Helix

Overhead Press

Overhead Press, start positionStart
Overhead Press, peak positionPeak
Start and peak positions for Overhead Press. © Gym visual.
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PrimarySecondaryTertiary

Muscles worked

ShouldersPrimary · 100%
TricepsSecondary · 50%
TrapsTertiary · 30%

Equipment

Barbell

How to log the weight

Total bar weight

Log the total bar weight including the bar itself — an Olympic bar is 20 kg empty.

Recovery window

~54h for the primary movers

Shoulders~54h
Triceps~54h
Traps~54h
Watch form videos on YouTube ↗

Programming notes

Overhead Press is driven by the shoulders, with triceps and traps assisting. Give the primary movers roughly 54 hours before loading them hard again. In the same session it pairs cleanly with Barbell Bench Press, whose primary movers don't overlap with anything this exercise works.

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