Shoulder Press, The debate

[lbdb18]

Me and my buddies always argue what is the best pressing movement for shoulders. I think its Db Seated Press, my roommate thinks seated BB is the best and one of my friends says its definately standing BB press. I even prefer smithe machine seated over both the BB movements, what do you think?

[papi93]

Originally Posted by lbdb18

Me and my buddies always argue what is the best pressing movement for shoulders. I think its Db Seated Press, my roommate thinks seated BB is the best and one of my friends says its definately standing BB press. I even prefer smithe machine seated over both the BB movements, what do you think?

IMO:

For an athlete - Military Press

For a bodybuilder - any variation of a Seated Shoulder Press with back support

[JOHN GARGANI]

There is not one best pressing movement for shoulders.
All of them have their advantages and disadvantages.
It's up to you to look at the pros and cons of each different movement and figure out which of the movement(s) would fit best with your goals and current program structure.

Canadien's advice here is "iron"clad........

[Mikey1]

Originally Posted by lbdb18

Me and my buddies always argue what is the best pressing movement for shoulders. I think its Db Seated Press, my roommate thinks seated BB is the best and one of my friends says its definately standing BB press. I even prefer smithe machine seated over both the BB movements, what do you think?

out of those 3.....standing BB is by far the best.....but my vote would be push presses

[DaBigOx]

I rotate weekly between standing BB press and seated DB.

[lbdb18]

i was just wondering which one you all prefer. I know all of them are solid exercises. Take a look at my profile, im not a noobie.

[cssprophet]

I love military presses. However, I noticed my greatest size gains in my shoulders came from seated DB presses. For the best of both worlds, and because I enjoy each one, I do both.

If I had to pick just one, though, it would be military press, hands down.

[lbdb18]

then how come in all the magazines you never see pros doing standing bb, when they list their programs, not even big ron or jay.

[ThickAsABrick]

Originally Posted by lbdb18

then how come in all the magazines you never see pros doing standing bb, when they list their programs, not even big ron or jay.

Toney Freeman does his presses standing according to MD.
But I agree with CI's comment (which is gone now, of course).

[lbdb18]

but im saying as whole i didnt literally mean every pro, just a majority. Tony Freeman finished 7th at the olympia but hes just one man. And i know what works is different for everbody. I was just trying to get some peoples opinions.

[md3sign]

simply, standing press = more core, less weight
seated press = less core, more weight

do both.

[Anabolik]

Originally Posted by lbdb18

but im saying as whole i didnt literally mean every pro, just a majority. Tony Freeman finished 7th at the olympia but hes just one man. And i know what works is different for everbody. I was just trying to get some peoples opinions.

You are asking us what our personal preference is. Most of us decide what to do through a lot of experimentation with all kinds of delt exercises so what works for us might not work for you. Keep in mind that in bodybuilding, everything works but everything doesnt work all the time. You are going to have to rotate and change your exercises to get the maximal benefit from them. The pros dont just do one exercise for 20 years, what you catch them doing in the magazines is what lifts look most impressive and will help sales. Try one exercise for a few weeks, then try another and another. Do what feels best for you for as long as it is working. When the exercise stops giving you good results, change to another exercise.

[Firepower]

Originally Posted by md3sign

simply, standing press = more core, less weight
seated press = less core, more weight

do both.

x2. both have their advantages and disadvantages. incorporating both gives you the best of both worlds, imo

[Defiant1]

Originally Posted by lbdb18

Me and my buddies always argue what is the best pressing movement for shoulders. I think its Db Seated Press, my roommate thinks seated BB is the best and one of my friends says its definately standing BB press. I even prefer smithe machine seated over both the BB movements, what do you think?

No one is right except you are most likely wrong about the smiths lol. Sorry.


All bb/db pressing relative benefits are going to be related to ones particular leverages/proportions/relative muscle strengths.

The smith machine though falls off because of low neuromuscular activation.

[papi93]

Originally Posted by lbdb18

i was just wondering which one you all prefer. I know all of them are solid exercises. Take a look at my profile, im not a noobie.

I already stated my preference but I forgot another I like: Push Presses. These really allow you to overload the vertical pressing musculature on the eccentric.

[:::JMANN:::]

DB presses, then BB Presses. Smith machine is the devil!!!!!!! If you want to limit you gains and your progress by all means, use it, but the free weights are the real deal.

[Abbrevi8tor]

Originally Posted by :::JMANN:::

DB presses, then BB Presses. Smith machine is the devil!!!!!!! If you want to limit you gains and your progress by all means, use it, but the free weights are the real deal.

LoL... "My Bobby ain't gonna play on no Smith Machine, Smith Machines are the Devil." (Mama, from The Waterboy)

[Addicted_1990]

I think Military Press is better.

[Ragnar13]

It truelly is all about personal preferance. I like standing barbell presses. I alternate them with seated dumbbell presses. (Using a lot of weight in a seated position feels like a lot of pressure on my discs....so I tend to up the reps)


Either way, I don't use the smith at all, but opinion on that subject vary.

[lbdb18]

just trying to see what everyone does. I like them all, but db seated is my favorite. Standing BB definately takes the most out of you. Thanks guys.

[salu]

without doubt millitary presses sitting down with standing up you tend to use less weight and i know alot of guys who arc their back because they cant handle the extra weight and cheat abit . I think sitting down is more strict plus you can add more weight and a spotter can come in handy. i like sitting down miltary presses and side laterals. my shoulders just exploded with this.

i always neglected the rear delts what a huge mistake they are really underrated i started to train them last 4 months and let me tell u it gives you the complete massive shoulder look it is the icing on the cake.

okay bye.

[FarEastBeast]

Originally Posted by lbdb18

just trying to see what everyone does. I like them all, but db seated is my favorite. Standing BB definately takes the most out of you. Thanks guys.

The reason most pros and most bb'ers prefer seated presses is simply because they isolate the delts more than the standing varieties. I currently do machine presses and Arnold presses because I have a bad left shoulder and unless I go light regular db presses and militarys kill it.

[bigeddiez]

db press is my favorite

[KopyKat]

I like push presses and power jerks best.

[hapkido]

Db press hands down!

[DJAuto]

I definitely like dumbbell press better. I feel it more.

[Hola Bola]

Originally Posted by Defiant1

The smith machine though falls off because of low neuromuscular activation.

Care to explain that? I use the smith for shoulder presses occasionally and I haven't found it to be worse than using a DB or a BB. In fact for me, its by far the easiest on my shoulder joints out of those 3.

[DiamondDelts]

Side pressess for DD.

[yabbayabba]

Standing military has put more mass on my shoulders then anything so I guess I'd have to go with it.

[Pullup17]

Seated DB Shoulder Press. Sometimes I do it 90 degrees, sometimes with a slight incline, sometimes even down to 70 degrees.