How To

Your Overhead Press Sucks (HERE’S WHY)

Posted on by
07
Sep

Want to learn how to overhead press more weight? Well, the harsh truth is that many individuals just aren’t ready to overhead press to begin with. More specifically, they lack the sufficient range of motion and mobility in key areas that then makes it considerably harder for them to press weight overhead. Which is why it may seem like you can’t achieve a stronger overhead press regardless of what you do. So, in this video I’ll cover 2 such restrictions that are the most common culprits (thoracic spine mobility and lat mobility), and how to test if you’re actually restricted in these areas. Fix these overhead mobility issues, and you’ll finally be able to increase your overhead press.

The first thing that’s limiting your strength with the overhead press is your thoracic spine mobility. An inability to extend at the mid-back has been shown to limit shoulder strength during overhead movements. Also, a tight mid-back often comes with tight lats. Which is why many of you watching will likely feel quite a bit of resistance even when you just press your arms overhead with no weight, and is again why many of you will tend to arch at the lower back whenever you attempt to press overhead. That said, there are two simple tests (occiput-to-Wall test and its progression) that’ll determine if there’s sufficient mobility in your mid-back and your lats for overhead pressing.

Lack mid-back mobility and/or lat mobility? It’s time to focus on these various restrictions. And you can do that with a simple 3 step routine. Step 1 of this routine involves mobilizing the problem areas, which are your mid-back and lats. So, all we’re going to do is take a foam roller or a sock stuffed with a couple tennis balls, and start foam rolling these areas. For your mid-back, place your hands behind your head to open up your shoulder blades, and just slowly roll out just that mid to upper back region for about 30 seconds or so. Then, move onto the lats by laying onto your side and rolling out your lats from your armpit all the way down to your lower back again for about 30 seconds per side.

Next, to continue building a stronger overhead press, it’s time to move onto active stretching. To do so, there’s 2 active stretches we’ll use. First, we’ll focus on the lats with an active lat stretch. Next, we’re going to seated wall slides, a move that’ll not only further actively stretch our lats but will also teach us how to use our increased thoracic mobility in an overhead pressing motion similar to the overhead press.

Next is the final piece of the puzzle. After improving your overhead mobility with the previous two steps, it’s important to now transfer and engrain that into your overhead pressing so that your brain understands how to use that increased range of motion under load, which will help achieve our goal of actually boosting your performance in that movement. What I’d suggest though is at first, lighten the weight and take time off barbell overhead pressing altogether as this requires the greatest mobility demands. Instead, you’ll want to overtime progress through the following exercises: the kneeling single arm kettlebell/dumbbell overhead press, the standing single arm dumbbell press, the standing two arm dumbbell press, then the standing barbell overhead press.

So, here’s the action plan that’ll help you increase your overhead press:

Step 1: Mobilize

Foam roll mid-back: 30-60 seconds
Foam roll lats: 30-60 seconds each side

Step 2: Active Stretching

Active lat stretch: 5-10 reaches per side with 1s holds at end position
Seated wall slides: 10-15 reps

Step 3: Skill

Progression 1: Kneeling Single Arm Kettlebell or Dumbbell Press
Progression 2: Standing Single Arm Kettle Bell or Dumbbell Press
Progression 3: Standing 2-Arm Dumbbell Press
Progression 4 (goal): Standing Barbell Press

*For each progression, perform ~3 sets of 8-12 reps and increase load as appropriate overtime

Trust me, I know that corrective exercises aren’t fun. But if you want to stop spinning your wheels in the gym and actually break through the plateau you’re stuck in, then you need to address these things as it’ll pay off with more gains and less injury in the long run. And for a step by step program that shows you exactly how to incorporate important corrective exercises like these into a weekly training routine so that you can build lean muscle and break through plateaus in the most effective way possible, then take the analysis quiz below to discover which approach is best for your body:

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43 thoughts on “Your Overhead Press Sucks (HERE’S WHY)”

  2. Tingsborg says:

    Currently doing Overhead Press everyday. Three weeks ago I did 12 on 35 KG (77lbs) and now I’m doing 10s on 50 KG! (110)
    Love this exercise. But be careful! 🙂

    • Dim Ka says:

      Happens the same to me. It’s not the bone, it’s sure the sinew(?) sorry English is not my native language. Please someone who knows what’s going on answer haha

    • Ash May PT says:

      Hey man, clicking in any joint during exercise is nearly always genetic, it’s due to your bone structure rather than anything being an issue, also meaning it cannot be changed.

      There is nothing to worry about so long as the clicking isn’t painful.

      Hope that helps!

    • uzair ali says:

      I’ve struggled with this for the past year. Chances are you have tight traps or upper back that are restricting your shoulder movement. I’d highly recommend you to go to a Physiotherapist and get it check, even if there’s no pain. It’s something not to worry about too much, but just get it checked. Took me 3 months of stretching and mobilizing to reduce the clicking.

    • The Ancient One says:

      possibly need to fix the imbalance in your shoulders, if they are rounded forward you will need to develop the rear delt, rhomboids, traps and lats, etc. then work on the shoulder exercises only after the other weak muscles are strong first

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