Jay Cutler reveals the "3D shoulder" exercise he can't get enough of

When it comes to building massive shoulders, few are more of an authority than four-time Mr. Olympia winner Jay Cutler. Even at the age of 52, when he's still maintaining great form, he shares his tips. He recently revealed which exercise he considers key to achieving that coveted round shoulder shape.

Jay Cutler was known for his incredible width and bulk during his competitive career. Although he no longer stands on the podium, his training advice is still gold to the fitness community. In one of his latest videos, he focuses on an exercise that he claims helped him build some of the best shoulders in bodybuilding history: the Behind-the-Back Cable Lateral Raise.

Why practice the Behind-the-Back Cable Raise?

Many gym-goers make a basic mistake when training their shoulders - they use too much inertia (called cheating) and engage muscles that shouldn't be working. It's easy to help yourself with the swing when doing a classic one-arm deadlift in front of your body.

Cutler explains that the pulley-led-back variation eliminates this problem:

"A lot of people practice the variation in front of the body, but they often swing or bend over to help their inertia. When you lead the movement behind your back, the shoulder gets into a different position that forces you to 'pull' the muscle and isolate it better."

The main benefits, according to Cutler:

1. Strict technique: the exercise forces you to hold your body upright and not help yourself by moving your torso.
2. Better isolation: By keeping the pulley behind your body, you feel constant tension in the lateral head of the deltoid muscle and better stretch.
3. Round shape: This particular exercise, according to Cutler, is ideal for creating that "cap" on the shoulder that both competitors and recreational exercisers crave.

How do you do that?

Cutler points out that the goal with this exercise is not to lift maximum weights. Instead, the key is to control and feel the muscle.

• Stand sideways to the bottom pulley.
• Grasp the handle with the hand that's farther away from the pulley and guide the cable behind your back.
• Concentrate on a clean pull to the side (tightening), not a jerk.
• Recommended reps: Jay recommends sticking to a range of 8-12 reps, which will ensure optimal hypertrophy (muscle growth).

If you're looking to take your shoulders to the next level and regular deadlifts are no longer getting you results, try incorporating this tip from a legend into your next workout. As Jay himself says:

"Whether you're an athlete or just want to look good in a T-shirt, this is the way to those round shoulders."