All exercises
bands·accessory

Band Pull-Apart

rear-deltsupper-backshoulders

How to

The technique.

  1. 01

    Stand tall, holding a resistance band with both hands, palms facing down, arms extended in front.

  2. 02

    Keep your arms straight with a slight bend in your elbows, and engage your core.

  3. 03

    Pull the band apart by squeezing your shoulder blades together, bringing your hands out to the sides.

  4. 04

    Focus on feeling the contraction in your upper back and rear deltoids.

  5. 05

    Slowly return your hands to the starting position with control, resisting the band's pull.

Common mistakes

What goes wrong.

  • ×Shrugging shoulders up to your ears, engaging traps instead of rear delts.
  • ×Bending elbows excessively, turning it into a bicep exercise.
  • ×Using too strong a band, leading to jerky movements and momentum.
  • ×Rounding the back or leaning forward, compromising posture.
  • ×Rushing the eccentric phase, losing tension and control.
Build a program around this

Your program.
Your body.
Your weights.

A 60-second quiz and we’ll generate a periodized program featuring Band Pull-Apart — plus everything that complements it.

Take the 60-second quiz
Related exercises

If you like this one.