Push Press vs Overhead Press

Doreen_Murray

I learned to do what I thought was OHP from my previous trainer. He introduced me to basic power lifts so I could carry on with good form on my own. I spent last night looking over OHP footage on youtube and realized my stance and press were both very different, so then I started looking at different lifts and realized that what I'm doing is most closely related to a push press.

I jump under the bar to push it up so no locking of anything from waste down and my feet do leave the floor a touch. I don't fully squat to get into it, but I do bend my knees. My press is locked and my elbow position is the same as OHP, grip is the same, but the biggest difference I see is my stance and no locking below the waste. I end in almost a rear lunge. I guess it's known as a "staggered stance," but it doesn't seem too common. My form feels solid, but this is definitely not an OHP.

Should I retrain to do the OHP or continue with the push press with staggered stance? Anyone else do push press instead of OHP?

Qarol

I'm sure, like with all the exercises in SL, that my form isn't perfect. But for OHP, I don't think I'm doing what you described. I stand still, feet about hips apart, I tighten my core to make sure I don't move around too much. I have the bar at my clavicles, I try to have my elbows pointing a bit past the bar (but I don't always remember to do this), and I press up. I have to lean my head back a bit to get the bar past my face, then when it's overhead, I'm slightly leaning forward. I hold for a brief moment, then bring it back down.

I'd show a video, but I'm a bit embarrassed. I make silly faces when I do this exercise, apparently...

XFitMojoMom

yeah, no movement in the lower part of your body.

this is a shoulder press/OHP, or strict press
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2419DVUiWc

this is a push press
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6oQLMcTGTo

a push press is much easier than the strict press. I load a solid 40 pounds more in my push press than my 1RM strict press. It's a very different lift. I would retrain.

Doreen_Murray

Looks like I have some habits to break! That little jump really got my hear rate up too. Friday should be humorous! :grumble:

CakeFit21

I'm sure, like with all the exercises in SL, that my form isn't perfect. But for OHP, I don't think I'm doing what you described. I stand still, feet about hips apart, I tighten my core to make sure I don't move around too much. I have the bar at my clavicles, I try to have my elbows pointing a bit past the bar (but I don't always remember to do this), and I press up. I have to lean my head back a bit to get the bar past my face, then when it's overhead, I'm slightly leaning forward. I hold for a brief moment, then bring it back down.

I'd show a video, but I'm a bit embarrassed. I make silly faces when I do this exercise, apparently...

That sounds exactly right.

Rae6503

When you stand still it really turns it into a great core exercise too.

Doreen_Murray

Core work = bonus!

Nataliaho

I learned to do what I thought was OHP from my previous trainer. He introduced me to basic power lifts so I could carry on with good form on my own. I spent last night looking over OHP footage on youtube and realized my stance and press were both very different, so then I started looking at different lifts and realized that what I'm doing is most closely related to a push press.

I jump under the bar to push it up so no locking of anything from waste down and my feet do leave the floor a touch. I don't fully squat to get into it, but I do bend my knees. My press is locked and my elbow position is the same as OHP, grip is the same, but the biggest difference I see is my stance and no locking below the waste. I end in almost a rear lunge. I guess it's known as a "staggered stance," but it doesn't seem too common. My form feels solid, but this is definitely not an OHP.

Should I retrain to do the OHP or continue with the push press with staggered stance? Anyone else do push press instead of OHP?

Hi there, are you saying that you end up with one foot in front of the other in a lunge under the bar and then step up into the overhead press position? If so you are doing a split-jerk which is a totally legit Olympic lifting movement, but you are right, it's not an OHP. Otherwise if I have misunderstood and your legs are still even, then it sounds like a regular jerk, again a totally legit OLY movement, but not an OHP.

Doreen_Murray

I learned to do what I thought was OHP from my previous trainer. He introduced me to basic power lifts so I could carry on with good form on my own. I spent last night looking over OHP footage on youtube and realized my stance and press were both very different, so then I started looking at different lifts and realized that what I'm doing is most closely related to a push press.

I jump under the bar to push it up so no locking of anything from waste down and my feet do leave the floor a touch. I don't fully squat to get into it, but I do bend my knees. My press is locked and my elbow position is the same as OHP, grip is the same, but the biggest difference I see is my stance and no locking below the waste. I end in almost a rear lunge. I guess it's known as a "staggered stance," but it doesn't seem too common. My form feels solid, but this is definitely not an OHP.

Should I retrain to do the OHP or continue with the push press with staggered stance? Anyone else do push press instead of OHP?

Hi there, are you saying that you end up with one foot in front of the other in a lunge under the bar and then step up into the overhead press position? If so you are doing a split-jerk which is a totally legit Olympic lifting movement, but you are right, it's not an OHP. Otherwise if I have misunderstood and your legs are still even, then it sounds like a regular jerk, again a totally legit OLY movement, but not an OHP.

It's more of a rear lunge, but yes! I know my trainer knew what he was doing and the form felt great, but after being in the group for a while and reading some OHP posts, I knew I wasn't doing the right one for this program. I have since started doing the OHP and I love the core work so staying with it for now. Thanks for your feedback! :flowerforyou: