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Exercise guide

Kettlebell Pirate Ships

How to do the Kettlebell Pirate Ships with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

CompoundKettlebellsBeginnerPush
Primary muscles

Shoulders

Secondary

Abs

Equipment

Kettlebells

Step by step

How to do the Kettlebell Pirate Ships

  1. 1

    With a wide stance, hold a kettlebell with both hands. Allow it to hang at waist level with your arms extended. This will be your starting position.

  2. 2

    Initiate the movement by turning to one side, swinging the kettlebell to head height. Briefly pause at the top of the motion.

  3. 3

    Allow the bell to drop as you rotate to the opposite side, again raising the kettlebell to head height.

  4. 4

    Repeat for the desired amount of repetitions.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Kettlebell Pirate Ships set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap, so your shoulders volume is visible at a glance, and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

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Where the Kettlebell Pirate Ships fits

The Kettlebell Pirate Ships shows up in training built around a specific goal. See how it fits:

Related

More shoulders exercises

FAQ

Kettlebell Pirate Ships: common questions

What muscles does the Kettlebell Pirate Ships work?

The Kettlebell Pirate Ships primarily works the Shoulders. It also recruits the Abs as supporting muscles.

Is the Kettlebell Pirate Ships suitable for beginners?

Yes. The Kettlebell Pirate Ships is a beginner-level exercise, so it's a solid choice if you're new to training. Start light and focus on the movement pattern before adding load.

What equipment do I need for the Kettlebell Pirate Ships?

To do the Kettlebell Pirate Ships you'll need one or more kettlebells.

Is the Kettlebell Pirate Ships a compound or isolation exercise?

The Kettlebell Pirate Ships is a compound exercise, it moves multiple joints and works several muscle groups at once, which makes it efficient for building overall strength.

How do I do the Kettlebell Pirate Ships with correct form?

With a wide stance, hold a kettlebell with both hands. Allow it to hang at waist level with your arms extended. This will be your starting position. Follow the full step-by-step above for the complete movement.

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