DB Shoulder Press

[jmj]

As I have gotten significantly stronger in most all my lifts, I have come across a problem with DB shoulder press. Beyond 70lb dumbells, I have the hardest time getting the weight up to shoulder level on each side. I end up contorting my body and expend energy that could otherwise be used for the set itself. Can someone give me the key to getting the heavier dumbells up to shoulder level. I don't have a problem "coaching" them up with my knees below 70lbs. However, I warm up with 60lbs now and would like to finish with 90lb DBs. But I cannot get anything over 80lbs up to shoulder level. Any suggestions? BTW, I cannot do barbell shoulder presses due to an old injury.

 

[anthrax]

As I have gotten significantly stronger in most all my lifts, I have come across a problem with DB shoulder press. Beyond 70lb dumbells, I have the hardest time getting the weight up to shoulder level on each side. I end up contorting my body and expend energy that could otherwise be used for the set itself. Can someone give me the key to getting the heavier dumbells up to shoulder level. I don't have a problem "coaching" them up with my knees below 70lbs. However, I warm up with 60lbs now and would like to finish with 90lb DBs. But I cannot get anything over 80lbs up to shoulder level. Any suggestions?

same problem
Bouncing will kill your back and may lead to injury

A spotter would help if you have one

BTW, I cannot do barbell shoulder presses due to an old injury.

You can do DB shoulder press and not BB shoulder press ?

 

[jmj]

I can't do barbell because of the plane of movement being either in front of, or worse yet, behind the head. My shoulder joint can handle the weight fine (without discomfort) when I am in the same plane as my head. Also, I work out alone and have no access to a spotter. I'm just wondering if there is a trick to getting the weight up without potentially injuring myself.

 

[yomama]

I can't do barbell because of the plane of movement being either in front of, or worse yet, behind the head. My shoulder joint can handle the weight fine (without discomfort) when I am in the same plane as my head. Also, I work out alone and have no access to a spotter. I'm just wondering if there is a trick to getting the weight up without potentially injuring myself.

Sure, curl it then get it up, assuming you can curl that much.

 

[curgeo]

yomamma.....He could hurt himself that way.

Clean the weight up. I usually start with the dumbells on the floor. I stand up, crouch down and clean the dumbells to my shoulders and then I sit down and do the exercise. When you try and curl the weight up oe use your knees in a sitting position, I have found that it strains my shoulders too much. By cleaning them, you should be able to save them the strain of the lift while being able to put it into your set.

 

[trez]

yomamma.....He could hurt himself that way.

Clean the weight up. I usually start with the dumbells on the floor. I stand up, crouch down and clean the dumbells to my shoulders and then I sit down and do the exercise. When you try and curl the weight up oe use your knees in a sitting position, I have found that it strains my shoulders too much. By cleaning them, you should be able to save them the strain of the lift while being able to put it into your set.

Good call... cleaning the weight up is the solution if you can't curl it.

But I'd be working on improving your bicep strength as these shouldn't be so far out of whack IMO.

 

[BOOEY]

I agree, clean the weight up and sit back down. Do you work out at home, or just by yourself at the gym? If you're at the gym get someone to help you get that first rep up b/c cleaning it will take a little out of you. Second, if you're absolutely sure you cannot do Barbell don't do them. But switching from DB to standing BB press was the best move I made for getting bigger delts. Maybe start off light and work your way up over time.

 

[d3track]

I agree, clean the weight up and sit back down. Do you work out at home, or just by yourself at the gym? If you're at the gym get someone to help you get that first rep up b/c cleaning it will take a little out of you. Second, if you're absolutely sure you cannot do Barbell don't do them. But switching from DB to standing BB press was the best move I made for getting bigger delts. Maybe start off light and work your way up over time.

yeah
if you are at the gym someone will spot you

and i have to agree on standing bb press, best addiotion i mad eto my delt work.....

 

[Griz1]

I have found two solutions.

1. get someone to "set" the db in each hand for you while you are in position.

2. utilizing an incline bench, rock the db's up like you were going to bench press them (halfway back though, not flat on your back), then in a sort of combination move, bring yourself up to a sitting position, while moving the db's that last bit to where they should be.

This is a problem that keeps popping up over time.

Never heard of a "really good" solution though. Rocking them up is indeed very hard on your body (potentially).

 

[mad_monkey59]

What I do is:

Dead the dbs off the floor and stand up, position the weight over your knees, and sit down. Now put your feet up on the foot rests of the bench (I hope yours have them. So now the DBs are on the edge of your knees, your toes should be on the edge of the rests... now flick your toes with all your might, should send the dbs up to the anterior deltoid level... now get your spotter (I hope you have one) to help you with the final part which is with rolling the weight around to the medial deltoid level and to assist you with the first part of the lift.

or.

If you have two strong spotters... get them to put the dbs in your hands at the required level, although its hard enough to find one person who can spot me let alone two in my gym.

There are no tricks however... if you aren't strong enough to get the weight up high enough for your spotter to help, then you need to keep working hard until you do become strong enough.

 

[Synpax]

Hiya,

I use these as the basis of 5x5 for delts. I do them standing - much better for you this way. I've gone from 30 to either 51.25 or 52.5. I really can't curl them but have no trouble -

Putting them down on the ground and cleaning them up. It's pretty easy. In fact, it's much more difficult to put them down in a controlled manner than to pick them up.

The only reason I could think of doing them sitting is if you had a back injury. But if you MUST, then you can still clean them standing up and then sit down.

Good luck and nice work. I hope to be up to 70s+ soon, too.

 

[Sub-Zero]

i get my spotter to get behind me and grab the weights from the inside top, using like a claw (no thumb)

then on the count of three i use a momentum curl while he just basically pulls back and it gets the weight up relatively easy and saftelyu

 

[bignate73]

ive always worked out alone, so i guess I've had to deal with it. between my arms and my hip flexors, I have always managed to pop it up to my shoulders without expending too much energy. not that I was guaging how much energy i spent, its just part of the workout. eventually you don't notice it.

 

[genarr3]

I used to put them as low on my leg as possible and pump my calfs a three times or so preping myself for the swing up. It takes practice. I used to get 100's up like this.

Yes it's a risky move. I was more concerned about my wrists then anything else.

 

[d3track]

I used to put them as low on my leg as possible and pump my calfs a three times or so preping myself for the swing up. It takes practice. I used to get 100's up like this.

Yes it's a risky move. I was more concerned about my wrists then anything else.

yeah, the 100s and 105s are a bitch to get up there

 

[cockdesiel]

I used to put them as low on my leg as possible and pump my calfs a three times or so preping myself for the swing up. It takes practice. I used to get 100's up like this.

Yes it's a risky move. I was more concerned about my wrists then anything else.

I seriously doubt that you could do that with the 130's I use. Besides that, using your legs or doing cleans to get the weight up before pressing it, is really taxing. Simply ask someone thats walking by to hand one of the dumbells to you at shoulder level, most dont mind at all.

 

[B0dybuilder]

Just curl em up and watch those bicepts grow! ... i'll try it myself if i reach that kinda weight! ... personally i use my knee's but i know what you mean, i dont like using a spotter, cos im so light i nearly fall off the bench! If you use your knees in a kinda snatch movement you can minimise energy loss.

 

[Synpax]

Just curl em up and watch those bicepts grow! ... i'll try it myself if i reach that kinda weight! ... personally i use my knee's but i know what you mean, i dont like using a spotter, cos im so light i nearly fall off the bench! If you use your knees in a kinda snatch movement you can minimise energy loss.

Cause you aren't up to that weight is why you realize it isn't practicle. People can DB press a hell of a lot more than they can even 1 rep curl.

 

[B0dybuilder]

I know synpax... i was just playin