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Standing Overhead Press
intermediatePush · Shoulders, triceps · Barbell
Builds shoulder strength and full-body stability by pressing overhead from standing.
How to do it
- Hold the bar at shoulder height with hands just outside shoulder-width.
- Brace your core and glutes to keep your ribcage stacked over your pelvis.
- Press the bar straight up, moving your head back slightly to let it pass, then through.
- Lock out overhead with the bar directly over your mid-foot, then lower with control.
Coaching tips
- Squeeze your glutes to avoid leaning back and turning it into an incline press.
- Keep your wrists stacked over your elbows.
- Exhale forcefully as you lock out.
Common mistakes
- Excessive lower back arch to gain leverage.
- Pressing the bar out and away instead of straight up.
- Flaring elbows too wide at the start position.