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Exercise guide

Overhead Lat

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

OtherExpertStatic
Primary muscles

Lats

Secondary

Triceps

Equipment

Other

Step by step

How to do the Overhead Lat

  1. 1

    Sit upright on the floor with your partner behind you. Raise one arm straight up, and flex the elbow, attempting to touch your hand to your back. Your parner should hold your tricep and wrist. This will be your starting position.

  2. 2

    Attempt to pull your upper arm to your side as your partner prevents you from doing actually doing so.

  3. 3

    After 10-20 seconds, relax the arm and allow your partner to further stretch the lat by applying gentle pressure to the tricep. Hold for 10-20 seconds, and then switch sides.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Overhead Lat set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap, so your lats volume is visible at a glance, and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Train with a goal

Where the Overhead Lat fits

The Overhead Lat shows up in training built around a specific goal. See how it fits:

Related

More lats exercises

FAQ

Overhead Lat: common questions

What muscles does the Overhead Lat work?

The Overhead Lat primarily works the Lats. It also recruits the Triceps as supporting muscles.

Is the Overhead Lat suitable for beginners?

The Overhead Lat is an expert-level exercise. It demands well-developed strength, mobility and technique, so it suits experienced lifters more than beginners.

How do I do the Overhead Lat with correct form?

Sit upright on the floor with your partner behind you. Raise one arm straight up, and flex the elbow, attempting to touch your hand to your back. Your parner should hold your tricep and wrist. This will be your starting position. Follow the full step-by-step above for the complete movement.

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