I'm fairly new to weight training (six weeks in) and one of the things I've noticed is that my left shoulder is *much* weaker than the right. For example, doing dumbell presses this morning, for the same weight I was able to do 9 reps with the right arm, but barely 4 with the left. Results are similar with other dumbell shoulder exercises like lat raises, and with barbell exercises, I always have to stop when my left shoulder fails before my right shoulder does. (Note: The rear delts seem to be closer in strength than the front or middle delts, but they're still pretty far behind the right side).

So what is the best way to bring my left shoulder into line with the right? Should I push the left shoulder to build strength while dogging it with the right until they are about equal? Should I hit them both hard with different weights and hope the left shoulder increases in strength faster (or that the right plateaus faster)? Should I do something else?

Also, I worked my rotator cuff today for the first time and couldn't believe how weak they were. Why aren't these exercises mentioned more often (I only found out about them after picking up the Home Workout Bible)? It seems like it would be important to keep them in shape to prevent injuries when lifting heavier weights.

If you left shoulder is significantly weaker then the right, your best bet is to increase the weight with the left.. and just keep the right in maintenance mode. Most people have a dominant side.. and strength being one of them. It really depends on if there is a noticible size difference.

I wouldn't recommend you pick up different dumbbells. But I would say that you should be hitting the left with the max weight even if that's pretty easy for the right shoulder. Always start with your left shoulder as well. So that you have the most energy on that set and you know how many reps you will get. Concentrate on it. If you get 5 reps.. quit with the right as well even if you could go to 10.

In other words, your left shoulder should dictate what your max weight is per exercise. That way you will be pushing it to grow and catch up, but you won't be speeding the right shoulder up so that it takes off too and makes the imbalance even more.

Rotator cuff.. you are right. I see some posts on injuries for them.. and I see guys in the gym doing exercises for an injury but I never see people just doing them for regular strength much.

What BigJim said is the right thing to do. You just need to really push the left side, even though it might seem like you are dogging it with the right. It is the only way it will get balanced out somewhat.

I always do rotator cuff exercises before training shoulders, to me it warms them up and gets them moving better for the meat and potato exercises to come. Never really saw anybody do them until people saw me doing them and probably figured if it worked for me it might work for them, even though they have no idea how or why they are doing them.

Also beginner I am!

Almost all my upper body is one sided, chest, shoulder, biceps..., so after some trial sessions workout, I have resorted to use dumbell for most of the exercises where I can, eg, Dumbbell curl instead of EZcurl, dumbbell bench press instead of barbell
bench press and stuffs.

But some of the exercises that I do, esp for the triceps and back, are still using machines, wonder if should switch those to dumbbell also!

Tripceps: Pushdown, Assisted dips
Back: Lat pull down, rower machine.

Thanks for the advice guys, I really appreciate it. Like I said, I'm pretty new to the game, and there's a whole lot I still have to learn -- and I'm really glad you guys are here as another resource.

Like I said, I'm pretty new to the game, and there's a whole lot I still have to learn

Notice how you started this thread, and there was another member with the same exact question?

By asking, you not only helped yourself, you just helped another beginner.

Now that is teamwork.

But some of the exercises that I do, esp for the triceps and back, are still using machines, wonder if should switch those to dumbbell also!

Triceps: Pushdown, Assisted dips
Back: Lat pull down, rower machine.

There are some GREAT dumbbell exercises for the back.

Triceps: Dumbbell overhead press, kickbacks
Back: Dumbbell rows, pullovers

Dumbbells are very versatile and can help out when you need to work on a particular body area.. a weak arm, shoulder or side of the chest.