Do you guys overhead press?

miketee

New Member
I am trying to strengthen my core. I do good mornings twice a week after squatting. If doing more reps than heavy triples, I don’t wear a belt. I don’t want to do crunches, so I am going to start doing overhead presses. I do the congegate method and on heavy bench day, I have plenty of gas left over and usually do incline, decline, or military presses. I’m thinking of doing overhead presses instead. It’s core intensive and my 2 bench days always follow my 2 squat days which of course are highly core intensive. What do you guys think? Should I rethink the program until I’m satisfied with my core strength or I am good doing core back to back once a week? Some do sit-ups and pushups on a daily basis but that is just body weight.
 
I don’t plan on stopping squatting. I just want to add more core strengthing. I’ve never done an overhead press in my life. I guess I’m also wondering if other powerlifters here do them. I trained with guys that trained at Westside for a couple years and they never once mentioned an overhead press.
 
I usually don't do them except during off season training and even then not something I do religiously or anything. My best strict press was only 205lbs and best bench was 405lbs. Pretty poor according to those ratio charts, but it's not a comp lift, after all.

I'm of the opinion something like heavy weighted planks is more specific to our sport as far as core work. More similar to bracing your core during a heavy lift. I don't see crunches having any carryover.
 
Overhead presses give me shoulder issues esp going heavy. I'd stick to heavy squats, deads, rows for core strength
 
I do standing strict OHP.. doesn’t do much for core IMO even though I’ve heard it helps.. helps my bench for sure and (obviously) my OHP lol
 
I do standing BTN presses, haven't gone past 1 plate for 8-10 reps. No clue about 1RM, I don't do that, ever.

Pretty strict, no leg drive, and down to the shoulders. I like them, they don't hurt my shoulders, although I had to work on mobility in the beginning.
 
We do some form of overhead press every week. One week it will one are dumbbell OHP the next Standing Strict OHP. For me there is great carry over to my bench when I overhead press. To be honest with you just about anything I do that some recommend for bench press carry over works for my bench.

I wish I could say the same for my squat. LOL!!! I wish more variations carried over for me on my squat.
 
If you can do them safely that's fine, but I've been injured doing the overhead press and luckily it didn't effect my ability to Bench at the time.

They're not necessary and tend to be pretty injurious when done heavy (inb4 someone pressing 135 says they're fine lol).
 
Throw them in for about six weeks and see how they do for you. The unilateral stuff can be pretty beneficial. Bulgarian split squats, too.
Threw the one arm DB OHP in today and they’re no joke... Left side definitely needs work :oops: (mostly stability but it’s definitely weaker too) - can’t wait to see how it carries over on bench.. thanks brother.
 
Threw the one arm DB OHP in today and they’re no joke... Left side definitely needs work :oops: (mostly stability but it’s definitely weaker too) - can’t wait to see how it carries over on bench.. thanks brother.

These feel really good sitting and facing the seat back...
 
I love overhead presses with two dumbells at same time, allows a bit of a twist so my shoulder doesnt hurt at top. secondary benifit is it looks cool standing with two big dumbells in the air lol
 
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