23M, 3 months lifting — feedback on my updated 4-day Upper/Lower split?
23M, been lifting consistently for around 3 months. Main goal is hypertrophy/aesthetics, with back and arms as my priorities, while still wanting balanced overall development.
I train 4x/week. Recovery has been good, no injuries or limitations. Most compound sets are around 1–2 RIR, isolations around 0–2 RIR, and I use double progression.
Current routine:
Monday — Upper A
Close/Neutral-Grip Lat Pulldown — 3×10–12
Preacher Curl Machine — 3×10–12
DB Flat Bench Press — 3×10–12
Seated Cable Row, V Grip — 3×10–12
Overhead Cable Triceps Extension — 3×10–15
Machine Chest Fly — 3×10–15
Single-Arm Cable Lateral Raise — 3×10–20
Decline Crunch — 3×10–15
Tuesday — Lower A
Leg Press — 3×10–12
Smith Machine RDL — 3×10–12
Leg Extension — 3×10–15
Seated Leg Curl — 3×10–15
Smith Standing Calf Raise — 3×10–15
Smith Machine Hip Thrust — 3×10–12
Cable Crunch — 2×10–15
Wednesday — Rest
Thursday — Upper B
Chest-Supported T-Bar Row — 3×10–12
DB Hammer Curl — 3×10–12
Incline Machine Chest Press — 3×10–12
Medium-Grip Pronated Lat Pulldown — 3×10–12
Overhead Cable Triceps Extension — 3×10–15
Single-Arm Chest-Supported Reverse Fly Machine — 3×10–20
Single-Arm Cable Lateral Raise — 3×10–20
Cable Crunch — 3×10–15
Friday — Lower B
Leg Press — 3×10–12
Smith Machine RDL — 3×10–12
Leg Extension — 3×10–15
Seated Leg Curl — 3×10–15
Smith Standing Calf Raise — 3×10–15
Smith Machine Hip Thrust — 3×10–12
Decline Crunch — 2×10–15
Saturday/Sunday — Rest
A few choices are intentional:
* Upper A cable row is more lat-biased with tucked elbows.
* Upper B T-bar row is more upper/mid-back biased with a slightly wider elbow path.
* I’m using preacher curls + hammer curls for biceps/overall arm development.
* I kept overhead cable triceps extensions twice per week because I like them and they seem to have good hypertrophy evidence.
* Chest is split between flat DB press, incline machine press, and machine fly.
* Lower body is intentionally pretty machine/Smith-heavy because my main goal is hypertrophy rather than barbell strength.
Would you change anything regarding:
exercise selection, order, weekly volume, redundancy, frequency, or rep ranges?
Especially interested in feedback on whether I’m doing too much or too little for back, lats, biceps, triceps, and shoulders.
Posted Sep 25, 2026, 7:39 PM UTC