Upright Row - Single Water Bottle

Recommendations: 2-3 Sets, 8-12 Reps

Intermediate Shoulders Traps Forearms Strength Water Bottle Pull Compound Home

Purpose: The row is a good exercise for building up and strengthening the anterior (front) delts.

Benefits: The row is a highly effective compound upper-body exercise.

Stand upright with your feet about shoulder-width apart and/or knees bent slightly. Grab water bottles with an overhand grip (palms facing downward) and let them hang beside your body. This is your starting position. Raise the right bottle straight up to the level of your shoulder. Your elbow should flare out to the side. Exhale during this movement. Lower the bottle to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Raise the left bottle straight up to the level of your shoulder. Your elbow should flare out to the side. Exhale during this movement. Lower the bottle to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Repeat for the recommended number of repetitions.


The Deltoids is a fan-shaped muscle. The Anterior (Front) Deltoid raises the arm toward the front of the body and rotates the arm inward. The Lateral (Side) Deltoid raises the arm to the side. The Posterior (Rear) Deltoid raises the arm toward the rear and rotates the arm outward.

Step 1

Stand holding water bottles in an overhand grip, hanging beside your body.

upright-row-single-water-bottle-step-0

Stand upright with your feet about shoulder-width apart and/or knees bent slightly. Hold water bottles with an overhand grip (palms facing downward) and let them hang beside your body. This is your starting position.

Step 2

Raise the right bottle straight up to the level of your shoulder, elbow flaring out to the side.

upright-row-single-water-bottle-step-1

Raise the right bottle straight up to the level of your shoulder. Your elbow should flare out to the side. Exhale during this movement. Do not shrug your shoulders.

Step 3

Lower the bottle back to the starting position.

upright-row-single-water-bottle-step-2

Lower the bottle to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Hold water bottles with an overhand grip (palms facing downward) and let them hang beside your body.

Step 4

Raise the left bottle straight up to the level of your shoulder, elbow flaring out to the side.

upright-row-single-water-bottle-step-3

Raise the left bottle straight up to the level of your shoulder. Your elbow should flare out to the side. Exhale during this movement. Do not shrug your shoulders.

Step 5

Lower the bottle back to the starting position.

upright-row-single-water-bottle-step-4

Lower the bottle to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Hold water bottles with an overhand grip (palms facing downward) and let them hang beside your body.