Overhead Press Get Strong or Die Search Skip to content Menu Menu follow us Store Articles Community Loyal-T Club Loyal-T Points Rewards Subscribe to Save Search Search The World s Trusted Source & Community for Elite Fitness Training Overhead Press Get Strong or Die 3 Ways to Press More Weight Overhead by Tanner Shuck July 17, 2021July 15, 2022 If you want to maximize both shoulder strength and hypertrophy, you have to maximize mechanical tension (weight). No other movement allows you to do that more effectively than the standing overhead press (OHP). The OHP is the gold standard of overhead strength. If you want to start pressing heavier weight overhead right now, use these three tips: 1 Wear a Belt If you want to lift as much weight as possible, you must maximize full-body tension. A lifting belt allows you to do just that. By maximizing tension and bracing effectively, you're able to recruit more motor units and incorporate more muscle into the lift, allowing you to lift more weight. 2 Maximize Tension in Your Upper Back and Lats A strong upper back is key to pressing big weights. Your upper back musculature serves as a launch pad, and the larger and more stable the launch pad, the more weight you can press. So before you unrack the bar, squeeze your shoulder blades together and get as much tension through the traps, rear delts, rhomboids, and upper lats as possible. This simple cue can help you immediately create a more stable launch pad to press from. 3 Lean Back as You Press Your body naturally figures out how to lift the most weight possible, and leaning back (arching your back) allows you to incorporate more of your upper back and upper chest into the lift. Now, some people may say this is bad for your back, but as long as you're wearing a belt and effectively bracing while maintaining full body tension, leaning back is a perfectly safe and natural movement pattern. Keep in mind, the objective is to lift as much weight as possible overhead, not to look pretty while doing it. Get The T Nation Newsletters Don' t Miss Out Expert Insights To Get Stronger, Gain Muscle Faster, And Take Your Lifting To The Next Level related posts Training The Best Damn Workout Plan for Natural Lifters Part 2 Not using drugs? Then stop training like someone who is. Here's how to milk your training for all its worth when taking the natural route. Bodybuilding, Fat Loss Training, Training Christian Thibaudeau July 13 Training Rest-Pause Training Prison-Style Rest-pause training will help you bust through strength plateaus while experiencing a T-shirt tearing pump. Here’s how do it. Powerlifting & Strength, Prison Training, Training Josh Bryant November 13 Training 4 Gym Gadgets That Are Wasting Your Time Are you using any of these overhyped fitness gadgets? If so, should you be? Probably not. Metabolic Conditioning, Metcon, Opinion Dr John Rusin May 19 Training Tip The Kettlebell Bench Press This floor press variation can correct faulty motor patterns, build your pecs and triceps, and even fix your achy shoulders. Check it out. Tips, Training Dr John Rusin January 10