Bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler’s exercise selection helped him sculpt an iconic physique. On Jan. 24, 2026, he shared a simple tip to help lifters master the rear delt cable crossover.
We always hear about building monstrous chests, legs, and arms, but rear delts often get overlooked. They help give the shoulder that coveted three-dimensional appearance, an attribute Cutler was known for throughout his Mr. Olympia reign.
Cutler hasn’t stepped onstage since 2013, when he secured sixth place at his final Olympia contest. However, he still trains seven days a week for mental and physical health. And his shoulder-building routine is constantly changing, even at 52 years old.
Most recently, Cutler stressed that pre-exhausting the shoulders was crucial for lasting progress. Now, he’s sharing a crafty tweak to a staple rear delt movement, and all it takes is a little grip adjustment.
Jay Cutler Explains How To Fix Your Rear Delt Cable Crossover
In the video, Cutler noted that rear delt cable crossovers can be tricky, particularly the setup. Similar to how he approaches back exercises, he said to use the fingers as hooks to pull the weight.
“Cable crossover apparatus, a little tricky. I’m crossing the cables somewhere across my face, and I’m actually hooking using my finger tips to pull. I always talk about that with back movements, even with my pulldowns. For some reason, I can lock in a little easier using my fingers just as hooks.”
Additionally, he shared that to keep the traps from taking over the movement, avoid drifting backward during repetitions:
“You’re going to get a little bit of traps in here. Almost impossible, but just don’t come back too far,” said Jay Cutler.
Cutler has always been open about his training approach, rooted in high-volume. He recently broke down the ideal number of sets per body part. According to the Open legend, each body part needs a total of 12 sets for effective progress. In his prime, however, Cutler stuck with around 20 sets per body part.
“Ideally, I try to do at least four movements now for a body part. If we do four movements, and we do three working sets each, that’s 12 total sets, plus a couple warm-ups, maybe adding one or two here. We end up with just enough, where I used to promote doing 20 sets a body part.”
“With recovery and eating less, and the schedule I’m on right now… a minimum of 12 total sets,” Jay Cutler shared. “
Cutler still sports an impressive physique at 52 in retirement. He believes mastering the rear delt cable crossover has helped him maintain his upper body through the years.
RELATED: Bodybuilding Legend Jay Cutler Breaks Down His Current Chest, Calves, and Abs Routine at 52
Watch the full video from the JayCutlerTV YouTube channel below:
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