TETSU

Band Y-Raise vs Dumbbell Lying One Arm Rear Lateral Raise

The Band Y-Raise and the Dumbbell Lying One Arm Rear Lateral Raise both train the delts as their primary muscle. The Band Y-Raise uses a band while the Dumbbell Lying One Arm Rear Lateral Raise uses a dumbbell. Here is how they compare and when to pick each.

Head to head

Side-by-side comparison

Band Y-RaiseDumbbell Lying One Arm Rear Lateral Raise
Primary muscledeltsdelts
Body partshouldersshoulders
Supporting musclestraps and rhomboidstraps and rhomboids
Equipmentbanddumbbell
Steps in our guide54
Setup

How each one starts

Band Y-Raise — first steps

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold the band in front of your thighs with your palms facing inwards.
  2. Keep your arms straight and lift them up and out to the sides, forming a 'Y' shape with your body.

Dumbbell Lying One Arm Rear Lateral Raise — first steps

  1. Lie face down on a flat bench with a dumbbell in one hand, hanging towards the floor.
  2. Keep your arm straight and lift the dumbbell out to the side, away from your body.

Full step-by-step guides are linked below.

Decision

Which should you choose?

The Band Y-Raise gives accommodating resistance that peaks at the top of the range. The Dumbbell Lying One Arm Rear Lateral Raise works each side independently and demands more stabilizer control. If your gym has both options, neither is a wrong choice: pick the one that feels strongest through a full range, and swap after 6 to 8 weeks to keep the delts adapting.

Guides

Full form guides

Answers

Common questions

Is the Band Y-Raise better than the Dumbbell Lying One Arm Rear Lateral Raise?

Neither is universally better — both train the delts as the primary mover. The Band Y-Raise gives accommodating resistance that peaks at the top of the range, while the Dumbbell Lying One Arm Rear Lateral Raise works each side independently and demands more stabilizer control. Choose based on your equipment and which movement you can progress consistently.

Can I do both the Band Y-Raise and the Dumbbell Lying One Arm Rear Lateral Raise in the same program?

Yes, but usually not in the same session — they overlap heavily on the delts. A common setup is one as your main movement and the other on a second training day, or alternating them block by block.

Do the Band Y-Raise and the Dumbbell Lying One Arm Rear Lateral Raise work the same muscles?

Yes — the primary muscle is the same (delts) and both rely on the same supporting muscles: traps and rhomboids.

Track it in Tetsu

Tetsu tracks both movements separately, keeps your PRs per exercise, and tells you which one is actually progressing. Free to start.