Incline Single Arm Dumbbell Fly

In SetGrip: Dumbbell Fly (Incline, Single Arm)

Secondary muscles
Delts, Triceps
Body part
Chest
Position
Lying
Laterality
Unilateral (one arm at a time)
Category
Strength

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One dumbbell on an incline bench loads the upper chest a side at a time while the off-center weight forces your trunk to brace against tipping. Keep the free hand off the bench if you want the full stability demand, or grip the pad to focus purely on the weaker pec; either way the weaker side sets the load.

How to do the Incline Single Arm Dumbbell Fly

  1. Adjust the incline bench to a 30-45 degree angle.
  2. Sit on the bench with a dumbbell in one hand, resting it on your thigh.
  3. Lie back on the bench, keeping your feet flat on the ground.
  4. Hold the dumbbell with your arm extended straight up over your chest.
  5. Lower the dumbbell out to the side in a wide arc, keeping a slight bend in your elbow.
  6. Pause when your arm is parallel to the ground, then reverse the motion to bring the dumbbell back to the starting position.
  7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch arms.

Tip: Imagine hugging a barrel rather than pushing a weight.

Muscles worked

Primary

Pectorals · Chest

On chest flies and cable crossovers the pecs pull the arms together in an arc and should feel a deep stretch at the bottom and a hard squeeze at the top.

Secondary

  • Delts — Rear delt flies work the back of the shoulder as the arms swing wide, and the front delt assists on any chest fly.
  • Triceps

Common mistakes

  • Elbows bending as you tire — this turns a fly into a press; set the elbow angle at the start and keep it constant for the whole set.
  • Going too heavy — flies are a stretch and squeeze movement, not a strength lift; you should be able to pause at the bottom without the shoulders rolling forward.
  • Stopping short of the stretch — let the arms open until you feel the chest or rear delts lengthen, then bring them back under control.
  • Not squeezing at the finish — the last few inches are where the muscle shortens most, so hold the contraction for a count before opening again.

Where it fits in a workout

Flies are an isolation movement for after the pressing or rowing is done. Pair a chest fly with a rear delt fly for a balanced superset.

How many sets, how heavy and how hard: see what the ACSM position stands support.

Variations and alternatives

Similar exercises

Without dumbbell

Easier and harder

When to talk to someone

  • Chest discomfort, feeling faint or lightheaded, or trouble breathing during or after exercise can be signs of a heart attack. In the US, call 911 right away; elsewhere, call your local emergency number.
  • Heart, metabolic or kidney disease, or symptoms like these when you are active: talk to your doctor before you start or step up training.
  • Pregnant: ask your obstetric care provider which exercise suits you.

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More exercises

Sources

  1. ACSM position stand on exercise quantity and quality (Garber et al., 2011)
  2. ACSM preparticipation health screening (Riebe et al., 2015)
  3. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 804 on exercise in pregnancy (2020)
  4. CDC: About Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery (2024)

Sources checked on October 17, 2026. Full citations are in the exercise library.

Animation and exercise data: ExerciseDB, licensed to SetGrip. General information, not medical or coaching advice.