There Is Something About Push Presses!!

[louden_swain]

Well. . . I must confess that you ironheads have totally changed my training in the past few months!! I no longer train like a conventional bodybuilder. Seems like I have arranged my training where I only use barbells and explosive heavy movements.

Do you know what this has done for me? I'll tell you what. . it has made me bigger and stronger!! This is something I have been after since 1993.

Anway, enough of the fluff. It looks like I will be using standing overhead push presses on a regular basis. Theres something about pushing heavy weight over my head that makes me feel good!.

Based off last nights workout, all three heads of my delt are in severe pain!!! I can barely lift my arms and I like that. . it tells me that something is working and also shows me that I am not used to a particular movment. I think a number of benefits will come out of standing overhead pressing. This includes:

- development of explosive power
- development of balance and coordination
- development of huge thick delts (I am still a bodybuilder at heart lol)

I don't know what you guys think, but I am planning to use the 5 x 5 method on these. Also my grip is relatively wide with my elbows tucked into the sides in the bottom position. In a smooth motion, I explode the weight overhead with a certain degree of drive from the legs. In the overhead position, I can still identify the weakness in my triceps.

My upper chest and collar bone area is a little beat up today from the barbell lol. Hopefully, I will get used to this really soon.

Anway, share your experiences with the push press. . . I think I have found something new for me to work on. i think an overhead press of 250 or 275lbs is something to shoot for.

 

[sinjinsmythe33]

?

i assume you are talking about 250 or 275 for 5X5.

 

[jeremys]

ok i just started doing these today.

i cant handle very much weight at all, i think 135 for 5 reps and 145 for 3. yeah..those were my work sets today . and i end up leaning back too far and that hurts my mid-back.

maybe its a coordination thing or just plain weakness

a question..when you do these..should your elbows be out like in a BB bench or facing forward or 'in' like a PL bench?

 

[Ish]

I really like doing push presses also. They just seem to feel good. Do you ever do any power cleans LS? Those are another newer movement to me, but they kick ass.

 

[bigguns15]

Based off last nights workout, all three heads of my delt are in severe pain!!! I can barely lift my arms and I like that. . it tells me that something is working and also shows me that I am not used to a particular movment. I think a number of benefits will come out of standing overhead pressing.

My upper chest and collar bone area is a little beat up today from the barbell lol. Hopefully, I will get used to this really soon.

Anway, share your experiences with the push press. . . I think I have found something new for me to work on. i think an overhead press of 250 or 275lbs is something to shoot for.

Oh, I feel your pain! I did push presses last Friday and I have never gotten my shoulders sore like that. I was rather pleased. And yep, my upper chest and collar bone were a little tender as well.

I think these are an awesome exercise. I can't believe I hadn't found them sooner! I worked up to a set of 5 with 100 lbs. so far (only have done them for 2 weeks). My next goal is to have some big 45's on each side, pressing it over my head

 

[louden_swain]

I really like doing push presses also. They just seem to feel good. Do you ever do any power cleans LS? Those are another newer movement to me, but they kick ass.

Its been years since I have performed cleans. . namely because I had a severe sprain in my right wrist a few years ago.

Cleans work every single muscle in the body. I must say that I performed half cleans last night. Today, my traps are torn to hell .

I am not sure if my wrist can take it. Even wrist wraps don't help and the last thing I want to do is injure the area again.

I am always open to new ideas.

 

[c3bodybuilding]

These along with clean and press are my two favorite shoulder movements. You will love them, and be racking up big numbers in no time.

 

[RusPA81]

I haven't done these since my high school football days which was 5 years ago. I believe they worked pretty well, but I don't remember. I was also overtraining back then so that experience isn't to meaningful. Anyways this sounds interesting to try in a 5x5 setting. If you start doing let us know how it works. I just my be interested in trying it as well. Also how much do you do in relation to your regular military press?

 

[Mike_Rojas]

I'm going to try these again.

One time I push pressed and the bar hit the bottom of my chin... scared me for a few seconds. Luckily there was no damage.

 

[louden_swain]

I'm going to try these again.

One time I push pressed and the bar hit the bottom of my chin... scared me for a few seconds. Luckily there was no damage.

Mike. . .you have plenty of room in your garage for heavy pressing.

 

[coolcolj]

Well. . . I must confess that you ironheads have totally changed my training in the past few months!! I no longer train like a conventional bodybuilder. Seems like I have arranged my training where I only use barbells and explosive heavy movements.

Do you know what this has done for me? I'll tell you what. . it has made me bigger and stronger!! This is something I have been after since 1993.

Ain't I been saying that all along?

 

[Cuthbert]

For me it was push presses... then quickly moved to jerks (not making a joke, lol..). There's something very cool about holding heavy weights overhead

 

[Exodus]

agreed. i will brag about my ohp any day of the weak compared to my bench press. it does make me feel powerful.

good luck with them swain.

X

 

[XbdawggX]

I'm dumb.

Is this just like a standing military press, or is there more involved? Like using your legs to help 'explode' upward?

 

[Cuthbert]

Xbdawg: Exactly... it's a standing military press with leg drive

 

[XbdawggX]

Xbdawg: Exactly... it's a standing military press with leg drive

cool, thanks.

 

[BigBadBootyDaddy29]

I love push presses. I personally alternate then in with strict standin overheads. I do OHP for 3 weeks, then PP for 2. Keep in mind that OHP is much better for developing raw power and that PP is a way to improve your OHP and get past sticking points, whether it be mental or physical.

I always do a drop set of 8 strict presses after a PP workout too. Some may disagree with me, but I personally prefer strict pressing for development and strength, although PP is probably one of my 3 favoite lifts tro perform.

In terms of building stabalizers and core strength, just something to keep in mind, I once had a strength coach in college who wouldn't allow anybody to push press until they could handle 200X3 in a strict standing OHP.

 

[Becoming]

Wow, cool to see the PP taking off around here...
I don't see any reason not to try them 5x5, I personally have never liked doing more than 5 reps per set...
Stability is probably the hardest thing to develop, I could see why BBBD29's former coach did reccomend the standing OHP proficiency first.
Jeremys- take your time and develop your stability, don't push too heavy too fast...
Bigguns- nice, once you get 135 you will have yet another catagory you can put most guys to shame in...
Swain- you better watch out, you might soon be looking to increase performance first and size second... (then you will have fully turned and become one of us!)

 

[dzuljas]

i do behind the neck push presses for sets of 5 with 300 lbs, u wussies......