Shoulder press- can't feel it working

[Eminem]

When i am doing either dumbell press or military press i can obviously feel the weight and the intensity but i don't feel as if my shoulders are feeling what they are suppost to as in a pump or contraction. Anyone have some suggestions? I was also curious when bringin the weights down should you let your elbows drop below being parralel to the floor?

 

[Ingram]

Well just because you don't get a big pump doesn't mean you aren’t working the muscle. Try changing the weight and tinker with the number of reps, maybe you're doing too much or too little. As for how low to bring the elbows, I like to go just a bit past parallel.

 

[Bong Hog]

The biggest mistake I see people make when doing military presses is not bringing the bar down far enough to stretch the delt. Try a just wider than shoulder width grip, let the bar come down to the clavicle, and press only up to parallel. After parallel, tris do most of the work, as the delts don't contract much after parallel anyway. And flex your abs to minimize back flex. Good luck, bro.

 

[gymtime]

Try squeezing out two more reps with a spotter. Then see how you feel the next day.

 

[the People's Champ]

The biggest mistake I see people make when doing military presses is not bringing the bar down far enough to stretch the delt. Try a just wider than shoulder width grip, let the bar come down to the clavicle, and press only up to parallel. After parallel, tris do most of the work, as the delts don't contract much after parallel anyway. And flex your abs to minimize back flex. Good luck, bro.

thanks for the tip

 

[b fold the truth]

I am not for sure why you wouldn't want to come all the way down and go all the way back up with it. I did the 100's for an easy 6 reps a few weeks ago (2nd exercise and first time doing them in years) and I touched my shoulders at the bottom and the dbells touched at the lockout...

Full range of motion...

B True

 

[spatts]

Ever try pre-exhausting them with another move? Maybe something you could start out doing bilaterally, and then switch to unilateral as you fatigue?

 

[Thaibox]

Try squeezing out two more reps with a spotter. Then see how you feel the next day.

Yup
I've always found it difficult to get a pump from militaries. When I worked out with my only friend I trust to upright heavy weight, we put 315 on the bar and forced out as many as possible, then dropped plate by plate for a total of probably 16 reps. Got a great pump. My delts were crying the next day.

 

[b fold the truth]

Yup
I've always found it difficult to get a pump from militaries. When I worked out with my only friend I trust to upright heavy weight, we put 315 on the bar and forced out as many as possible, then dropped plate by plate for a total of probably 16 reps. Got a great pump. My delts were crying the next day.

You were doing 315 for reps on overhead???

B True

 

[Thaibox]

I wish bro. My best is 275 for 4 clean with a pause. My buddy was keeping the 315 moving for about 7, dropped to 225, then 135.

This buddy of mine has put up 315 for reps though. He's on the boards (anabolic mostly).

 

[b fold the truth]

Sounds like fun...I almost wonder if I could do 315 seated overhead...I may try it someday...

B True

 

[Bong Hog]

Well, you're right, bfold. Going all the way up probably is better. I just like to save my tris for other motions, and I feel that most of the delt contraction is in the bottom half of the motion. Just personal preference, I suppose.

Though all the way down is essential.

 

[b fold the truth]

I feel the lockout, especially with dbells, in my delts. Kinda like doing a flye for the chest. I touch the dbells together at the top...which squeezes (contracts) the delts...

I've only been doing dbell overheads for about 3 weeks though...

B True

 

[gymtime]

I wish bro. My best is 275 for 4 clean with a pause. My buddy was keeping the 315 moving for about 7, dropped to 225, then 135.

This buddy of mine has put up 315 for reps though. He's on the boards (anabolic mostly).

I call bullshit. YOU have a buddy?

 

[Thaibox]

I call bullshit. YOU have a buddy?

Damn busted

Asshole