Overhead Press
Also known as: Barbell Shoulder Press, Military Press, OHP, Standing Overhead Press, Barbell Overhead Press, Standing Barbell Press, Strict Press, Standing Military Press, BB OHP, Overhead Barbell Press, Barbell Front-Rack Press, Front-Rack Overhead Press, Front Rack Shoulder Press, BB Front-Rack Press, Barbell Press From Front Rack
Body region
Muscles
Main
Helps
Holds
Equipment
Technique
- Take the bar from a rack set at upper-chest height (or clean it to the shoulders), hands just outside the shoulders, elbows slightly in front of the bar, and step back with feet hip-width apart.
- Squeeze glutes and brace your abs.
- Press the bar up, moving your head back slightly to let it pass.
- Lock out over the mid-foot, then lower back to the collarbone.
Cues
- Push your head through at the top.
- Keep ribs down.
Common mistakes
- Leaning back to push the bar.
- Flaring the ribs and arching the lower back.
- Pressing the bar out in front instead of straight up.
- Racking the bar so low or so high that you have to squat or tiptoe to unrack it.