Workout Routine

Free

Bro Split Workout – 5-Day Bodybuilding Routine

by Hardy

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Bro split workout with one muscle group per day over five days. Chest, back, shoulders, arms and legs each get one long, focused session a week.

Every day has five or six exercises of 3 or 4 sets. That is enough work to grow without turning each session into a marathon. Hardy tracks every set and works out your next weight from the rules below.

Weekly structure

Train Monday to Friday and rest at the weekend. The order keeps the pressing days apart.

  • Chest: bench press 4×8–10, incline dumbbell press 3×8–12, chest press machine 3×10–12, dumbbell fly 3×10–15, cable crossover 3×12–15
  • Back: deadlift 3×5–8, barbell row 4×8–10, lat pulldown 3×8–12, seated cable row 3×10–12, dumbbell pullover 3×12–15
  • Shoulders: overhead press 4×8–10, seated dumbbell shoulder press 3×8–12, lateral raise 4×12–15, face pull 3×15–20, barbell shrug 4×10–12
  • Arms: barbell curl 3×8–12, skull crushers 3×8–12, hammer curl 3×10–12, triceps pushdown 3×10–15, preacher curl 3×10–12, overhead triceps extension 3×10–12
  • Legs: squat 4×6–10, Romanian deadlift 3×8–12, leg press 3×10–15, leg extension 3×12–15, leg curl 3×10–15, calf raise 4×10–15

Rest about 2 minutes on the first two lifts of each day and 60 to 90 seconds on the rest.

Progression

Every exercise uses double progression. Start at the bottom of the rep range and add reps each session. When every set reaches the top, Hardy adds weight and you start again from the bottom.

Most exercises go up 5 lbs (2.5 kg). Squats, deadlifts, shrugs, leg presses and calf raises go up 10 lbs (4.5 kg). Fall below the range and the weight comes down by the same amount.

Tips

  • Leave one or two reps in the tank on most sets. Take the last set of each exercise close to failure.
  • Missed a day? Train it next and push the rest back. Every muscle still gets its session.
  • Each muscle trains once a week here. The bro split guide explains when that works and when twice a week is better.
  • Want each muscle twice in five days? Try the PPLUL Workout.

Starting TM is 90% of 1RM.

Targeted muscles
front
back
Click a muscle to see how much a workout targets it
Unaffected
Light
Moderate
High
Very High

Workouts

Chest

bench press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
8-10
150 sec
2
–
–
8-10
150 sec
3
–
–
8-10
150 sec
4
–
–
8-10
150 sec

Double Progression: Work within 8-10 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

bench press

4×8

incline bench press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
8-12
120 sec
2
–
–
8-12
120 sec
3
–
–
8-12
120 sec

Double Progression: Work within 8-12 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

incline bench press

3×8

chest press machine

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
10-12
90 sec
2
–
–
10-12
90 sec
3
–
–
10-12
90 sec

Double Progression: Work within 10-12 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

chest press machine

3×10

fly

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
10-15
60 sec
2
–
–
10-15
60 sec
3
–
–
10-15
60 sec

Double Progression: Work within 10-15 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

fly

3×10

cable crossover

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12-15
60 sec
2
–
–
12-15
60 sec
3
–
–
12-15
60 sec

Double Progression: Work within 12-15 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

cable crossover

3×12

Back

deadlift

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
5-8
180 sec
2
–
–
5-8
180 sec
3
–
–
5-8
180 sec

Double Progression: Work within 5-8 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 10 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 10 lbs.

deadlift

3×5

barbell row

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
8-10
120 sec
2
–
–
8-10
120 sec
3
–
–
8-10
120 sec
4
–
–
8-10
120 sec

Double Progression: Work within 8-10 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

barbell row

4×8

lat pulldown

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
8-12
90 sec
2
–
–
8-12
90 sec
3
–
–
8-12
90 sec

Double Progression: Work within 8-12 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

lat pulldown

3×8

seated cable row

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
10-12
90 sec
2
–
–
10-12
90 sec
3
–
–
10-12
90 sec

Double Progression: Work within 10-12 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

seated cable row

3×10

pullovers

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12-15
60 sec
2
–
–
12-15
60 sec
3
–
–
12-15
60 sec

Double Progression: Work within 12-15 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

pullovers

3×12

Shoulders

overhead press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
8-10
150 sec
2
–
–
8-10
150 sec
3
–
–
8-10
150 sec
4
–
–
8-10
150 sec

Double Progression: Work within 8-10 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

overhead press

4×8

seated shoulder press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
8-12
120 sec
2
–
–
8-12
120 sec
3
–
–
8-12
120 sec

Double Progression: Work within 8-12 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

seated shoulder press

3×8

lateral raise

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12-15
60 sec
2
–
–
12-15
60 sec
3
–
–
12-15
60 sec
4
–
–
12-15
60 sec

Double Progression: Work within 12-15 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

lateral raise

4×12

face pull

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
15-20
60 sec
2
–
–
15-20
60 sec
3
–
–
15-20
60 sec

Double Progression: Work within 15-20 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

face pull

3×15

shrug

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
10-12
90 sec
2
–
–
10-12
90 sec
3
–
–
10-12
90 sec
4
–
–
10-12
90 sec

Double Progression: Work within 10-12 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 10 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 10 lbs.

shrug

4×10

Arms

curl

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
8-12
90 sec
2
–
–
8-12
90 sec
3
–
–
8-12
90 sec

Double Progression: Work within 8-12 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

curl

3×8

skull crushers

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
8-12
90 sec
2
–
–
8-12
90 sec
3
–
–
8-12
90 sec

Double Progression: Work within 8-12 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

skull crushers

3×8

hammer curl

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
10-12
60 sec
2
–
–
10-12
60 sec
3
–
–
10-12
60 sec

Double Progression: Work within 10-12 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

hammer curl

3×10

tricep pushdown

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
10-15
60 sec
2
–
–
10-15
60 sec
3
–
–
10-15
60 sec

Double Progression: Work within 10-15 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

tricep pushdown

3×10

preacher curl

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
10-12
60 sec
2
–
–
10-12
60 sec
3
–
–
10-12
60 sec

Double Progression: Work within 10-12 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

preacher curl

3×10

overhead triceps extensions

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
10-12
60 sec
2
–
–
10-12
60 sec
3
–
–
10-12
60 sec

Double Progression: Work within 10-12 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

overhead triceps extensions

3×10

Legs

squat

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
6-10
180 sec
2
–
–
6-10
180 sec
3
–
–
6-10
180 sec
4
–
–
6-10
180 sec

Double Progression: Work within 6-10 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 10 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 10 lbs.

squat

4×6

romanian deadlift

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
8-12
150 sec
2
–
–
8-12
150 sec
3
–
–
8-12
150 sec

Double Progression: Work within 8-12 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 10 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 10 lbs.

romanian deadlift

3×8

leg press

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
10-15
120 sec
2
–
–
10-15
120 sec
3
–
–
10-15
120 sec

Double Progression: Work within 10-15 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 10 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 10 lbs.

leg press

3×10

leg extension

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
12-15
60 sec
2
–
–
12-15
60 sec
3
–
–
12-15
60 sec

Double Progression: Work within 12-15 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

leg extension

3×12

leg curl

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
10-15
60 sec
2
–
–
10-15
60 sec
3
–
–
10-15
60 sec

Double Progression: Work within 10-15 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 5 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 5 lbs.

leg curl

3×10

calf raise

Set
Intensity
Weight
Reps
Rest time
1
–
–
10-15
60 sec
2
–
–
10-15
60 sec
3
–
–
10-15
60 sec
4
–
–
10-15
60 sec

Double Progression: Work within 10-15 reps, adding one rep per successful session. At the top of the range, weight increases by 10 lbs; failing at the bottom decreases it by 10 lbs.

calf raise

4×10