Chest · Kettlebell
Kettlebell Fly
How to do the kettlebell fly, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Kettlebell
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- HorizontalPush
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Lie back on a flat bench holding a kettlebell in each hand directly over your chest. Keeping a slight bend in your elbows, open your arms out wide in an arc until you feel a chest stretch, then bring the kettlebells back together over your chest.
- 1Your chest stretching at the bottom and squeezing at the top
- 2The effort coming from your pecs, not your arms
- 3A wide, controlled arc rather than a press
Common mistakes
- Bending your elbows more to turn it into a press
- Dropping your arms too low and straining your shoulders
- Using momentum or rushing through the reps
Muscles worked
The kettlebell fly mainly works the mid chest, with the upper chest, lower chest, and front delts assisting.
- Mid ChestPrimary
- Upper ChestSupport
- Lower ChestSupport
- Front DeltsSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- Internal RotatorsMinor
Kovo programs the kettlebell fly 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 chest exercises
- How to do the archer push-up
- How to do the assisted dip
- How to do the resistance band chest flyes
- How to do the resistance band push-up
- How to do the barbell bench press
- How to do the paused bench press
Last reviewed June 2026.