Is it necessary to tuck your chin when doing shrugs?

[Jake LaMotta]

When doing any kind of shrugs (whether it be barbell or dumbbell) is it necessary to tuck your chin?

I always hear you should tuck your chin. But does it really matter?

 

[mike1107]

When doing any kind of shrugs (whether it be barbell or dumbbell) is it necessary to tuck your chin?

I always hear you should tuck your chin. But does it really matter?

I prefer to keep my head str8 to avoid any wrong moves that'd be damagable to neck's vertebra

 

[Big Bapper]

When doing any kind of shrugs (whether it be barbell or dumbbell) is it necessary to tuck your chin?

I always hear you should tuck your chin. But does it really matter?

I would say yes. Your Traps go 1/4 of the way down your back. So the only way to really hit the whole of your Traps is to tilt your head foward when doing shrugs. If you ever watched Dorian training this is how he works his.

 

[mike1107]

traps are omoplata elevator

tuck the chin or not doesn't change anything

only a different movement will allow to target the superior/medium/lower part of it

 

[RazorCuts]

Anyone ever try Haney shrugs? You hold the bar behind your back? Nice variation. Haney's reasoning was "The traps are behind you and that's where the bar should be."

RC

 

[Big Bapper]

traps are omoplata elevator

tuck the chin or not doesn't change anything

only a different movement will allow to target the superior/medium/lower part of it

I find by tucking my chin on to my chest when doing shrugs and pulling my arms back with the D/Bells at my sides hits the Traps allot better.

 

[Big Bapper]

Anyone ever try Haney shrugs? You hold the bar behind your back? Nice variation. Haney's reasoning was "The traps are behind you and that's where the bar should be."

RC

Yes Jay does them this way too.

 

[mike1107]

best way to target medium part of traps

 

[Too Small]

Anyone ever try Haney shrugs? You hold the bar behind your back? Nice variation. Haney's reasoning was "The traps are behind you and that's where the bar should be."

RC

I alternate these every other week. They work well IMO.

 

[BrooklynBB]

You Big Fat Chin Tucker YOU!

I never tuck my chin during heavy shrugs. I don't find the need for it. Actually, I find it strains my levator scapulae when I do tuck it.

Haney was one of the greats.. But I wonder if he also did Stiff Legged Dead Lifts with the bar behind him since his hamstrings were back there.

 

[RazorCuts]

I never tuck my chin during heavy shrugs. I don't find the need for it. Actually, I find it strains my levator scapulae when I do tuck it.

Haney was one of the greats.. But I wonder if he also did Stiff Legged Dead Lifts with the bar behind him since his hamstrings were back there.

Thats classic dude. We should e mail and ask him.

RC

 

[Jake LaMotta]

I know this thread is old (from last summer) but I'm still interested as to what you guys think.

I hear two different things:

1) You should NEVER tuck your chin because it puts too much pressure on the spine and could lead to injury. Thus you should ALWAYS just look straight ahead when doing shrugs.

2) You should ALWAYS tuck your chin because it gives a better ROM which will hit the traps better.

So what do you fellas think? Or will both hit your traps just as good as the other?

 

[norm1220]

.......So what do you fellas think?

I think you should deadlift instead. If you deadlift heavy those traps will grow, they won't have any choice. And please do NOT tuck your chin while deadlifting.

 

[BOOMSHAKER]

I've always tucked my chin, not to the point were it is pressing but keep the chin down and like big bapper said, you will get a nice stretch out of it!

 

[Enanthanator]

I never tuck my chin. Behind the back are great too.

 

[Jake LaMotta]

I never tuck my chin.

Why not Enanthanator? Is it because you feel by doing it this way you're less likely to get injured or because you feel by doing it this way your traps are getting worked more...or both?

 

[Big Danny]

I've done it both ways, and I get good stretch from both, but I seem to be more confortable doing without tucking my chin. It is more like a natural movement.

 

[Big Bapper]

I think you should deadlift instead. If you deadlift heavy those traps will grow, they won't have any choice. And please do NOT tuck your chin while deadlifting.

Absolutley norm. Deads are superior for Trap devlopment.

 

[bulldog21]

Absolutley norm. Deads are superior for Trap devlopment.

agreed deadlifting has helped my traps 100x more than the years of shrugs I have done. Even though mine still are non existant you now can see two tiny little bumps back there...lol

 

[Enanthanator]

Why not Enanthanator? Is it because you feel by doing it this way you're less likely to get injured or because you feel by doing it this way your traps are getting worked more...or both?

It just does not feel right to me to tuck it. I prefer doing things that feel natural and that I am comfortable doing at the gym.