Core · Dumbbell
Dumbbell Russian Twist Boat Row
How to do the dumbbell russian twist boat row, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Dumbbell
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Sit on the floor in a boat position with your knees bent, heels light or lifted, and torso leaned back so your core is engaged. Hold a single dumbbell with both hands in front of your chest. Rotate your torso to tap the dumbbell toward the floor on one side, then twist across to the other side, keeping your chest lifted and the movement driven from your trunk.
- 1The obliques driving the twist from side to side
- 2Your core bracing hard to hold the leaned-back boat position
- 3A tall spine rotating as one unit, not just the arms
Common mistakes
- Swinging the dumbbell with your arms instead of rotating the torso
- Rounding your back or collapsing your chest
- Rushing through reps and losing control of the weight
Muscles worked
The dumbbell russian twist boat row mainly works the obliques and lower abs, with the upper abs, hip flexors, forearms, and quads assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Lower AbsPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- Hip FlexorsSupport
- ForearmsSupport
- QuadsSupport
- LatsMinor
- Lower BackMinor
- Upper TrapsMinor
- GlutesMinor
- HamstringsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the dumbbell russian twist boat row for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More abs & core exercises
- How to do the ab wheel rollout
- How to do the ankle tap plank
- How to do the ankle taps
- How to do the resistance band dead bugs
- How to do the resistance band pallof press
- How to do the rollout
Last reviewed June 2026.