10 Best Around The Worlds Alternatives for Home Workouts

Original Exercise: Around The Worlds

Primary Muscle

Pectorals

Equipment

Dumbbell

Difficulty

Intermediate

Type

Isolation

Secondary Muscles: Shoulders

How to Perform Around The Worlds

1. Lay down on a flat bench holding a dumbbell in each hand with the palms of the hands facing towards the ceiling. Tip: Your arms should be parallel to the floor and next to your thighs. To avoid injury, make sure that you keep your elbows slightly bent. This will be your starting position.
2. Now move the dumbbells by creating a semi-circle as you displace them from the initial position to over the head. All of the movement should happen with the arms parallel to the floor at all times. Breathe in as you perform this portion of the movement.
3. Reverse the movement to return the weight to the starting position as you exhale.

Pro Tips

• Category: Strength
• Force: Push
• Movement type: Compound

Best Around The Worlds Alternatives

Best Match

1. Dumbbell Flyes

99.2% Match

Pectorals Dumbbell Beginner Isolation

How to perform this exercise

1. Lie down on a flat bench with a dumbbell on each hand resting on top of your thighs. The palms of your hand will be facing each other.
2. Then using your thighs to help raise the dumbbells, lift the dumbbells one at a time so you can hold them in front of you at shoulder width with the palms of your hands facing each other. Raise the dumbbells up like you're pressing them, but stop and hold just before you lock out. This will be your starting position.
3. With a slight bend on your elbows in order to prevent stress at the biceps tendon, lower your arms out at both sides in a wide arc until you feel a stretch on your chest. Breathe in as you perform this portion of the movement. Tip: Keep in mind that throughout the movement, the arms should remain stationary; the movement should only occur at the shoulder joint.
4. Return your arms back to the starting position as you squeeze your chest muscles and breathe out. Tip: Make sure to use the same arc of motion used to lower the weights.
5. Hold for a second at the contracted position and repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.

2. Bodyweight Flyes

79.2% Match

Pectorals Ez-barbell Intermediate Isolation

How to perform this exercise

1. Position two equally loaded EZ bars on the ground next to each other. Ensure they are able to roll.
2. Assume a push-up position over the bars, supporting your weight on your toes and hands with your arms extended and body straight.
3. Place your hands on the bars. This will be your starting position.
4. Using a slow and controlled motion, move your hands away from the midline of your body, rolling the bars apart. Inhale during this portion of the motion.
5. After moving the bars as far apart as you can, return to the starting position by pulling them back together. Exhale as you perform this movement.

3. Dumbbell Fly

79.2% Match

Pectorals Dumbbell Intermediate Isolation

How to perform this exercise

1. Lie flat on a bench with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing each other.
2. Extend your arms straight up over your chest, with a slight bend in your elbows.
3. Keeping a slight bend in your elbows, lower your arms out to the sides in a wide arc until you feel a stretch in your chest.
4. Pause for a moment, then reverse the movement and bring the dumbbells back up to the starting position.
5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

4. Dumbbell Decline Fly

79.2% Match

Pectorals Dumbbell Beginner Isolation

How to perform this exercise

1. Lie on a decline bench with your feet secured and your head lower than your hips.
2. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing each other and your arms extended above your chest.
3. Lower the dumbbells out to the sides in a wide arc until you feel a stretch in your chest.
4. Pause for a moment, then squeeze your chest muscles to bring the dumbbells back to the starting position.
5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

5. Dumbbell Decline Twist Fly

78.7% Match

Pectorals Dumbbell Intermediate Isolation

How to perform this exercise

1. Lie down on a decline bench with your head lower than your hips.
2. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing each other and your arms extended straight up over your chest.
3. Lower the dumbbells out to the sides in a wide arc until you feel a stretch in your chest.
4. As you lower the dumbbells, twist your wrists so that your palms face forward at the bottom of the movement.
5. Reverse the motion and bring the dumbbells back up to the starting position, squeezing your chest muscles at the top.

6. Dumbbell Lying Pullover On Exercise Ball

76.6% Match

Pectorals Stability-ball Intermediate Isolation

How to perform this exercise

1. Sit on an exercise ball and roll forward until your upper back is resting on the ball.
2. Hold a dumbbell with both hands and extend your arms straight up over your chest.
3. Slowly lower the dumbbell behind your head while keeping your arms straight.
4. Pause for a moment, then raise the dumbbell back to the starting position.
5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

7. Dumbbell Fly On Exercise Ball

76% Match

Pectorals Stability-ball Intermediate Isolation

How to perform this exercise

1. Sit on an exercise ball and hold a dumbbell in each hand.
2. Walk your feet forward and roll your body down until your head, neck, and upper back are supported by the ball.
3. Extend your arms straight up above your chest, palms facing each other.
4. Bend your elbows slightly and lower your arms out to the sides in a wide arc until you feel a stretch in your chest.
5. Pause for a moment, then reverse the movement and squeeze your chest muscles as you bring the dumbbells back to the starting position.

8. Decline Dumbbell Flyes

76% Match

Pectorals Dumbbell Intermediate Isolation

How to perform this exercise

1. Secure your legs at the end of the decline bench and lie down with a dumbbell on each hand on top of your thighs. The palms of your hand will be facing each other.
2. Once you are laying down, move the dumbbells in front of you at shoulder width. The palms of the hands should be facing each other and the arms should be perpendicular to the floor and fully extended. This will be your starting position.
3. With a slight bend on your elbows in order to prevent stress at the biceps tendon, lower your arms out at both sides in a wide arc until you feel a stretch on your chest. Breathe in as you perform this portion of the movement. Tip: Keep in mind that throughout the movement, the arms should remain stationary; the movement should only occur at the shoulder joint.
4. Return your arms back to the starting position as you squeeze your chest muscles and breathe out. Tip: Make sure to use the same arc of motion used to lower the weights.
5. Hold for a second at the contracted position and repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.

9. Dumbbell Incline Fly On Exercise Ball

76% Match

Pectorals Stability-ball Intermediate Isolation

How to perform this exercise

1. Set up an incline bench at a 45-degree angle.
2. Sit on an exercise ball and roll forward until your upper back is resting on the incline bench.
3. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing each other and your arms extended above your chest.
4. Lower the dumbbells out to the sides in a wide arc until you feel a stretch in your chest.
5. Pause for a moment, then squeeze your chest muscles to bring the dumbbells back to the starting position.

10. Dumbbell One Leg Fly On Exercise Ball

74.7% Match

Pectorals Dumbbell Intermediate Isolation

How to perform this exercise

1. Sit on an exercise ball with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing each other.
2. Place one foot on the ground and extend the other leg straight out in front of you.
3. Lean forward slightly and bring your arms out to the sides, keeping a slight bend in your elbows.
4. Slowly lower the dumbbells down and out to the sides, feeling a stretch in your chest.
5. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then squeeze your chest muscles to bring the dumbbells back up to the starting position.

Why You Might Need a Around The Worlds Alternative

You may substitute Around The Worlds for several reasons: shoulder pain from extreme scapular protraction, lack of dumbbells, or a need for greater progressive overload. Around The Worlds uses a circular path that stresses the anterior shoulder; alternatives that emphasize horizontal adduction reduce impingement risk while maintaining pectoral tension. For example, choose a cable fly to control the arc and keep a 15–25° elbow bend to limit anterior delt involvement. Selecting a machine fly (pec deck) also stabilizes the scapula and concentrates load on the sternal fibers of the pec major.

How to Choose the Right Substitute

Select a substitute based on equipment, target region of the pec, and joint tolerance. If you want maximal sternal pec activation, pick flat or decline dumbbell flys with a controlled 2–3 second eccentric and a cue to lead with the chest. For safer shoulder mechanics and continuous tension, use cables and keep elbows slightly bent throughout the arc. Prioritize exercises where you can maintain scapular retraction and feel the chest contract at end range; progress by increasing load, range, or tempo rather than simply adding reps.

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