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Kettlebell Slasher

Intermediate
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Kettlebell swing across the body from hip to opposite shoulder that targets obliques, glutes, and hamstrings to build rotational power and core stability; commonly scaled by weight or alternating sides.

About Exercise

Equipment

Kettlebell

Difficulty

4/5 • Intermediate

Primary Muscle Groups

Obliques, Abs, Glutes

Secondary Muscles

Lower Back, Lats, Quads, Forearms

Popularity Score

5

Goals

Power
Conditioning
Stability

Training Style

Functional Training

Setup Requirements

Requires Rack

No

Requires Bench

No

Requires Spotter

No

Space Needed

Medium

Noise Level

Moderate

Muscle Breakdown

Obliques

9/10

External Obliques, Internal Obliques

Abs

8/10

Rectus Abdominis, Transverse Abdominis

Glutes

8/10

Glute Max

Hamstrings

7/10

Biceps Femoris

Shoulders

6/10

Anterior Delts, Medial Delts

Lower Back

5/10

Erector Spinae

Lats

4/10

Quads

4/10

Forearms

3/10

Flexors

Programming

Typical Rep Range

6-15 reps

Rest Between Sets

60-120 seconds

How to Perform

Stand with feet wider than shoulders, holding kettlebell by horns at one hip with slight torso rotation toward it, knees soft, core engaged, spine neutral.

  1. Hinge hips back slightly to load kettlebell toward glutes.
  2. Explode hips forward and rotate torso to swing kettlebell across body.
  3. Guide kettlebell up to opposite shoulder in controlled arc.
  4. Finish rotated with kettlebell high at shoulder, chest up.
  5. Control descent back to starting hip while reversing rotation.
  6. Repeat for reps then switch sides.

Coaching Tips

Form Cues

  • Drive from hips, not arms.
  • Keep core braced tight.
  • Eyes follow kettlebell path.
  • Rotate fully from torso.
  • Control the arc smoothly.

Breathing

Inhale during the load and return, exhale forcefully during the hip drive and rotation.

Tempo

1-0-1

Range of Motion

From hip-loaded hinge to full shoulder-height finish on opposite side, torso rotates 90-180 degrees without spine arch or twist.

Safety

Safety Notes

  • Master hip hinge first to protect back.
  • Start with light weight for form.
  • Avoid if acute back or shoulder injury.
  • Engage core to prevent hyperextension.
  • Use space clear of obstacles.

Spotting

Not typically needed; perform in open area with light weight progression.

Common Mistakes

  • Jerking with arms instead of hips.
  • Allowing lower back to arch.
  • Incomplete rotation leading to imbalance.
  • Gripping too tightly causing forearm fatigue.
  • Swinging too low or uncontrolled.

When to Avoid

  • Acute lower back pain
  • Shoulder impingement
  • Recent hip surgery

Flexibility Needed

  • Adequate hip rotation
  • Shoulder flexion above 150 degrees
  • Thoracic spine mobility

Build Up First

  • Proficient hip hinge
  • Basic kettlebell swing form
  • Core bracing control

Also known as

KB Slasher, Kettlebell Slash, Rotational Kettlebell Swing

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