If you want to build your upper pectoral muscles, incline fly is one of the best exercises you can do. We’ll take a closer look at the chest anatomy and incline fly exercise mechanics that help to effectively target the chest muscle.
The muscles of the chest consist of the pectoralis major and the pectoralis minor.
The pectoralis major itself comprises two heads, each of which may be worked differently depending on the angle of adduction; an upward angle of movement emphasizes the upper (clavicular) head, while a lower angle emphasizes the lower (sternal) head of the muscle.
The pectoralis minor is s the triangle-shaped muscle located under the pectoralis major, a layer deeper, and draws the shoulder blades down and forward.

As stated, the chest muscle, scientifically known as the pectoralis major, is the primary muscle worked by the incline chest fly.
Flies can be performed using any weight that can be held in the hand. The simplest equipment to use is a dumbbell, Cables.
The Incline Chest Fly Benefits
The fly is great because it’s a nice chest opener which teaches scapular retraction. Scapular retraction basically means the ability to pinch your shoulder blades together-an action that’s super important for combating poor posture.
For people who experience discomfort in their joints during the incline bench press, Incline flys are a great alternative. With proper shoulder-blade stability, the incline chest fly changes the angle of the movement enough to limit the potential stress on the joints.
The Incline chest flys helps to train the chest at various angles.
Incline Chest Fly Muscle Worked
The incline chest flys primarily muscle worked are upper pectoralis major muscles, In addition to its target the main pec muscle.
The incline fly has the involvement of several synergist muscles, these muscles include,
- Rhomboids,
- levator scapulae,
- Anterior deltoids, and
- Latissimus dorsi.
A handful of other muscles worked or play the role of stabilizer muscles, include your
- Biceps brachii,
- Brachialis,
- Triceps brachii,
- Wrist flexors,
- Obliques, and
- Rectus abdominis.
Here is the Best Incline Chest Fly exercises that help to build a well-developed upper chest.
1. Incline Dumbbell Fly
The incline dumbbell fly is a variation of the dumbbell fly. The incline dumbbell fly is an isolated strength exercise that targets the upper chest muscle.
Do not perform a basic flat bench fly because the incline bench position allows for the isolation of the harder-to-develop upper pectorals

Muscles Involved
Primary: Upper pectoralis major.
Secondary: Anterior deltoid, triceps.
Steps
- Set an incline bench at a 30-to 45-degree angle. Lie on the bench with your feet flat on the floor.
- Lift your arms straight up from your shoulders and the dumbbells directly over your upper chest.
- Slowly lower your arms out to your sides until your wrists come to about shoulder level or slightly above
- Bring your arms back toward the midline of your body, focusing on using your pec muscles to draw them back together.
Tips
- Perform press in a controlled manner.
- Set bench at about 30-45 degrees inclined. Do not go more upright as the stress shifts more to shoulders rather than the chest area.
2. Incline Cable Fly
Incline Cable fly is one of the most suitable exercises for isolating the upper chest muscles. Performing this exercise with cables instead of Dumbbells allows for constant tension, which helps build Upper Chest fibers. This constant tension cannot be achieved with Dumbbells.

Muscles Involved
Primary: Upper pectoralis
Secondary: Anterior deltoid, triceps, and biceps brachii
Steps
- Set an incline bench at a 30-to 45-degree angle. Lie on the bench with your feet flat on the floor.
- Lift your arms straight up from your shoulders and hold the cable directly over your upper chest.
- Slowly lower your arms out to your sides until your wrists come to about shoulder level or slightly above.
- Bring your arms back toward the midline of your body, focusing on using your pec muscles to draw them back together.
Tips
- Vary the position of the bench to hit different angles of the upper chest.
- Hold and contract the chest muscles when hands are together.
- Set bench at about 30-45 degrees inclined. Do not go more upright as the stress shifts more to shoulders rather than chest area.
3. Incline Fly Press
The incline dumbbell flies to press is a free weights exercise that primarily targets the chest and to a lesser degree also targets the biceps, forearms, and triceps.
It is a variation of the dumbbell fly and Press and you can say, it is a combination of dumbbell fly and Chest press. The incline dumbbell flies Press exercise targets the upper chest muscle.

Muscles Involved
Primary: Upper pectoralis major.
Secondary: Anterior deltoid, triceps.
Steps
- Set an incline bench at a 30-to 45-degree angle. Lie on the bench with your feet flat on the floor.
- Lift your arms straight up from your shoulders and the dumbbells directly over your upper chest.
- Slowly lower your arms out to your sides until your wrists come to about shoulder level or slightly above
- Bring your arms back toward the midline of your body, lower weight down to your chest, pause for a second, then push weight back up above your shoulders. Repeat as many reps as you can.
Tips
- Do not let the dumbbells down too far when performing flyes. This can cause tremendous strain and possibly injury.
- Keep feet firmly planted on the ground.
4. Standing Incline Cable Fly (Low to High Cable Fly)
The standing low to high cable fly is a variation of the chest fly and an exercise used to strengthen the pushing muscles of the body including the chest, biceps, and shoulders.
The cable provides constant tension helping build upper pecs. Low to High Cable Fly exercise helps to develop and define upper and inner pectoral muscles. Cable provides constant resistance and helps develop central chest muscles and providing the much-needed stress and inner pecs, for which bodybuilders crave.

Muscles Involved
Primary: Upper pectoralis
Secondary: Anterior deltoid, Biceps Brachii
Steps
- Set both pulleys as low as possible and select the desired weight. In a standing position, grab and hold the handles of overhead pulleys on both sides.
- Bend slightly forwards, and extend your arms feeling a good stretch in your chest muscles.
- Bend your elbows slightly, Pull your hands toward each other in wide arcs in front of you, pausing when your hands touch.
- Slowly lower back to the starting position and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Tip
- To keep your balance stand in a staggered stance.
- Breathe out as you lift the handles up and together.
- Control the weight as you bring your arms back down.
Best Alternative of Cable flyes
1. Incline-bench Dumbbell Pullover
Incline Bench dumbbell Pullovers is the best exercise to build a strong rib cage and build serratus anterior muscle to build an upper chest and back.
The incline dumbbell pullover allows for a wide range of motion, thus providing a deep pectorals and lats stretch. This exercise is done lying across on an Incline bench with a heavy dumbbell.

Muscle Involved
Primary: Upper Pectoralis major and minor,
Secondary: Deltoid, Back, Serratus, Triceps.
Steps
- Set the bench position between 30-45 degrees. Now lie across on an Incline bench.
- Grasp a dumbbell with both hands, and get it straight over your chest.
- Lower the dumbbell in an arc slowly getting a good stretch in your rib cage.
- Lower the dumbbell as far as possible, and then raise it back to the starting position.
Tips
- Maximum stretching ensures the greatest expansion on the rib cage.
- Vary the position of the benchto hit different angles of the upper chest.
2. Seated Machine Fly
Machine fly is a machine exercise that primarily targets the chest. You really need the machine fly equipment. There are many different machine fly variations that you can try out, which require different types of machine fly equipment or may even require no equipment at all.

Muscles Involved
Primary: Lower pectoralis.
Secondary: Anterior deltoid, Biceps, and Serratus anterior.
Steps
- Sit on the machine, taking care to place your back flat against the pad.
- Grab the vertical handles with elbows slightly bent.
- Squeeze the handles together until they touch in front of your chest.
- Let your hands move back to the starting position, keeping your elbows up.
Tips
- Your upper arms should be parallel to the floor.
- Keep your eyes straight ahead while performing the exercise.
3. Decline Push-Up
Push-Ups is the best bodyweight exercise to build your entire upper body, shoulder, chest, and arms. Push-Ups can be a real challenge if done from various angles. Intensity is the key here to build muscle and strength.
Decline Push-ups are similar to normal push-ups but with your legs on a bench. Although this is called the Decline push-up, it focuses more on the upper pecs. Also, because your lower body is raised from the floor, the resistance your body provides is increased compared to doing the pushup on the floor. This makes the decline push-up harder than the standard push-up.

Muscles Involved
Primary: Upper Pectoralis Major
Secondary: Lower Pectoralis Major Shoulder, triceps,
Steps
- Your hands are placed firmly on the floor and spaced slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Put Legs on the bench or the pad roller.
- Now raise yourself off the ground straightening your elbows and your arms. Keep your elbows close to your body.
- Raise until your elbows are almost near to locked, and pause for a moment at the top of the movement.
- Now lower your body under slow sustained motion, feeling the motion all the way down until your chest is very close to the ground.
Tips
- Keep your body straight. Do not allow your belly to sag or your neck to extend as you near the floor.
- Vary the position of the bench to hit different angles of the upper chest.
- Keep your elbows tucked near to your body.
Takeaway
Incline chest fly is, generally, underrated and often overlooked. They are just as important as the flat bench press if you want to get that well-shaped chest and the thickness.
The Incline chest fly may be a good exercise if you’re looking to build strength in your chest, shoulder, and arm muscles. Start with a lightweight if you’re a beginner, and slowly increase the amount of weight each week as you build strength.
Stay Fit, Live a Happy and Healthy Life
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