Barbell Overhead Press

Also known as: Overhead Press, OHP, Military Press, Strict Press, Standing Barbell Press, Strict Overhead Press

Barbell Overhead Press is a compound strength exercise using barbell that trains the shoulders.

Open in MyoAmigo →

StrengthBarbellBeginnerCompoundPush

Primary muscles: Shoulders

Secondary muscles: Triceps

How to do it

  1. Start by placing a barbell that is about chest high on a squat rack. Once you have selected the weights, grab the barbell using a pronated (palms facing forward) grip. Make sure to grip the bar wider than shoulder width apart from each other.
  2. Slightly bend the knees and place the barbell on your collar bone. Lift the barbell up keeping it lying on your chest. Take a step back and position your feet shoulder width apart from each other.
  3. Once you pick up the barbell with the correct grip length, lift the bar up over your head by locking your arms. Hold at about shoulder level and slightly in front of your head. This is your starting position.
  4. Lower the bar down to the collarbone slowly as you inhale.
  5. Lift the bar back up to the starting position as you exhale.
  6. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Track it with MyoAmigo

MyoAmigo pre-fills every set of the Barbell Overhead Press from last time, charts your estimated 1RM trend so you can see strength move without testing a true max, and flags a stall with a concrete fix. It also credits this work toward your weekly Shoulders volume on the MyoMap heatmap. New to the movement? Start with picking a working weight and progressive overload.

Related Shoulders exercises

Cable

Alternating Cable Shoulder Press

Dumbbell

Alternating Deltoid Raise

Kettlebells

Alternating Kettlebell Press

Barbell

Anti-Gravity Press

Stretching

Arm Circles

Dumbbell

Arnold Dumbbell Press

Bands

Back Flyes - With Bands

Medicine Ball

Backward Medicine Ball Throw

Bands

Band Pull Apart

← All exercises · Browse by muscle

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