How to Build the Ultimate V-Taper
Exercises for a Wide Back, Broad Shoulders and Small Waist
What is the most glaring visual signal that identifies a bodybuilder to a distant observer? You could say it’s simply the sheer size and thickness of his or her muscles relative to the average man, but from far away it’s nearly impossible to distinguish between muscular bulk and just plain fat. Bodybuilders have a specific shape that marks them as part of an elite group, and that shape is what’s known as a “V-Taper.” The phrase derives its origin from the inverted pyramid form of the letter V itself; wide on top and narrowing to a tiny point. On a human body, this translates into wide lats and shoulders tapering down to a small waist. It’s a look that’s highly sought after, and with good reason. Many of the most aesthetically stunning bodybuilders of all time have had exaggerated V-tapers: Sergio Oliva,