Back · Kettlebell
Kettlebell Incline Shrug
How to do the kettlebell incline shrug, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Kettlebell
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Extension
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Sit or lean back on an incline bench holding a kettlebell in each hand with arms hanging straight down. Shrug your shoulders up toward your ears, squeezing your traps at the top, then lower under control. The incline angle keeps the kettlebells loading the traps along the line of the body.
- 1Feel your upper traps contract as you lift your shoulders
- 2Keep your arms relaxed and let the traps do the work
- 3Hold the peak contraction briefly to feel the squeeze
Common mistakes
- Avoid rolling your shoulders; shrug straight up and down
- Don't bend your elbows or use momentum
- Avoid jerking the kettlebells; control both phases
Muscles worked
The kettlebell incline shrug mainly works the upper traps, with the forearms assisting.
- Upper TrapsPrimary
- ForearmsSupport
- Mid TrapsMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the kettlebell incline shrug 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 back exercises
- How to do the archer pull-up
- How to do the resistance band assisted pull-up
- How to do the machine assisted pull-up
- How to do the back extension bench back extension
- How to do the machine back extension
- How to do the back lever
Last reviewed June 2026.