Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
EZ Bar Shield Laterals...this is a cool method for doing lateral raises without involving the elbow joint or grip (for the most part).
It's similar in concept to using a lateral raise machine, in terms of moving the weight onto the upper arm instead of holding it in your hands.
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I've got the bar end cradled like a Zercher hold with the bumper plate (a 35) up against my upper arm (kind of like a shield).
Then it's just a matter of doing a lateral raise.
The non-working hand stays on the EZ bar to keep the weight in place and to assist (via self-administered forced reps, essentially) as you approach fatigue.
One of the cool things with this setup is that you can ALSO use that other hand to resist laterally at the bottom of the rep.
So at the start of the rep, use that other hand to directly resist the lateral raise at the very bottom stretched position.
This allows you self-adjust to the strength curve of the exercise on the fly, making it harder at the bottom, where leverage is better, and easier at the top, where leverage is worse.
You can do this with regular steel plates as well, but I like using bumpers better for it.
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Nick Nilsson – Mad Scientist of Muscle
Topics covered on this channel include unconventional exercises, muscle specialization training, hypertrophy methods, gym equipment reviews and advanced strength training techniques.
EZ Bar Shield Laterals...this is a cool method for doing lateral raises without involving the elbow joint or grip (for the most part).
It's similar in concept to using a lateral raise machine, in terms of moving the weight onto the upper arm instead of holding it in your hands.
----------------
Get my FREE Mass Targeting Specialization guide:
fitstep.com/goto/mass/youtube.htm
----------------
I've got the bar end cradled like a Zercher hold with the bumper plate (a 35) up against my upper arm (kind of like a shield).
Then it's just a matter of doing a lateral raise.
The non-working hand stays on the EZ bar to keep the weight in place and to assist (via self-administered forced reps, essentially) as you approach fatigue.
One of the cool things with this setup is that you can ALSO use that other hand to resist laterally at the bottom of the rep.
So at the start of the rep, use that other hand to directly resist the lateral raise at the very bottom stretched position.
This allows you self-adjust to the strength curve of the exercise on the fly, making it harder at the bottom, where leverage is better, and easier at the top, where leverage is worse.
You can do this with regular steel plates as well, but I like using bumpers better for it.
FOLLOW ME
YouTube ► youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=nilssonnick
TikTok ► tiktok.com/@madscientistofmuscle
Instagram ► instagram.com/nicknilsson1
Facebook ► facebook.com/nicknilssonmadscientist
Nick Nilsson – Mad Scientist of Muscle
Topics covered on this channel include unconventional exercises, muscle specialization training, hypertrophy methods, gym equipment reviews and advanced strength training techniques.
