There are few exercises more effective at building strong posterior deltoids than the face pull. These small yet mighty muscles, which sit at the back of the shoulders, are primarily responsible for retracting and rotating your shoulders.
They also play a vital role in stabilizing the entire shoulder joint. Keeping these muscles strong and functional helps shield your shoulder from strain and injury.
Face pulls will also engage supporting shoulder muscles, including the often overlooked yet easily injured rotator cuff, along with mid and upper back muscles such as the rhomboids and trapezius. The latter two, which take over in the second half of the exercise, help squeeze the shoulder blades together.
To a lesser degree, face pulls can even help strengthen your core by forcing you to engage all the muscles in your trunk, hips and glutes to keep you stable and balanced while performing the exercise.