Incline Stability Ball Single Arm Dumbbell Fly
In SetGrip: Dumbbell Fly (Incline, Stability Ball, Single Arm)
- Secondary muscles
- Delts
- Body part
- Chest
- Position
- Lying
- Laterality
- Unilateral (one arm at a time)
- Category
- Strength
Track this exercise in SetGrip — no account needed
Balancing on a ball at an incline with a single dumbbell overhead puts the fly's usual chest work behind a bigger job: keeping your hips level while an offset load arcs out to one side. Earn it in stages, two-arm ball fly first, then single arm on a bench, and start with a dumbbell you would call warm-up weight.
How to do the Incline Stability Ball Single Arm Dumbbell Fly
- Sit on an exercise ball with a dumbbell in one hand.
- Walk your feet forward and roll your body down until your head, neck, and upper back are supported on the ball.
- Hold the dumbbell with your arm extended straight up over your chest, palm facing inwards.
- Slowly lower the dumbbell out to the side, keeping a slight bend in your elbow.
- Pause for a moment when your arm is parallel to the ground.
- Engage your chest muscles to bring the dumbbell back up to the starting position.
- 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.
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
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.
Track the Incline Stability Ball Single Arm Dumbbell Fly in SetGrip
All 1,100+ exercises with animations are in the app. No account, no sign-up — your history stays on your iPhone and in your private iCloud. Works with Apple Watch.
More exercises
Sources
- ACSM position stand on exercise quantity and quality (Garber et al., 2011)
- ACSM preparticipation health screening (Riebe et al., 2015)
- ACOG Committee Opinion No. 804 on exercise in pregnancy (2020)
- 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.