Name: Playbook - Sam Sweeney - 12/27 Shoulders, Core/Abs
Uploaded: 2026-06-17T00:04:43.138Z
Duration: 60 min
Description: 12/27 Shoulders, Core/Abs

Serena

Amazing last shoulder day before deload 🔥

Marta

Crushed it. My shoulders are on fire 😍

Janelle

Shoulder Day is already my favorite day and I think today was my favorite off the split thus far! The compound set with the full/partial reps and iso holds was especially epic 💪😍

Megan

Becky

Kimmy

Audry

Regina

JulieAnn

Megan Laudick

Lorena

Pamela

Porchia

Nyakeh

Mike

🔥🔥🔥shoulders are 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Ruby Smith

Happy Friday!

Week 5 of 6 week split [week 6 will be a programmed deload week] 

Pre Training Mobility and Warm Up: please choose appropriate warm up from the “Warm Up and Activation” bubble in the app. [previous warm ups can all be found here]

Tap the ‘start now’ button to find the training day overview.

Shoulders, Core/Abs:

OPTIONAL Ab Work [feel free to apply this at the start or end of each training day]: Cable or Banded Kneeling Crunch: 2 mins [take short rests as needed, work up to the full 2 mins]

Pre Exhaust Compound Set: 
1a. Banded Y Raise: 3S/12-15R 
*no rest between a and b*
1b. Banded Y Raise Hold:  3S/30 seconds 
*60 seconds rest between sets*

2. Primary Movement: Barbell Z Press: 4S/6-8R [2 second eccentric each rep] 
*90 seconds rest between sets*

3a. Slightly Recline Dumbbell Lateral Raise: 4S/6-8R w/ slow eccentric + 6-10R lengthened partial reps
3b. Chest Supported Alternating Dumbbell Front Raise [from top]: 4S/8-12R total 
*75 seconds rest between sets*

4. Single Arm  Half Kneel Kettlebell Overhead Press : 3S/12-15R each side 
*90 seconds rest*

5. Hanging Straight Leg Raise: 5S/10R 
*every 30 seconds*

DAILY STEP GOAL: 8-10K

12/27 Training Day Overview

Time: 2 minutes total 
*take short rests as needed, work up to the entire 2 minutes
Tempo: hold, steady
Modification: standard crunch

Target Muscle Group: abs, core 

Set Up: 
- loop a band high or attach the cable rope and position it high 
- step in front and grip the band or rope with each hand
- get down on the ground in a tall kneeling position
- squeeze your glutes, pull belly button to spine, and set your brace
- tuck your chin and slightly round your upper back 
- bend your arms and hold the band at the top of your head
- keep your knees driven into the ground

Execution: 
- use your core to pull the band or cable 
- bend at the hips and drive your head towards the ground 
- slightly round your back and contract your core 
- keep your knees anchored to the ground and lift your head again from the ground and upright again 
- stretch through your core

Optional Ab Work: Cable or Banded Kneeling Crunch

Rep Range: 12-15R 
Tempo: steady 
Modifications: bent forward or chest supported dumbbell Y raise

Target Muscle Groups: delts, rear delts

Set Up: 
- loop a band around a rack or machine at about chest height
- step in front of the rack, facing the band
- grip the band with a pronated grip, slightly wider than shoulder width apart
- extend your arms straight forward, hold the band out in front of your chest
- step away from the rack until you can feel the tension of the band pull you forward
- glue your feet to the ground, hip width stance
- squeeze your glutes, pull belly button to spine, and set your brace
- pin your scapula and traps down, shoulders back 
- keep a tall torso and a neutral head, neck, and spine 

Execution: 
- keep your arms straight and pull the band apart and into the "Y" position overhead
- contract your delts, rear delts, high back 
- with straight arms, lower the band in front of you again with control

Banded Y Raise

Time: 30 seconds 
Tempo: hold
Modification: bent forward or chest supported dumbbell Y raise holds

Target Muscle Groups: delts, rear delts

Set Up: 
Set Up: 
- loop a band around a rack or machine at about chest height
- step in front of the rack, facing the band
- grip the band with a pronated grip, slightly wider than shoulder width apart
- extend your arms straight forward, hold the band out in front of your chest
- step away from the rack until you can feel the tension of the band pull you forward
- glue your feet to the ground, hip width stance
- squeeze your glutes, pull belly button to spine, and set your brace
- pin your scapula and traps down, shoulders back 
- keep a tall torso and a neutral head, neck, and spine 

Execution: 
- keep your arms straight and pull the band apart and into the "Y" position overhead
- contract your delts, rear delts, high back 
- hold tension in this position, take short rests if needed 
- keep the tension in your delts/rear delts

Banded Y Raise Holds

Pre Exhaust Compound Set

Rep Range: 6-8R 
Tempo: 2 second eccentric each rep 
Modification: dumbbell z press 

Target Muscle Groups: shoulders, core

Set Up: 
- rack the barbell at a height so you are able to sit on the ground underneath and grip the bar overhead
- sit on the ground just slightly in front of the bar
- extend your legs forward or out wide
- squeeze your glutes, pull belly button to spine and set your brace
- extend your arms overhead and slightly behind you to grip the bar with a pronated grip, shoulder width or slightly wider apart
- drive your ribs down 
- lift the bar from the rack and position the bar directly over your head
- keep a tall torso and a neutral head, neck, and spine
*sitting on the ground will make this movement more dependent on your core to stay upright, start with light weight 

Execution: 
- bend your arms so your elbows travel slightly in front of your torso
- lower the bar in front of your face to at least a 90 degree bend in your arms 
- extend your arms and press the bar up and directly overhead again 
- contract your delts
- hold tension in your core throughout

Barbell Z Press

Rep Range: 6-8R w/  slow eccentric + 6-10R lengthened partial reps 
Tempo: 3 second eccentric on first 6-8R, steady tempo on partial reps

Target Muscle Group: lateral delts 

Set Up: 
- set your bench to a ~70-80 degree incline 
- grip a dumbbell in each hand, neutral grip 
- sit on the bench, plant your feet on the ground
- extend your arms down on either side so the dumbbells hang down slightly behind your torso 
- pull belly button to spine and set your brace
- keep your arms straight 

Execution: 
- raise your arms out to your sides, as you raise the dumbbells think about reaching them out to each side
- when your dumbbells are in line with your delts, contract your lateral delts
- lower the dumbbells back down by your sides again
- keep your traps down, shoulders back

Slightly Reclined Dumbbell Lateral Raises

Rep Range: 8-12R total 
Tempo: steady 

Target Muscle Group: front delts

Set Up:
- set your bench to a 70-80 degree incline. 
- grip a dumbbell in each hand, pronated grip 
- straddle the seat of the bench and press your torso into the bench 
- extend your arms down over the end of the bench 
- drive your hips into the bench, squeeze your glutes, pull belly button to spine, and set your brace
- keep your arms/wrists straight 
- pin your traps down, shoulders back 

Execution: 
- raise both arms forward until the weight is in line with your front delts
- hold tension in your delts
- lower one arm towards the ground, rotate your grip to neutral at the bottom of the rep 
- raise your arm again to meet your other arm at the top of the rep, rotate your grip back to pronated at the top of the rep 
- contract your front delt 
- hold tension in your delts and alternate each arm, each rep

Chest Supported Alternating Dumbbell Front Raise [from top]

Compound Set

Rep Count: 12-15R
Tempo: steady
Modification: sub dumbbell for kettlebell

Target Muscle Groups: delts

Set Up: 
- grip a kettlebell in one hand, neutral grip 
- get down into a half kneel position, knee down on the opposite side from the hand holding the kettlebell 
- squeeze your glutes, drive your hips forward, pull belly button to spine, and set your brace
- bend your arm, point elbow forward, and position the dumbbell in front of your front delt
- keep a tall torso and a neutral head, neck, and spine

Execution: 
- extend your arm and press the kettlebell into the overhead position 
- rotate your grip to pronated at the top of the rep 
- contract your delt and stabilize at the top of the rep 
- bend your arm so your elbow points forward
- lower the kettlebell to your front delt again, rotate your grip back to neutral at the bottom of the rep

Single Arm Half Kneel Kettlebell Overhead Press

Rep Count: 10R
Tempo: steady, quick 
Modification: forearm supported straight leg raise, v ups, or straight leg raise on the ground

Target Muscle Group: abs

Set Up:
- grip the pull up bar with a pronated grip, shoulder width apart
- allow your body to hang down from the bar, fully extended
- squeeze your glutes, pull belly button to spine, and set your brace
- point your toes and position your feet slightly in front of your torso, hollow position 
- think about breaking the bar in half, armpits pointing forward

Execution: 
- use your core to pull your torso backward slightly and raise your legs straight forward
- when your toes are in line with your hips, contract your abs
- lower your toes towards the ground again 
- keep your legs as straight as you are able

Hanging Straight Leg Raise

12/27 Shoulders, Core/Abs

No modification for hack squat. No weight is not modification. Overall okayish workout.

Jennifer

6/16 Quads, Glutes

Jessica

6/15 Shoulders, Arms

Really loved the trap bar grip on the stiff legs, hit soooo right ❤️‍🔥

Lizz

6/12 Hamstrings, Glutes

This felt great and the burnout was especially awesome!

Janet

6/11 Chest, Shoulders

💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻❤️🔥❤️❤️

6/10 Back, Core/Abs

Elaine Rondon

Loved the ladder SS! As always such a good leg day! 🔥

6/9 Quads, Glutes

How many times can I say perfection in a single split? The limit does not exist ♾️

Katie

6/8 Shoulders, Arms

Please make this split a permanent workout option on the app! I have extremely mixed feelings about it, but I can’t deny the growth I’ve been seeing!

Emily

Michelle 

6/5 Hamstrings, Glutes

6/4 Chest, Shoulders

Absolutely loved everything about this one, a favorite for sure!

6/3 Back, Core/Abs

The burnout leg extensions were a really cool variation!

BabyLuv

Morgan

6/2 Quads, Glutes

Love the lat raise variety, hit just right ❤️

6/1 Shoulders, Arms

Calling the authorities because that box squat into reverse lunges superset-pyramid-drop-set shenanigans was attempted murder.  😤🥵

Mandy Rigsby

Alice

5/29 Hamstrings, Glutes

Vanessa

Shoulders and chest annihilation 🤸🏻‍♀️🥇🪂

5/28 Chest, Shoulders

I would love if there were more abs on ab day. But I adore all of the diff ways we worked the back.

I surprised myself today! Didn’t know i had the strength or stability to do the one leg pullover and I did!!! This split has really made its way into my top favorites already!

5/27 Back, Core/Abs

5/26 Quads, Glutes

All the corkscrews felt SOOO good today 💪🥰

5/25 Shoulders, Arms

Heather

Alexis

5/22 Hamstrings, Glutes

Solid chest day. Those around the worlds depleted the tank fully!

Tamara Feist

5/21 Chest, Shoulders

I'm trying to fall in love with the gym again and the structure of this split is helping significantly! Thanks Sam!

5/20 Back, Core/Abs

First day back! Almost 11 months postpartum. That was tough but so glad to be back at it.

5/19 Quads, Glutes

The trisets flowed so perfectly together!

Trisha Jones

5/18 Shoulders, Arms [NEW SPLIT!]

This day always feels so aligning for me 🥰

Just did the running part …needed that this morning 🔥

Yesenia

5/15 Shoulders, Core (sprints- DELOAD)

Wall sits never fail to bring the quad fire 🔥

Vonny

5/14 Quads, Glutes (abs-DELOAD)

Shoulders have been feeling a lot stronger to support these chest day moves!!

5/13 Chest, Triceps (sprints- DELOAD)

5/12 Glutes, Hamstrings (abs- DELOAD)

Bicep endurance has improved so much over the course of this split 💪🥰

5/11 Back, Biceps (sprints- DELOAD)

Linz

Great split. Ready for a deload week though

5/8 Shoulders, Core (sprints)

Holly

5/7 Quads, Glutes (abs)

Flavia

Has anyone got triceps I can borrow? Mine are on 🔥🔥💪

Carol

5/6 Chest, Triceps (sprints)

Really love the eccentric focus on the 2-1 ham curls

5/5 Glutes, Hamstrings (abs)

God those inverted rows get me every time 💀🫠

Molly

5/4 Back, Biceps (sprints)

One of the kick ass workout ever. Those snatches wow. Loved it. 😍

5/1 Shoulders, Core (sprints)

Lateral walks and step ups were challenging today, loved it. 😍

Omg the step ups 😭🥵. I will not be able to walk right tomorrow

Faith

4/30 Quads, Glutes (abs)

Took a week break cause was in a rut but we're back and feeling better 🔥 even with the break still progressing 🔥 all thanks to the intentional programming.

4/29 Chest, Triceps (sprints)

The contralateral reverse lunges felt really great today!

4/28 Glutes, Hamstrings (abs)

Karen Arce

Better than late than never 🥹🤷🏻‍♀️

4/27 Back, Biceps (sprints)

Jill

This split is by far my favorite. Please add Cardio days more🩵

Olivia Schneider

4/24 Shoulders, Core (sprints)

Gabrielle

McKayla

Loving this!! I needed to switch gears! Love the new challenge.

4/23 Quads, Glutes (abs)

Rachael

So good. I’ve been combining chest and shoulders for my 4 days a week split and works great!!!

4/22 Chest, Triceps (sprints)

Jessi mollak

Lisa

4/21 Glutes, Hamstrings (abs)

Pull ups will forever be a struggle 😂😂

4/20 Back, Biceps (sprints)

Love this program. Skipped run did deep stretches instead.

4/17 Shoulders, Core (sprints)

Shannon

4/16 Quads, Glutes (abs)

Energy on high today! Flew through that and finished feeling absolutely fantastic! A favorite for sure!!

4/15 Chest, Triceps (sprints)

Wow I really needed that! Feeling so strong and balanced 🥰❤️‍🔥

4/14 Glutes, Hamstrings (abs)

Kayla Staker

4/13 Back, Biceps (sprints)

Love the addition of core and ab work. Thank you. Always a challenge for me but worth it!

12/27 Shoulders, Core/Abs

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