The kettlebell upright row targets the shoulders and upper back. It helps improve strength and stability in the upper body.

  1. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, holding a kettlebell with both hands in front of you.
  2. Keep your elbows slightly bent and pull the kettlebell up towards your chin, leading with your elbows.
  3. Lower the kettlebell back to the starting position with control.
  4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

How to perform the Kettlebell Upright Row

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Kettlebell Upright Row using your kettlebell.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your pectoralis minor.
  3. Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.

Coaching cues

  • Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
  • Drive force through your pectoralis minor rather than momentum.
  • Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much weight and losing positional control.
  • Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
  • Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.

Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.

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