Eddie Hall and Larry Wheels team up for a shoulder workout focused on building boulder-sized shoulders.
Eddie Hall and Larry Wheels Collaborate on Intense Shoulder Workout to Prepare for Bodybuilding
Broad and robust shoulders not only improve your aesthetics but also are essential for upper body strength, especially for strongmen and powerlifters. Strongman and powerlifters are both known for their impressive strength, but they differ in their strength type. Strongmen have absolute or total strength, while powerlifters have relative strength, meaning they are strong for their size. In 2017, Eddie Hall won the World’s Strongest Man title and became the first person to break the deadlift record by pulling 500kg (1102.3 lbs) from the ground. However, Hafthor Bjornsson broke his record in 2020.
Eddie Hall and powerlifter Larry Wheels teamed up for an epic shoulder workout, which is vital for their respective sports. Many athletes in strongmen, powerlifting, and bodybuilding transfer from one sport to another, and Eddie Hall is one of those athletes. He plans to compete in bodybuilding in 2024 and has been training with 4x Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler to help prepare for his bodybuilding journey. Hall recently hinted at his first show in the latest U-Natty States Of America podcast episode.
Besides his strength accomplishments, Eddie Hall also beat Hafthor Bjornsson in a boxing bout. It is not uncommon for athletes in these sports to switch and try their hand at different disciplines. In addition, Eddie Hall plans to compete in bodybuilding, which requires a different set of skills and training than strongman or powerlifting. However, strong shoulders are still an essential aspect of bodybuilding, and Hall’s training with Larry Wheels shows his commitment to developing this area.
| Full Name: Edward Stephen Hall | ||
| Weight | Height | Date Of Birth |
| 335-345 lbs | 6’3″ | 15/1/1988 |
| Division | Era | Nationality |
| Strongman | 2010 | British |
| Full Name: Larry Wheels | ||
| Weight | Height | Date Of Birth |
| 244-255 lbs | 6’1″ | 12/31/1994 |
| Division | Era | Nationality |
| Powerlifter | 2010 | |
Two potential bodybuilder contenders, Eddie Hall and Larry Wheels, teamed up for a shoulder workout in Columbus, Ohio. The two met at the Pro’s Gym, where Wheels was attending the 2023 Arnold Sports Festival.
Eddie Hall and Larry Wheels Team Up for an Intense Shoulder Workout
Seated Shoulder Press with Dumbbells
The first exercise was the seated dumbbell shoulder press, which is a compound unilateral exercise that targets weaker shoulder muscles and challenges stability and core. It does not allow as much weight as the barbell.
Overhead Press with Incline Machine for Shoulder Workouts
Hall and Wheels proceeded to their next exercise, an incline machine overhead press, which is a compound movement that allows for heavier weightlifting than the dumbbell shoulder press. While this exercise does not engage the core or stabilizer muscles as much, it is considered safer as it is performed on a machine. Following the compound movement, they moved on to an isolation exercise.Broadening Shoulders with Dumbbell Lateral Raise Exercise
The dumbbell lateral raise is an effective exercise for engaging your lateral deltoid muscles, which can help to broaden your shoulder and create a more aesthetically pleasing V-taper in your physique. Widening your shoulders is particularly important in bodybuilding, making the dumbbell lateral raise a key movement for anyone training in this sport.
Reverse Pec Deck Fly for Posterior Deltoid Strength
Next, the strongman and powerlifter-turned-bodybuilders targeted their rear deltoid muscles with the reverse pec deck fly. While this exercise traditionally engages the chest muscles, performing it in reverse can effectively challenge the often-neglected posterior deltoid muscles. Given the difficulty of targeting this muscle group, incorporating the reverse pec deck fly into your routine can be highly beneficial.
The Machine Lateral Raise Exercise for Building Medial Deltoids
The athletes completed their shoulder workout with the machine lateral raise, an exercise that specifically targets the medial deltoid muscles. Unlike free weights, the machine version allows for more isolation and activation of the medial deltoids. Incorporating this exercise into your routine can help to build overall shoulder mass and definition.
A Shoulder Workout Featuring Eddie Hall and Larry Wheels
| Exercises |
| Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press |
| Incline Machine Overhead Press |
| Dumbbell Lateral Raise |
| Reverse Peck Deck Fly |
| Machine Lateral Raise |
Eddie Hall and Larry Wheels engaged their shoulders through a variety of exercises, including unilateral movements, compound exercises, and machine exercises. By targeting their deltoids and isolating their medial and posterior delts, they were able to build overall shoulder mass and definition.
Looking ahead to their future goals, Wheels expressed his plan to bulk up for six months before cutting down to reach his desired weight for the NPC stage.
Meanwhile, Hall recognized the challenges ahead of him, as he plans to cut a significant amount of weight in a longer time frame.
Check out the full shoulder workout on Eddie Hall’s YouTube channel:
Importance of Shoulder Muscles in Bodybuilding, Powerlifting, and Strongman Competitions:
The shoulders are a crucial focus for bodybuilders due to their role in creating the broad, muscular physique that bodybuilders aim for — the V-taper. This shape is determined by the shoulder-to-waist ratio, which contributes to the overall aesthetic and width of the frame.
In addition to aesthetics, strong shoulder muscles are vital for stabilizing the shoulder joint and promoting shoulder health and muscular balance during exercises such as the shoulder press or pull-up. This is not limited to bodybuilders but beneficial for anyone pursuing their fitness goals. Strong shoulders play a crucial role in upper body strength and can support heavy compound movements such as bench presses.
This importance extends to powerlifting and strongman competitions where shoulder strength is vital for exercises like the bench press and events like The Austrian Oak Log Press. It is crucial to maintain shoulder health as the joint is highly mobile and easily injured due to its involvement in various movements. Therefore, it is essential to warm up appropriately before attempting shoulder workouts, such as Eddie Hall’s and Larry Wheels’.
Courtesy Image @ eddiehallwsm (Youtube, Instagram)
