{"id":21022,"date":"2026-05-26T20:05:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T20:05:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=21022"},"modified":"2026-05-26T20:05:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T20:05:28","slug":"nick-walker-rates-his-favorite-shoulder-exercises-from-best-to-worst-fitness-volt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=21022","title":{"rendered":"Nick Walker Rates His Favorite Shoulder Exercises From Best to Worst \u2013 Fitness Volt"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Bodybuilder Nick Walker\u2019s shoulders have always been a standout body part, and now he\u2019s sharing the exercises behind the progress. In an Instagram post from May 26, 2026, he ranked nine shoulder exercises from best to worst.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nick Walker<\/a> remains one of the sport\u2019s top Men\u2019s Open contenders. However, fans began to doubt his potential after dropping to sixth place at the 2025 Mr. Olympia. Those concerns were amplified after he parted ways with his coach, Kyle Wilkes<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For the first time in years, Walker navigated his career alone, and the tough decision paid off. Despite being counted out, \u201cThe Mutant\u201d presented an all-time best look at the 2026 Arnold Classic Ohio. Though he didn\u2019t get past champion Chinedu Andrew \u2018Jacked\u2019 Obiekea<\/a>, Walker still hit a career milestone by finally beating Hadi Choopan<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Questions about Walker\u2019s next contest continue to circulate. Bodybuilding veterans urged him to jump into the Arnold UK or Detroit Pro, but he decided against both. He also shut down rumors about competing at the Pittsburgh Pro<\/a>. While it\u2019s unclear if he\u2019ll make his way to the 2026 Mr. Olympia, Walker is still training to be the best in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Level Up Your Fitness: Join our \ud83d\udcaa strong community in Fitness Volt Newsletter. Get daily inspiration, expert-backed workouts, nutrition tips, the latest in strength sports, and the support you need to reach your goals. Subscribe for free!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Nick Walker Rates 9 Shoulder Exercises, Reveals His #1 Pick\u00a0<\/h2>\n

In the video<\/a>, Walker rated these nine exercises below:\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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  1. Dumbbell Side Raises: 6\/10\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Cable Side Raises: 9\/10\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. Behind-the-Neck Barbell: 3\/10<\/strong><\/li>\n
  4. Smith Machine Shoulder Press: 10\/10\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n
  5. Bent-Over Rear Dumbbell: 8\/10<\/strong><\/li>\n
  6. Bench-Supported Rear Dumbbell: 8.5\/10\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n
  7. Cable Rear: 10\/10<\/strong><\/li>\n
  8. Upright Row: 2\/10<\/strong><\/li>\n
  9. Machine Side Laterals: 12\/10 \u2013 Walker\u2019s Top Pick\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Nick Walker hasn\u2019t been the only top name in fitness to rank his best and worst shoulder exercises<\/a>. Fitness coach Jeff Nippard also assembled his own list. He believes the standing machine lateral raise to be among the stronger choices for lifters.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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    \u201cIt feels so smooth and you get this even consistent tension on the side delts throughout the range of motion. It\u2019s easy to add a little weight or a rep from week to week.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe only minor snag is since you can\u2019t move your arms across the body, you won\u2019t get quite as good of a stretch as you would with cables or the Arnold lying raise.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    We could see Walker onstage soon. According to bodybuilding veteran Fouad Abiad, he believes Walker will compete at the 2026 Texas Pro<\/a>. If he wins, he\u2019d have less than a month before having to step back on the Mr. Olympia stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    For now, Walker\u2019s focus appears to be on training and clean dieting. When it comes to shoulder training, if he had to choose, the lateral raise machine would be his go-to option.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>Samir Bannout Calls Nick Walker\u2019s Contest Break \u2018a Very Smart Move,\u2019 Predicts He Comes Back Even Better<\/a><\/p>\n\n