Shoulders · Bodyweight
Underhand Circle Draw
How to do the underhand circle draw, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- time
- Movement
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand with your arms extended out to your sides, palms facing up. Draw small controlled circles in the air with both arms, keeping them straight and at shoulder height. Reverse direction halfway through.
- 1Feel your shoulders and side delts holding the arms up
- 2Keep the circles small and controlled, driven by the shoulders
- 3Maintain a tall chest and engaged upper back
Common mistakes
- Don't let your arms drop below shoulder height
- Avoid shrugging; keep the traps relaxed
- Don't swing from momentum; stay deliberate
Muscles worked
The underhand circle draw mainly works the side delts, with the front delts, upper traps, and rear delts assisting.
- Side DeltsPrimary
- Front DeltsSupport
- Upper TrapsSupport
- Rear DeltsSupport
- BicepsMinor
- ForearmsMinor
- Mid TrapsMinor
- Lower TrapsMinor
- Upper AbsMinor
- External RotatorsMinor
Kovo programs the underhand circle draw 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 shoulders exercises
- How to do the battle rope alternating waves
- How to do the arm circles
- How to do the arnold press
- How to do the resistance band front raise
- How to do the resistance band lateral raise
- How to do the resistance band overhead press
Last reviewed June 2026.