
Equipment
barbell
Tracking
Count reps