
Shoulders · Overhead press
Push Press
The push press is a barbell overhead press movement for the shoulders. Here is the setup, the execution, the mistakes worth avoiding, and how to program it.
Equipment
Barbell
Trains
Shoulders
Level
Intermediate
Muscles worked
Front and side delts move the weight, triceps lock it out, core and glutes keep the ribs from flaring.
Set up
- 1
Stack the bar or handles over the mid foot with the ribs pulled down and glutes tight.
- 2
Elbows just in front of the body, wrists neutral, forearms vertical.
- 3
Brace hard. An overhead press leaks through a soft midsection before it ever fails at the shoulder.
How to do it
- 1
Press the load overhead and move the head through once the bar clears the chin.
- 2
Finish with the biceps near the ears and the load stacked over the mid foot.
- 3
Lower under control to the collarbone, keeping the elbows underneath.
- 4
Reset the breath at the bottom before the next rep.
Common mistakes
Leaning back to press
Fix: Squeeze the glutes and brace. If you have to lean, drop the weight.
Stopping short overhead
Fix: Finish with the biceps by the ears. Partial lockouts leave delts undertrained.
Flared ribs
Fix: Pull the ribs down before the first rep and keep them there.
How to program it
Sets
3 to 4
Reps
6 to 10
Rest
2 min
Press before lateral work so the delts are fresh for the heavy job.
No gym version
Pike push up with the hips high, or overhead press with a loaded backpack or two water jugs.
Questions
More shoulders work
Knowing the lift is the easy part.
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