Barbell Overhead Press 8s · no sound

Barbell Overhead Press

The standing strict press from shoulders to overhead — the gold-standard test of pure shoulder strength and bracing.

Primary muscle
Front Delts
Equipment
Barbell
Difficulty
Intermediate
Movement
Push
Share

How to do it

  1. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and rack the bar across the front of the shoulders just under the chin.
  2. Grip the bar slightly wider than shoulder width with the wrists stacked over the elbows.
  3. Brace your core, squeeze the glutes, and take a big breath to lock the torso in place.
  4. Press the bar straight up by pushing through the shoulders and triceps, moving your head back slightly.
  5. Lock out the arms overhead with the bar over the middle of the foot and biceps near the ears.
  6. Lower the bar back to the front of the shoulders under control, reset your breath, and repeat.

Common mistakes

  • Pressing the bar in front of the head instead of straight up, which strains the lower back and shoulders.
  • Leaning back excessively to turn the lift into an incline press, which overloads the spine.
  • Failing to brace the core, which lets the rib cage flare and weakens the press.
  • Bending the knees and using leg drive, which makes the lift a push press and not a strict press.

Muscles worked

Primary
Front Delts
Secondary
Triceps

Good to know

What muscles does the Barbell Overhead Press work?
Mainly the front delts. It also works the triceps.
What equipment do you need for the Barbell Overhead Press?
It uses a barbell. Without it, the Anti-Gravity Press and the Arnold Press train the same muscles the same way.
Is the Barbell Overhead Press good for beginners?
GymVim rates it intermediate. For a beginner-rated exercise on the same muscle and movement, see the Band Overhead Press.

Your plan, your sets and your progress in one app. Free, no ads.

By muscle

Chest exercises Back exercises Shoulder exercises Arm exercises Leg exercises All 17 muscles

By equipment

Bodyweight Dumbbell Barbell Kettlebell Machine

Plans

Gym Starter Home, No Equipment Upper / Lower Hypertrophy Push Pull Legs Six Day Two Day Dumbbell Habit All 74 plans Build your own plan

Switching

From Strong From Hevy From JEFIT From Fitbod